05 – DECEMBER VOL 1 NO.43 • DECEMBER
11, 2021
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2023 Not Realistic Until FG Tackles Injustice, Corruption – Onovo
Q3 ’21: Fidelity Bank’s Profit Slows on Net Interest Income Plunge
Eniola Badmus
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Revealed! How Nembe Oil Spill Was Hijacked, Politicised
State of The States
This special publication of THEWILL x-rays the potentials of the 36 states and the FCT to achieve a quantum leap in development through investment and job creation. The prevailing cash crunch in the country makes the project more compelling for policymakers, investors and other stakeholders.
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COVER
Revealed! How Nembe Oil Spill Was Hijacked, Politicised BY OLAOLU OLUSINA WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTS FROM OKIOMA AMOS IN YENAGOA
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elative calm is gradually returning to the troubled communities in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, following the recent oil leakage from an idle non-producing oil well located in the Santa Barbara South field in OML 29, which is jointly owned by Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil firm, Aiteo Exploration and Production Company Limited (AEEPCO) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), but operated by the former. About three weeks ago, a leakage from the well, which contains 80 per cent gas and 20 per cent crude, had spilled gas and crude, prompting Aiteo and other intervention agencies into action to contain the spillage and reduce the untold hardship on the people of the fishing communities in Nembe Kingdom, whose livelihood and existence depend on the waters. Oil spills in the Niger Delta have been a recurring environmental hazard and have disrupted the livelihoods of locals who are mostly fishermen and farmers. This spill is actually of a different kind. It is more of gas than crude oil. While the cause of this leak is still a subject of controversy and currently under investigation, with sabotage not being ruled out, Aiteo E and P deployed emergency booms (floating barriers used to contain marine spills, protect the waters and assist in recovery of crude) and sent palliatives to the affected communities. A US-based firm, Boots and Coots, owned by Halliburton, with expertise in emergencies of this nature was contracted to help arrest the situation. The firm has since mobilised to ground zero to contain the leakage and fast-track spill recovery. As at the time of this report, the spill has been contained within ground zero and painstaking efforts were being made to stop leakage from the Christmas tree wellhead. The latest development is coming as fresh indications show that the incident has been hijacked by some powerful oil industry stakeholders to score cheap political and selfish gains. THEWILL checks showed that lies and misinformation were deliberately fed to the public by these interests using the media and Internet to blow the incident out of proportion and put the operator on the hot seat. Following the claims and counter claims on the spill, a team of journalists comprising senior editors of Nigerian newspapers, as well as news broadcast organisations on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, toured the site and the affected communities in Nembe and according to findings, the spill incident was nowhere near what was being circulated on the Internet and some media platforms. Although about 19, 000 barrels of crude oil is projected to have spilled, so far, only about 4, 000 barrels of crude have been recovered from the month-old leak aligning with the non producing status of the well as discovered by the previous owner and operator, Shell. “I can tell you authoritatively that the pressure of the well has been substantially diminished because all the chemicals that are needed to put the pressure under control are being fed in continuously and the pressure has started going down... “The talk of 2 million barrels of oil spilling from the well is spurious. Two million barrels is about the size of the content of two super tankers. The oil would have spread over the entire country. The reserve of the well itself is nowhere near 2 million barrels,” Aiteo’s Global Group Director, Andrew Oru said last week in Opu-Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, after taking a group of journalists on a tour of the area that is now tagged, “Ground Zero.” Oru gave the assurance that everything was being put in place to prevent a humanitarian or ecological disaster. According to him, the heavy vegetation of the area, by which oxygen is emitted in large quantities and which flows freely as well, had also helped to absorb gaseous emissions. EFFORTS MADE EARLIER The Group Managing Director, Aiteo Eastern E and P Company Limited, Victor Okoronkwo, had earlier given a status update of the situation on ground and his company’s efforts to restore normalcy to
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the troubled zone. In a statement dated November 25, 2021, a copy of which was obtained by THEWILL, Okoronkwo said, “Following the visit of the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, in company with senior government officials, to take stock of the situation at ground zero yesterday, ongoing efforts are being intensified to cap the well and further control the consequences of the spillage at the Santa Barbara, Southwest field in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. “The Minister held extensive discussions with the Aiteo intervention team on ground, led by Chief Operations Officer, Ewarezi Useh, who debriefed him on the pre-kill well assessment by Boots and Coots, assuring him that the well would be secured within 48 hours of his visit. “Afterwards, the minister had a town hall meeting with the people of the Opu-Nembe Kingdom, during which he undertook a very fruitful interaction with the community. Fortified with the promises of the company, he assured them that their concerns and grievances would be addressed as investigation to ascertain what went wrong after the well had been secured. As the well kill progresses, the containment exercise will continue, with booms and environmental barges mopping up spilled crude being fully deployed. “All the relevant personnel and experts, local and international, are now on location. The marine spread carrying the pumps, chemicals, cranes and firefighting equipment are 100 per cent mobilised and have set sail to location. The crew will stop tonight at KM 45 and take off again at first light tomorrow with ETA 12 now on site. A 2 x 1000MT Ramp barge containing simulation equipment for the well kill also sailed today. Simultaneously, concurrent activities, including spotting and hooking up of hoses are ongoing on the barges to minimise clean up downtime. “At SBAS-1, the well-control package was transferred onto the well platform and the crew carried out an inspection with the Xmas tree and identified the THS (Tubing Head Spool) to be 2-1/16. Further, RU(rig up) has been commenced, but not completed due to bad weather. The Forward Plan is to complete RU and install well control package to arrest the flow.” Okoronkwo also gave specific updates on the site status, as well as the status in the well and surrounding vicinity. The GMD noted, “There is currently no fire at or within the vicinity of the well. Environmental Impact Assessment in the vicinity of the area is in planning phase with a DPR / NOSDRA accredited firm.” On the preparation for well kill, he said, “The team, comprising members from Aiteo Well Operations and Boots and Coot, is already at the well site in preparation for well control operation. “The connection of suction and delivery lines of two high-discharge water pumps, to be used for well control operation, has been completed. The commissioning of the pumps is in progress. “Civil work for the development of the debris laydown area and
bunk house placement area is in progress. A 1000 Ramp barge containing all pimping and simulation equipment for the well kill is approaching Santa Barbra as per latest report received at 21:00hrs. “The barge, which is carrying heavy duty well equipment, is on sail. “The loading of additional equipment, which is being mobilised from Snake Island, is underway and it is expected to arrive at the staging area in Santa Barbara by 12:00hrs on November 26, 2021.” SCORING CHEAP GOALS However, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, President of the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement noted that the hydrocarbon industry which powers human civilisation is a complex, specialised and strategic arena all over the world. He therefore advised that such incidents in the course of crude oil exploration and exploitation need to be professionally managed and certainly not deliberately politicised by forces that don’t understand the key issues - or seek division. Yusuf, who is also the Convener of the Association of Northern Youth Groups, said the recent Nembe oil wellhead blowout and spillage might just be an example of how genuine and expert interventions have been politicised, distracted or hobbled by hostile fringe industry interests. TAKING MISCHIEF TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL “But for some strange reasons, several forces have equally deployed their armaments to smear and damage the image of Aiteo. From peddling specious information that the spill is in excess of 2 million barrels, some have alleged that over 500,000 barrels were spilled while some hold on to 400,000,” Yusuf said in a statement issued on Friday. His observation is coming on the heels of a statement credited to the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Idris Musa. Speaking last week on a national TV show, Musa had said, “It is absolutely wrong and preposterous for people to make false speculations over the oil spillage in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.” Yusuf corroborated the NOSDRA boss’s assertion, saying, “The speculative mumbo-jumbo is being dispensed despite the fact that competent regulatory agencies exist, which could provide such information. To show the extent of mischief, only a few people have asked how many barrels the wellhead had been producing prior to the blowout. Before the blowout, OML 29 was producing 700 barrels.” Continuing, the Arewa youth leader said, “This is simply organised conspiracy to put down Aiteo. Despite efforts by Aiteo to professionally contain the spill in Nembe, some see this incident as an opportunity to attack the company. Some interests are curiously putting out old spill videos to create a negative false impression of the incident. “It certainly cannot be overstressed that what is playing out appears like a well-choreographed intrigue at work to undermine Aiteo and besmirch ongoing efforts to contain the leakage and mitigate the impact on communities around the location of the well. First was the exaggeration of massive oil spill, which some compared to THEWILLNIGERIA
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COVER the Hiroshima atomic bomb destruction. Comparing the Nembe oil spill to the US bombing of Hiroshima in Japan and the resulting destruction of human lives and property during the Second World War is taking mischief to a dangerous level. Worse still, it betrays crass ignorance. “Clearly, it is scandalous to compare the incident to what happened in Hiroshima. Not surprisingly, after putting out this narrative, these same hostile and divisive forces, who apparently have an axe to grind with Nigeria’s biggest indigenous oil company, started circulating old spill videos to give fuel to their plot and set the communities against the company. They posted the false videos on various social media platforms so as to create the impression of a massive environmental damage to the ecosystem.” CONDEMNATION TRAILS GOV DIRI’S OUTBURST Yusuf also lambasted Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State over his outburst last Wednesday after visiting Nembe. Governor Diri had paid a visit to the site, saying that the continuous spill had further endangered the lives of the people of Nembe and indeed, the entire Niger Delta. The governor, who was accompanied on the visit by some lawmakers, including the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr Fred Agbedi; Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere and top government functionaries, expressed shock over what he described as the quantity of crude that had spilled into the environment, called on the Federal Government and operators of the oil field to immediately take action to stop it. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor noted that the prolonged oil spill into the water and air had an immediate and long term effect on the health of the inhabitants of the host communities. The governor said, “Today happens to be a very dark day for me. What we have seen, I believe, is worse than what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. In all my life, I have not seen such magnitude of oil spillage. Our people are endangered. Our people’s source of livelihood is endangered. I empathise and sympathise with the people of Nembe on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State. I like to give you hope that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Your government will activate every constitutional means to arrest and redress this magnitude of oil spill. “I therefore call on the Federal Government, the operators of the oil field, NNPC and Aiteo to immediately look for a superior and technical means of containing and stopping the oil spill. “In Bayelsa, the only thing we know how to do best is fishing. Today, our own fishing route is endangered. I equally call on the Federal Government to immediately react and ensure that our fishing route is safe,” the statement quoted him as saying. But the governor, according to Yusuf, went beyond his brief. “Even Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, who is not a petroleum engineer, unexpectedly exceeded his knowledge boundaries by alleging impossible scenarios. Douye Diri, who holds a B.Ed in Political Science from the University of Port Harcourt, said the Nembe spill is worse than the Gulf of Mexico spill. This is also extreme misinformation stemming from willful ignorance or dark motive. “The April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was considered to be the largest marine oil spill in the history of the global petroleum industry and estimated to be 8 to 31 percent larger in volume than the previous largest, the Ix toc I oil spill, also in the Gulf of Mexico. Comparisons between the two or three scenarios bespeak mischievous conspiracy. Politicisation of the Nembe spill will only serve to undermine the industry. “More importantly, when journalists finally visited the location last Thursday, they realised that the extent of the spill had been grossly exaggerated beyond the reality they met on ground. The questions are: Who are those behind this plot? Who is paying for it? Who benefits from these damaging stories based on ignorance and outright fake news? “The governor, who was out of the country when this spill happened, did not feel the urgency to cut short his trip to return and supervise the cleanup. He rather chose to spend time and enjoy himself fully before heading home - only to sheepishly and ridiculously describe it as comparable to the Gulf of Mexico spill. “What benefits could the governor possibly garner from a disaster he should also be in the forefront of aiding genuine mitigation and stability? Granted it is within his legitimate rights to protect his citizens, this should align with scientific templates of managing spills as obtained elsewhere in the industry.” Commending Aiteo for moving swiftly to save the situation at Nembe, Yusuf said, “Immediately the blowout in question occurred, Aiteo followed professional procedure and alerted the regulatory THEWILLNIGERIA
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agencies and activated critical technical and community-focused interventions. Journalists who visited the wellhead blowout at ground zero this week saw for themselves the extensive efforts deployed to cage and remediate the situation. “What they observed contrasted sharply with a lot of the disinformation being peddled by forces hostile to Aiteo for whatever reasons. According to the oil company, Aiteo’s officials are closely monitoring all activities related to the affected communities, viz feeding, lighting, hygiene, drinking water and medical requirements with the help of local associations. “Aiteo’s safety and security and HSE teams are also monitoring the quality of air every six hours to ascertain the livability of the areas adjoining ground zero. Aiteo is mobilising additional relief materials for the affected communities. “The presidency and relevant agencies, on their part, have responded admirably in containing the Nembe spill and also providing stability. But from closer examination, it appears this conspiracy is an attempt to sabotage and rubbish the image of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. All the President’s efforts at reorganising and reforming the crucial sector are being targeted by some forces, whose motives are diabolical, and they want to capitalise on this spill by exaggerating its impact beyond the scope of what is on the ground. Ultimately, they want to use it to undermine the Federal Government and claim that the administration is not working and all of that hogwash. They have already imputed that government officials are compromised on the issue. Compromised by who and for what purpose? “Instead of acknowledging that Aiteo is working with government officials to clean up the spill and bring the situation under control as should be expected, these diabolical agents, are very willing to cast aspersions on the integrity of these officials in furtherance of their dangerous obsession with Benedict Peters, driven primarily by the aim to target and destroy individual reputations and integrity of corporate concerns built over several years. “The hydrocarbon industry, though coming with its peculiar hazards, remains very important to human civilisation. When incidents like this occur, they must be professionally managed as is being done currently and not dangerously politicised or mischaracterised by forces with dark motives,” Yusuf said. RELIEF EFFORTS ONGOING In order to bring relief to the communities impacted by the accident, Aiteo has continued to offer humanitarian assistance with the donation of five truckloads of palliatives, including food and medical supplies, to the Nembe kingdom. The items received by the community leaders were stored at the Opu - Nembe town hall for onward distribution to the communities directly affected by the spill. Some of the items are 10 cows, 500 bags of rice, 500 cartons of Noodles ,500 cartons of water, 500 tubers of yam, 200 cartons of milk, 200 bags of garri, 200 cartons of tin tomato,100 cartons of beverages and 100 cartons of vegetable oil. Others are 100 Knorr seasoning cubes, 100 bags of salt, 100 bags of Ariel soap, jerry cans of palm oil, six digital thermometers, blood pressure machines, two sugar testing kits,150 packs of Coartem for malaria, five packs of PCM,five cartons of Detoil , 40 mosquito nets, Vitamin C and fullyequipped first aid boxes. Receiving the materials on behalf of the communities impacted by the spillage, the Chairman of Opu - Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Ori Ango Ekpeleyai - Oruwari, who spoke on behalf of the Nembe monarch, said, “On behalf of the Amanyanabo of Opu Nembe Kingdom, l receive these relief materials that are coming
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The operator, Aiteo Eastern E and P Company, must be commended for being proactive to contain the spill since inception by immediately informing all regulatory agencies and stakeholders, mobilising containment resources (Spill booms) to limit impact to the environment and carrying out joint investigative visit (JIV) to site with the appropriate authorities
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to our community for the second time. For those who are directly impacted in the spill from OML 29 at Santa Barbara, we are indeed very grateful to Aiteo for bringing these relief materials.” On the ongoing relief efforts, Aiteo’s GMD, Okoronkwo, confirmed that relief materials such as mosquito nets, hygiene and sanitary kits, disinfectants and foodstuff, are being mobilised to the immediate communities impacted by the spill. SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS Although the real cause of the oil leakage is still shrouded in mystery, Aiteo’s spokesman, Ndianabasi Mathew, disputed the claim that the Santa Barbara well site location makes it difficult to believe that Aiteo was solely responsible for the spill. “The Santa Barbara field is not in the Atlantic Ocean. The location is onshore and there have been many spills from other sources. Those heaps of sludge have been there before the incident,” Ndianabasi said in a statement. However, a technical expert, Engr Igbini Odafe Emmanuel, while commenting on what he called ‘the truth about Nembe 1 Oil Wellhead spill,’ maintained that despite all the reasons being adduced for the leakage, “it is not a high pressure gas blowout.” The engineer and environmental activist said, “It is no big deal to cause unnecessary fear and hype around the leakage…” CALM AFTER THE STORM A well control specialist, Victor Ekpenyong, has however commended Aiteo for its quick response to the spill, despite the ongoing campaign of calumny. In a note to THEWILL, Ekpenyong said, “The SBAR-01 Well at Santa Barbara South field in Nembe Local Government of Bayelsa State, which is currently under well control situation due to wellhead vandalisation by unknown persons, as reported on November 5, 2021, is currently being worked on by wild well control experts, to arrest the source of the leakage and secure the well. “The well was last known to be producing about 700bpd of hydrocarbon fluid and would as of today have spilled an estimated volume of about 18,000 bpd of hydrocarbon fluid to the environment, as against the two (2) million barrels of oil wrongly reported. “The operator, Aiteo Eastern E and P Company, must be commended for being proactive to contain the spill since inception by immediately informing all regulatory agencies and stakeholders, mobilising containment resources (Spill booms) to limit impact to the environment and carrying out joint investigative visit (JIV) to site with the appropriate authorities. “We want to commend his Excellency, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Douye Diri, for finding time to visit the site of the spill and assessing the current situation. We also commend the management of Aiteo, who made out time to visit the site immediately and had a first-hand assessment of the situation. “Aiteo in (its) quest to arrest the situation engaged an experienced well control expert company with industry best equipment whose recent accomplishment in wild well control was in April this year with one of the marginal field operators in a swamp location on a well with a worse but similar vandalised situation than the current one. Well control equipment was deployed, and the well was brought under control without further damages, safety Incident or fatality. “The well control situation is being worked on and the well will be brought under control soon. The most important thing during well control is having the expertise, equipment, resources and the patience. These factors must be in place to ensure the operation is carried out safely without further damages or fatality as this is a very dangerous environment. “We have had several wild well control situations in the country, for instance the K.S. Endeavour fatal incident in January 2012, which took about two months for proper planning and execution of well control strategies before it was successfully killed and secured. “The recent and similar wild well successfully killed and secured by the engaged well control experts took about a month of planning and execution, amid the challenges faced when working in the creek, to successfully achieve. Also, the Deepwater Horizon wellhead blowout of the Gulf of Mexico incident, which lasted more than five months, is worse than this and cannot be compared to it, as it had a total spill of about 4.9 million barrels of hydrocarbon fluid in the environment. “Similarly, proper planning and execution is ongoing on the current well and soon this wild well will be brought under control without any safety incident or fatality. “All that is required at this time is a call for calm and patience by all stakeholders and a joint effort to encourage the ongoing effort to secure the well by Aiteo and the well control experts.”
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NEWS Info Management, Others Central in Overcoming Nigeria’s Challenges – Gbajabiamila
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L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari and the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq at the EXPO 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 2/12/2021.
NEF Can’t Dictate To Buhari on Kanu’s Release – Ohaneze
FROM KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI
FROM SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA
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he Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ogun State Chapter, has cautioned the Northern Elders Forum over the statement credited to them that President Muhammadu Buhari should not release the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. THEWILL recalls that Kanu, who is currently standing trial at the court on treason, terrorism, among others, was re-arrested and repatriated through the joint efforts of security operatives and the Interpol. Speaking in an exclusive interview with THEWILL, the State Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mr John Ogunebunwa, said that NEF had no right to dictate to President Buhari on the release of Kanu because the country does not belong to the
northerners alone. Ogunebunwa accused the northern elders of trying to overheat the polity, while calling on the President to ignore the group’s statement and consider the Igbo elders’ request to terminate Kanu’s trial. “It is a very wrong opinion. The northern elders are trying to heat up the polity. Why should tell President Muhammadu Buhari not to release Kanu? “He (Buhari) has the power to release him. It is just a matter of directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to discontinue the case. “They (NEF) should take it easy because Nigeria belongs to all of us, it does not belong to the north alone,” he said.
Group Appeals to Makinde Over Displaced Traders
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he Eze Ndigbo of Ibadanland and Oyo State, Dr Alex Anozie, has made a passionate appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to come to the aid of displaced traders at Bodija Market in Ibadan, the state capital. THEWILL recalls that many of the traders were displaced when the shops they occupied were demolished. Dr Anozie, who is also the Chairman of the Non Indigenes Traditional Council of Ibadan and Oyo State (NITCIOS), in a statement issued last weekend, explained that the traders, who are mostly Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, among other
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Benue Vaccinates 190,000 Against COVID-19
tribes, had lost their shops and means of livelihood and thus, found themselves in a very precarious situation. He called on Governor Makinde to provide assistance to the traders, who have nowhere to go and no means of livelihood. “I want to passionately enjoin Governor Makinde to intervene in the affairs of these traders because they need help now. They are in a pitiable position and need all the help they can get. “The governor can assist by helping them to secure shops where they can relocate to so that they won’t have to suffer unduly,” he said.
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he Benue State Government has vaccinated over 190,000 people against COVID-19. The Director of Disease Surveillance and Immunisation at the State Primary Healthcare Board, Mr Joseph Kolove, who made the disclosure in Makurdi, said that massive vaccination would be flagged off in the state soon. According to him, the first and second phases of vaccination, which is targeted at a certain category of people has been completed, while the 3rd phase will involve both public and private facilities to ensure wider coverage. Speaking, an Assistant Director and State Epidiamologist, Dr Henry Ijabo, urged the state government to step up surveillance in order to ensure early detection and treatment, especially with the discovery of the Omicron variant of the virus. Ijabo stated that the rapid response team had been moving round to educate the people on the need to continue to observe the Covid-19 protocols. On his part, the State Risk Communicator, Mrs Mary Ike, said enough sensitisation had been carried out to educate the people, especially those that took the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, on the need to complete the vaccination. A participant, Mr Emeka Orji, advised the government to create vaccination points close to people’s homes and to ensure that full sensitisation on COVID-19 is carried out across the state to check the spread of the virus.
he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that to triumph over the challenges facing the country, Nigerians should overcome their differences in politics and religion, tribe and ethnicity. Speaking during a two-day national conference on information organised by the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values chaired by Odebunmi Dokun, Gbajabiamila identified information management as one of the keys to solving the country’s security problems. He said, “As we undertake this crucial assignment today, I would like us to keep a few things in mind. First is that right now, across the length and breadth of our beloved country, we are besieged by several security challenges that strike at the very heart of our continued nationhood. “Triumph over these challenges requires overcoming our differences in politics and religion, tribe and ethnicity, and building a national alliance against the forces that threaten us. Information management is central to success in this regard. “We have to do better at making sure that citizens understand the nature of the problems we face and are kept informed of our wins and losses and the sacrifices made by those who do battle on our behalf. “As technology and new media have democratised public debate to benefit citizens and nations, they have also created the ideal conditions for bad actors to spread misinformation and manipulate people in ways that threaten our societies.” The Speaker noted that with Nigeria’s diverse cultures and religions still working toward achieving a more perfect union, hate speech and other forms of misinformation and disinformation could quickly have a devastating real-world effect. “Therefore, countering misinformation by whatever proper and legal means are available is not a theoretical question but a responsibility that goes to the heart of our ability to continue to exist as one nation in peace, unity and prosperity,” he said. He charged stakeholders at the conference to be aware that in trying to prevent the worst consequences of misinformation and hate speech, there is a danger of going too far in ways that smother the marketplace of ideas and deprive citizens of their free speech rights. “That would be most unfortunate. As leaders and government policymakers, we must avoid that outcome by all means. To do that, we must focus on building legal systems and protocols that support free expression and robust public debate whilst holding to account those who in service of their narrow interests will seek to subvert our societies and harm our country using choreographed and mischievously curated misinformation,” he said.
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POLITICS
Setting Agenda for New PDP National Working Committee “From Senator lyorchia Ayu to every member of the National Working Committee, I salute you all for your dedication, vision and determination to return our party to its winning ways. I equally congratulate the selflessness of all our state governors and leaders, who ensured the necessary cordiality and efficiency that resulted in the successful conclusion of the convention. “You are all the new brave men and women who are now given the privilege and mandate to re-strategise, restructure, overhaul and rebuild the party as one giant behemoth that will champion and lead our nation towards a peaceful, unified and indivisible democratic journey. “It will not be an easy task. If you look around you, you will see that the nation is distempered in factional largeness. There are divisions everywhere. Bandits and no-gooders roam freely in all the corners of our nation. “From the Savannah to the Atlantic, from the Delta to the hills and the forests dark arbiters of ruin and destruction freely plow their dirty trade, sowing discord and destruction everywhere. “These dark avatars are not interested in the unity of our nation. These evil avatars are indifferent to the happiness of our people. They want to drag us all down towards the grim slope of perdition.
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“They must be stopped. They must be halted. They must be confronted with the superiority of our own bright vision.
BY AYO ESAN
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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on Thursday, December 9, 2021 swear in members of its new National Working Committee, who were elected during the party’s recently concluded national convention held in Abuja. The swearing-in ceremony, also scheduled take place in the Federal Capital Territory, will mark the beginning of another journey for the main opposition party as the tenure of the Prince Uche Secondus-led executive committee will expire on the same day. It should be noted that not one member of the party’s outgoing NWC was re-elected at the convention. The newly elected NWC members are fresh hands, although they may not be new to politics and governance. Led by former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, the 21-member NWC is coming at a time the party is in dire need of unity and cohesion. Political analysts and watchers of political developments in the country believe the composition of the new executive is solid enough to ensure the needed cohesion, but they think the task ahead is enormous. The party seems to be on the same page with these analysts as it recently organised a retreat for the members of the committee for the purpose of engaging them in short term training in political leadership. It also charged them on how to move the party forward as it prepares for the 2023 general election. Speaking on the unenviable task ahead of the new PDP NWC, an Abuja based political commentator, Ojo Oyeyinka, told THEWILL, “The task before the new PDP NWC is huge. The expectation is high and the wisdom needed to steer the ship safely must exceed that of King Solomon. If they, (NWC) fail, the party may not recover from their failure”. THEWILLNIGERIA
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Political analysts and watchers of political developments in the country believe the composition of the new executive is solid enough to ensure the needed cohesion, but they think the task ahead is enormous
“The first task is how to successfully pick the party’s candidate for the 2023 presidential election without rancour. That is the most dangerous task ahead”, he said. One cannot but agree with Oyeyinka on this, but most PDP leaders believe the task is achievable and that the success of the convention, from which most members of the NWC emerged through consensus, is a sign that the party is on the right track. Also speaking with THEWILL on the task before the new NWC members, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP and a member of its Board of Trustees, Chief Olabode George, addressed the new NWC members, urging them to start repositioning the party.
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He charged the Ayu-led committee to ensure that the PDP restores sanity, truth, justice, predictability, fairness and equitable balance to the country. “That is our ultimate burden. That is our template of a new dawn. That is our primary focus of renewal and a rebirth. Our nation needs peace. “We must demonstrate to the Nigerian people that we can steer them to a more redeeming course. We must show to the electorate that there is a better way to lead our people to a greater good. “We must never be detained by the ills of the past. We must never be held back by the encumbrances of ancient feuds. “Our nation is full of the best and the brightest across this God blessed geo- political space. We must encourage and cultivate the best of talents to rescue our nation from the present abyss. Let us shun ethnic or sectarian divisions. Partisan differences must never degenerate to a dark recourse to malice and hatred. “Let us return to the path of brotherhood and peaceful coexistence. Let us embrace civility and the liberating light of science. It is a welcome delight that our elections now will be conducted through electronic transmission of results. This will deepen the democratic process. “This is the time to heal the wounds. This is the time to rectify the wrongs. This is the time to preach the bond of collective oneness. This is the time to forgive and forge a common union predicated on equity, pivoted on fairness, solidify on the premise of justice, regardless of tribal or sectarian differences. “This is our challenge. This is our defining goal. This is the only road to reclaim the centre in 2023. May God bless our party. May God bless the Nigerian union,” George said. Also setting agenda for the new PDP executive, former Minister of Transport and BoT member of the PDP, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said “My charge to them is that we are having election in two years’ time and we believe that we are going to win •Continues on page 12
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POLITICS/INTERVIEW
2023 Not Realistic Until FG Tackles Injustice, Corruption – Onovo The Presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in 2015, Chief Martin Onovo, speaks on the Federal Government’s decision to remove the subsidy on petrol, the 2023 general election and other issues in this interview with AYO ESAN. Excerpts:
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We cannot abandon national capital investments in the refineries and continue with expensive and wasteful importation. We have concluded several years ago that the ruling party is deliberately deceitful and destructive. Also, the level of incompetence, deceit and corruption in the Muhammadu Buhari administration is unprecedented. This same administration confirmed that it had removed the subsidy previously. How is it that it continues to remove this subsidy repeatedly? The regime in its incompetence does not understand the macro-economic instability, waste and disruption associated with deregulating imported petroleum products. It is clearly contradictory to import petroleum products that we can very easily produce from our crude oil and our refineries. The ruling party in its manifesto deceived Nigerians that it will repair the refineries and build new ones. It has failed to do this, even after six years, because it was deliberately deceitful. The destruction of Nigeria will continue until the ruling party is removed from power. The National Assembly has adopted electronic voting and transmission of election results, as well as the direct primary in the Electoral Amendment Bill currently being tabled before the President. What is your take on this? We support electronic transmission of results from the polling units. This will check fraud at collation centres. We do not support the imposition of direct primaries on political parties because it is more expensive and less transparent. It is more difficult and almost impossible for INEC to supervise them. It can be very easily manipulated as we saw in the Anambra State APC governorship primaries. Will the lesser political parties be able to finance PAGE 10
Onovo
he Federal Government has said it will remove the subsidy on petrol in 2022. It also promised to give out N5,000 per person to 40 million poor Nigerians. What is your opinion on this decision? We know what is right. Our Constitution requires ‘SelfReliance’, but the ruling party prefers incompetence, corruption and dependency. What is right has been agreed to by NLC, MFC, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, TUC, ASUU, etc. Domestic refining is the answer not importation of petroleum products. Even the ruling party All Progressives Congresses had deceitfully included domestic refining in its manifesto. So what is right is clear.
direct primaries? All political parties are equal. We do not agree that there are “lesser” parties. Do you mean parties that do not hold major offices? Definitely all the parties are able to finance direct primaries, but they may have to sacrifice electoral integrity and transparency, which then defeats the democratic standard. If we agree that corruption is a cancer and that it is endemic, then, we must mitigate corruption decisively. To mitigate corruption, we must understand the principal drivers and do everything to eliminate or mitigate these drivers. The cost of campaigns and the use of slush funds are some of the confirmed principal drivers of corruption in political office. Therefore, it is wise to mitigate the cost of campaigns and also enforce campaign finance limits. Direct primaries are more expensive. Indirect primary is the prevailing practice at present and we have been used to that since 1999. They are also less expensive, less complex and easy to monitor. It is much easier to prevent the manipulation of indirect primaries. Indirect primaries are more representative of the democratic composition of a particular political party. Direct primaries are very easy to manipulate, as witnessed during the APC governorship primary election in
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The state governors in the North should stop seeing themselves as internal neocolonial masters. The North has unjustly dominated political leadership in Nigeria for so long
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POLITICS/INTERVIEW East is unfairly excluded from the presidency. This is a matter of national cohesion, democracy, unity and justice. Afenifere has already said that the SouthEast should produce the next president. Prof Sheriff Folarin has also said it and the Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Adewale-Martins has advised the same publicly. The South-East should produce the next president. Insecurity has posed a serious challenge to this country for some time now. How do we overcome it? It is very simple. The ruling All Progressives Congress is the direct sponsor of insecurity in Nigeria. Every ethical and informed Nigerian knows this. Foreigners know this. It is not a secret. To improve the security situation, we must apply the ‘Terrorism Prohibition Act’ and investigate and prosecute the leaders of the ruling party that are sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria. Before we can do that, we must constitutionally remove the ruling party from office. The governors of the southern states and their counterparts in the North are at loggerheads over which region should produce the next president. How do you see this development? The governors of the southern states are clearly right. The state governors in the North should stop seeing themselves as internal neo-colonial masters. The North has unjustly dominated political leadership in Nigeria for so long. What is your position on the controversy surrounding the collection of Value Added Tax? We must allow the courts to finally confirm the position of the law. My personal understanding of the law is that VAT is a state tax as determined by the High Court. Former military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) has suggested that the next president should be less than 70 years of age. Do you agree with him? IBB is clearly experienced and in the right direction, but we think that the next president should be less than 62 years of age so that if he spends two terms in office, he will still be less than 70 years of age.
Anambra State. Our position is that parties should be allowed to independently decide the mode of primary elections that they prefer. What is your reaction to the issue of zoning of political offices generally? Which part of the country should produce the next president? Zoning of political offices is a universal democratic standard because democracy requires representation and inclusion. In all the parts of Nigeria and at all levels, zoning is practised widely from sub-ward level to the national level. The Nigerian Constitution provides for federal character, which requires all parts of the country to be represented. Also, in 1999, the presidency was zoned to the South-West. Zoning is excellent because it ensures representation, promotes unity and mitigates domination. If you look at all Nigerian ‘Heads of Government’ since 1st October, 1960 and analyse their tenures in office, you will know that the North-West alone has dominated power for about 35 per cent of the time, followed by the North-Central and that the South-East has had only six months (less than 1 per cent of the time). So, the South-East must produce the next president. Otherwise, it will become obvious that the SouthTHEWILLNIGERIA
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Some southern states recently made laws that forbid open grazing. What is your take on this? Excellent. We need food, including animal protein, but the dead do not eat. Only the living can eat. If the availability of beef will lead to genocide, we can avoid beef or even become vegetarians. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and many other northern leaders have agreed that open-grazing must stop. All states must prohibit open grazing. The largest producers of beef worldwide use ranches. Ranching will improve security and productivity in Nigeria. How do you assess the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies during the Anambra State governorship election? We must remember that the Anambra State governorship election was off-cycle. So, it cannot be compared with a general election. We also know that the stakes are higher with presidential elections. So, we cautiously rate the Independent National Electoral Commission better after the Anambra governorship election than we rated them in the 2015 and 2019 charade elections. We pray that they learn the lessons and extend the improvement to the general elections. What is your advice to Nigerians as we move closer to the 2023 general election? Only the survivors can get to 2023. We should focus on the immediate existential threats facing our people at the moment. The 2023 general election can only be realistic when the issues of insecurity, injustice, corruption and domination are resolved. We must restructure Nigeria now.
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APC, PDP Differ On Ortom’s Performance FROM KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI
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enue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has raised an alarm that the PDP- led Samuel Ortom administration has ruined the state through poor performance, even as the PDP in a swift reaction, described APC as crying wolf over nothing. At a news conference in Makurdi, tagged: “The current state of events in Benue State”, the party said, it is greatly dismayed with the manner at which Governor Samuel Ortom and his supporters have been clutching at straws to foist the reasons for his poor performance on Senator George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs. The State chairman - elect of APC in Benue, Mr. Austin Agada, pointed out that the recent onslaught against the leader of APC in the state, Senator Akume was a mere tactics aimed at diverting the eagle eyes of Benue people. “While we may have tolerated this bashing for so long, governor Ortom has again embarked on a dangerous campaign of calumny, trying so desperately to run down the towering profile of Senator Akume, who is one of the very few former governors without criminal records. “The target of this campaign of calumny, we ultimately know is to lower Senator Akume who is highly celebrated by many Nigerians in the eyes of the public thereby, weakening his chances of emerging as the National Chairman of the APC, now that majority of members across all country are clamouring for his emergence to the exalted position”. According to Mr. Agada, the fraud allegations currently leveled against Senator Akume by Governor Ortom is clearly an act of political witch - hunt; asking why conjure a haphazard probe report about the Akume’s administration of many years now. “Same government had leveled N107bn allegations against former governor Gabriel Suswam’s administration but later nullified same. Will the same government not overrule itself tomorrow over this frivolous report that seeks to indict Senator Akume today”. He asked. According to the APC chairman - elect, allegations raised by the PDP government against Senator Akume is merely another diversionary tactics to take away Benue people’s eyes off another tranche of over N18 bn bailout federal government is to release to the State. “This, Governor Samuel Ortom has become strangely more loquacious and hostile, not just to his benefactor, Senator Akume but also to the Benue civil servants and pensioners he refused to pay their salaries and pensions; the internally displaced persons (IDPs) he described as those stealing from his cassava farm; and now, rudely referring to all Benue people as drunkards who idly start drinking as early as 9am daily”. APC notes with regret that rather than employ Benue people, the Ortom administration has perfidiously sacked thousands of youths who did their internship at the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), and were absorbed into the Benue State civil service by his predecessor. “Governor Ortom also sacked many other civil servants as ghost workers without employing others, an act that has skyrocketed the rate of unemployment in the state. Despite all the sacks, the salary wage bill of Benue under his administration has rather climbed to over N7bn based on his claims”. “What has Governor Ortom done to take the Benue man off the street and alcohol in the last 6 years. What has been the social intervention programme of his administration when businesses are rather closing down due to multiple taxations? This Government should be ashamed that despite its deliberate impoverishment of the state, Benue people can still afford a bottle of beer to sip and forget their poverty and misery”. The APC further alleged that no sector of the Benue economy seems to be working as workers are currently owed about seven months salary arrears, while primary school teachers and local government staff are owed for over one year, with pensioners owed for over 32 months arrears as well as gratuity.
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POLITICS •Continued from page 9
...National Working Committee demonstrate to Nigerians that years in opposition have not dented our will and desire to win and to govern for the benefit of our country. Nigerians look up to us to reunite this country, which has been badly divided over the past six years. Nigerians want to see that we are united and ready to govern.” “Surely Nigeria needs to be rescued and rebuilt. The damage done by the APC is pretty obvious – insecurity everywhere, including shared sovereignty with criminal and terrorist gangs, a collapsed economy with a comatose manufacturing sector, soaring prices, naira near worthless, interest rates very high, with the Central Bank of Nigeria picking and choosing winners and losers and virtually running a parallel government, (which even leaves the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo confused), collapsed infrastructure, terrorist sympathisers in government and confusion everywhere, as Fela would say. We must offer a clear, workable alternative to rebuild our country. “No other party in this country is better equipped and placed to rescue and rebuild this country than the PDP. We did it before. While memories may be short sometimes, most of us still remember the last years of military rule in Nigeria and the unstable, crisis-ridden and debt-ridden country that PDP inherited; a country shunned by the rest of the civilised world, a pariah state.”
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Speaking during the retreat, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, also said that Nigeria in urgent need of a surgical operation, adding that the country is in a permanent emergency.
the election. They must do everything within their powers to ensure that this comes to fruition. “The party has made up its mind that it is going to set up some committees that will work for peace and harmony within the party. I support this and I want them to also support reconciliation and peace moves. I know that the new Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, will do very well to ensure that it comes to fruition. When that happens, we can then work jointly to win the coming election. “I am optimistic that we are going to win the 2023 presidential election. That is why all of us are striving to achieve unity and harmony. We must achieve peace within the party. We are very determined to win the election because we know that for some years now, Nigerians have suffered enough and we want to stop their suffering. We want to stop disharmony and we want to move Nigeria forward. This should also be uppermost in the minds of our new managers. They should shun selfishness and ensure cohesion as we move towards 2023”. The PDP seems to be aware of the task ahead. The theme of the recent retreat for the new NWC members is ‘Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria.’ This shows that the party is preparing for proper governance of the country. The party was resolute in using the retreat to allow its new leaders and other important stakeholders to analyse the major issues posing challenges to its national unity, peace and progress. Speaking while delivering his opening address at the retreat, Ayu expressed the opinion that Nigeria needed to be rescued from the maladministration of the All Progressives Congress (APC). As such, the PDP, he noted, must set a clear roadmap on how best to help tackle the problems of the people and country.
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The party was resolute in using the retreat to allow its new leaders and other important stakeholders to analyse the major issues posing challenges to its national unity, peace and progress rebuild the country. The PDP helmsman pointed out that the party had allowed itself to be defined by the APC massive propaganda, saying that the PDP must go beyond just reacting to what the ruling party says about it. He continued, “This retreat is an opportunity for us to take stock of where we are as a party, how we got there, what went well and what went wrong and then collectively think of how we can do better for our party and, more importantly, for our country. “You may agree with me that in the last two election cycles we allowed ourselves to be defined by the APC with its massive propaganda machine. Are we going to allow that to happen again or will this retreat help to give us the tools and ideas to enable us define ourselves before an opponent does it?”
He said, “Nigeria has become badly brutalised, robbed and traumatised in the past six years. Our country is in very deep trouble. So we have a duty, and Nigerians expect us, to rescue and rebuild the country.”
“In my view, we can no longer be a party that just reacts to what the APC government does. No, we can’t be that anymore. We must be a party that thoughtfully articulates and designs a clear programme of where we want to take Nigeria, as well as how we hold the rudderless APC government to account.
He said the retreat was meant to recommit leaders of the party to the sacrifices they need to make in their quest to rescue and
‘We must be more than a party that just issues the occasional press statement condemning the APC government. We must
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Tambuwal said, “Our people are in want. The economy is in dire straits, with the exchange rate now at N540 to the US dollar. The prices of food stuff and essential commodities are unsustainable and clearly beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. Between 35 to 40 per cent of Nigerians are unemployed and women and youths bear the main brunt. Bandits, kidnappers, terrorists are having a field day almost unchallenged. Our children are not safe even in their schools. “Corruption still stalks the land. Nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry are common in APC’s Nigeria. Our infrastructure is still comatose. Trust and hope in Nigeria is at its lowest. Our lamentations can go on, ad infinitum. But the test of leadership is the ability to solve problems. What solutions will PDP offer? What is the way forward?” The governor said Nigeria must restructure to survive. “It must restructure its polity, economy, security and ways of doing things. It must embrace relative autonomy and decentralisation of power. This will unleash the energies of our people, especially, the young. It is time to allow Nigeria blossom. It is doable with all hands-on deck. “Can Nigeria survive another four years under APC rule? The answer is a resounding No. It is too frightening to contemplate. PDP remains the only credible alternative to APC and we cannot afford to fail Nigerians. We must keep hope alive. We can do it. Yes, we can, as Obama would say.” He gave the assurance that a revitalised PDP would live up to expectations and fulfill the words of our national anthem: “To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.” To Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, the PDP must evolve a structural process that will engender greater participation of women and youths in politics and governance. The governor insisted that women and youths must be given the opportunity to explore their full potential within the party and in government. He said that this segment of the population, which he described as the power house of electioneering activities as well as economic and social development of any society, should be allowed greater participation in policy making and implementation both in the party and in government. The question that analysts are asking is: Can the PDP bounce back in 2023 and return to governance of the country, which it abandoned in 2015 when the APC won the general election? Only time will tell.
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FEATURE
Africa Women on Board and Gender Equity en working in the legal work environment will suffer sexual abuse.” COO Oando, Dr. Alex Irune, in his own presentation, noted that “it is not the responsibility of individuals. It is the responsibility of organisations to create safe spaces in the workplace for everyone.” Ose Opeku Partner Law Crest, reiterated that the initiative is imperative because since “the legal practice has failed to self-regulate it has to be regulated. We can’t be defending the rights of people outside while trampling on the rights of those who work for us.” Speaking during her special address and also virtually, Sara Carnegie, Legal Director at the International Bar Association, reported that findings from the association’s global survey revealed “bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession is a global issue with nearly half of the female respondents from the African continent reporting having been sexually harassed in their workplace.” Speaking specifically on efforts by the Nigerian Bar Association to address the issue, Chinyere Okorocha, Vice Chair NBA Women Forum said it was critical that the issue is tackled from the younger generation. “One of the places to start is to have laws in place but laws have to be enforced. We have to encourage the younger people to unlearn bad behavior.”
L-R: Ayotola Jagun, Chief Compliance Officer, Oando Plc, Rotimi Odusola, Corporate Relations Director Guinness Nigeria, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, founder and co-chair AWB and Professor C. Agomo, former Dean, Faculty of Law University of Lagos and Chairperson at the launch of AWB of the Gender Equity Certification and Safety in the Workplace.
BY MICHAEL JIMOH senior male lawyer is sitting pat in his chamber along with a female subordinate. One time he commands the junior colleague to climb up a ladder and fetch a book from the topmost shelf. The woman is wearing a skirt. She dare not refuse. While up there, anyone can imagine what the man will be up to: a sneak peek, looksee of her from below.
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In another office in another place, a male staff sidles up to a female colleague bending over the photocopier and casually palms her behind. She is stunned beyond words. But he is her boss and she needs a job. Some men even go further. Harvey Weistein, co-founder and owner of MIRAMAX Pictures, is a living example. Now in the slammer as a serial sex offender, Weinstein is known to cajole his victims to give him a BJ and even force some of them to have sex with him. He is not alone. Nor have the male folk stopped harassing female colleagues at work. Making subtle amorous overtures or direct sexual advances to women at the workplace isn’t novel. Oftentimes, men are the instigators and their victims are women. Most times, too, the men are almost always superiors with the authority to hire and fire. Sometimes they induce their victims with promotions and other benefits. Victimized thus, some women seldom talk, possibly out of fear of losing their jobs or the stigmatization that will surely follow if they do. It is not only the victims of sexual harassment who suffer. “Workplace violence has grave consequences for the individual, the organisation in which the violence takes place as well as the larger society,” a panelist submitted at a recent discourse. On Friday, November 26 at the commodious basement of Wings Towers on Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos, guests heard several of such instances by women during the launch of Safety in the Workplace Initiative by Africa Women on Board. An independent non-profit organization, Africa Women on Board is committed to women’s leadership, economic empowerment and improvement of the realities of African women and girls all around the world. Founder and chairperson of AWB, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, told guests that Safety in the Workplace Initiative “is a significant and timely three-year project designed to facilitate change in workplace systems and reshape working environments to become places that foster female growth and career development.” THEWILLNIGERIA
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The first phase held that weekend and the focus was on the legal profession and institutions of higher learning. In her words, Balonwu insisted that AWB chose the legal profession because “many women legal professionals have been victims of abuse and harassment at the workplace. “We chose the legal sector as our first industry of focus because it provides both a challenge and a solution. Research from the International Bar Association (IBA) has shown that one in three female legal professionals will be subject to abuse during their careers.” “Conversely, we know that the profession can be an emblem of rights and equality, a pioneering industry in the reshaping of traditional work culture and can directly influence and drive policies to create a cascading effect across multiple sectors.” For an event mostly about women, it was no surprise that more than 80 percent of those present that day were of that gender. Leading the charge was the DVC of the University of Lagos, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa DVC, University of Lagos (Development Services) represented by Professor C. Agomo, former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos and Chairperson African Women on Board. Starting off her speech concerning sexual harassment, Agomo wondered when real change will come. She provided an answer herself. From the home, she said, “How you train your children is important because that’s when the socialization process begins.” It is a man’s world, so they say, with deep-rooted cultural practices in favour of the male folk. Still, Agomo counseled that another way to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace or institutions is by “getting rid of old cultures, unlearn them and relearn new ones.” Speaking virtually, Mary Beth Leonard, US ambassador to Nigeria, focused on “Gender Equity Certification.” Violence in the workplace against women is real, she said, even in her own country. In her submission and based on research by the International Bar Association (IBA) “one in every three female lawyers is sexually abused.” The AWB initiative, she said, couldn’t have been timelier. “Women have the same right to exist in the workplace as men do without need to justify their inclusion and, while there, they need to be safe. This three-year project is very timely and important because one out of three wom-
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Echoing this sentiment Yemi Candide-Johnson Partner Strachan Partners, counseled that “educational institutions should begin to train students to become change agents and advocates for safety in the workplace.” The AWB initiative, Balonwu told journalists post-event, is in alignment with SDG Goal 5 which aims to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. The three-year initiative is intended to assess and support institutions, legal and corporate firms prioritize and implement policies that close gender gaps, insisting that the era when mentorship is conflated with “sextorship” must stop. “Perpetrators must take responsibility for their bad behavior and they must be held accountable.” In her closing remarks, Professor Agomo thanked the participants and panelists for taking part in the proceedings while emphasizing that “the conversation has started. We are a generation and community committed to real change. We must all get on board to drive this catalyst in order to bring about a chain reaction. The culture of silence and cover-up has to stop now.” It is true that women are always victims of sexual harassment. But men can be harassed, too. Professor Ige Boladekun, Dean Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, cited instances of some female students cajoling lecturers to pass them after they failed their exams. He pointedly recalled the case of two such students who brought their mothers to appeal to a lecturer to pass them. His submission is that it is women who sometimes lead men on in their “desire for unmerited benefits.” The initiative had some panelists discussing some issues on and about violence in the workplace. “Safety in the (Legal) Workplace: The Role of Educational Institutions & Professional Bodies in Laying the Foundation” and “Safety in Educational Institutions: Taking the Lead, Learning from the Faculty of Law” were some of the issues tackled by presenters. Senior lawyers Chinyere Okorocha, Yemi Candide-Johnson of Strachan Partners, Ayotola Jagun, Chief Compliance Officer of Oando plc made presentations. Chairman of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Asue Ighodalo, Chidinma Lawanson, Country Head of Mastercard Foundation, Sandra Oyerwole, Onikepo Braitwaite of THISDAY, Olubukola Verheijen MD of Latimer Energy and Ernest Ndukwe, chairman of MTN also made speeches at the occasion. Dominated by women, there were also students and, of course, the press. The very first phase of AWB safety initiative in the workplace was a stunning success considering the very important dignitaries who graced the occasion as well as the issues discussed. Subsequent ones will be no less successful. “The time to talk about sexual harassment in the workplace is now,” Prof. Agomo pointedly stated. “There has to be structures on the ground.” AWB has made tat possible.
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EDITORIAL
Much Ado About 774,000 Special Public Works Programme
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here is no gainsaying the fact that the muchflaunted Special Public Works Programme (S PWP) has failed in meeting its main objectives. Conceived as a palliative mechanism of sorts, President Muhammadu Buhari had, over a year ago, approved the employment of 774,000 artisans and unemployed youth into the programme across the 774 local government areas in the country. Originally meant to provide succour to the beneficiaries in the wake of the COVI D-19 pandemic and the attendant lockdowns, which paralysed commercial and other business activities throughout the country, the programme was later marred by political manipulations, with members of the National Assembly fighting over quotas to be allocated to them. The struggle between members of the National Assembly and the supervising ministry over the mode of selection of the beneficiaries was the first challenge faced by the programme. Once that was resolved, manipulations and unnecessary backdoor selection of beneficiaries set in, even as the programme was turned to another job-for-the-boys and reward for party loyalty. The immediate past DirectorGeneral of the National Directorate of Employment (N DE), Dr Ladan Argungu, was a victim of the intense lobbying and manipulation as he was booted out of office for allegedly
tampering with the approved list of beneficiaries. “There were attempts at embarking on a ‘second list’, which was why the immediate former Director-General was removed. When I saw that, I complained to Mr President that the programme might fail because people did not follow the laid down guidelines…,” Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, was quoted as saying. Argungu’s sack, however, has not really sanitised the selection process and the programme as a whole. It is sad to note, and in fact, a shame, that over a year after the three-month programme was initiated, the Federal Government is still finding it difficult to pay a paltry N60,000 promised to each of the beneficiaries at N20,000 per month . Yet, the same government is considering an extension of a programme which aims and objectives have been defeated by bureaucratic bottlenecks and intense politicisation. More shameful is the fact that despite all the vaunting, noisemaking and politicisation of the programme, Keyamo shocked Nigerians when he disclosed that the Federal Government was yet to pay the sum of N7.3 billion to the remaining beneficiaries of S PWP, which is directly under the N DE. The minister made the shocking disclosure while defending the budget of his ministry before the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity last month in Abuja. Vice-Chairman of the committee, Senator Kabiru Barkiya, had
taken the minister up, saying, “In my state, Katsina, some of the beneficiaries were asked to open an account with a bank that has no branch in the state.” Keyamo, however, went on the defensive. “People who complained they did not get paid were not on the list that the supervising minister approved. The allegation that I hijacked the list does not make sense because I am the supervising minister of the N DE. The buck stops on my table. While I am the one who will choose those that will be on the list, it is my job to set the policy on how to choose the beneficiaries,” he was quoted as saying. The minister also laid the blame on bank issues, while promising that all payments would be disbursed to the beneficiaries before the end of the year. The year is almost running to an end
There were attempts at embarking on a ‘second list’, which was why the immediate former Director-General was removed. When I saw that, I complained to Mr President that the programme might fail because people did not follow the laid down guidelines…
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
This is really worrisome, even with the revelation by the Director-General of the N DE, Abubakar Fikpo, that the N52 billion appropriated for the scheme was domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which disburses money to the beneficiaries through selected commercial banks. “It is the Accountant General that instructs the CBN and then they effect the payment, which is why sometimes we experience failed payments,” Fikpo had said, adding, “We only intervene in the process when payment fails. We then communicate with the beneficiaries to sort out the issue with their banks.” Now that payment to some of the beneficiaries has failed woefully and the government is still making excuses over what was supposed to serve as a palliative, one year after, we wonder what the CBN is still waiting for. Just like every other government programme, the S PWP has been praised to high heavens by government apologists and cotravellers in the propaganda train, despite the fact that it has totally failed to achieve its objectives. The issue of trust, which has been a major challenge for the current administration, is also playing out with the implementation of the programme. Nigerians can now begin to see why unemployment is fast rising in the country, especially among the teeming youth. When the government cannot successfully implement a job creation programme that is paying peanuts to beneficiaries, we wonder how such government will be able to provide sustainable, dignifying and well- paying jobs to its increasingly growing army of unemployed youth in the country. We therefore call on the minister to urgently do the needful by liaising with the CBN towards ensuring that backlogs of unpaid allowances are paid to the beneficiaries across the country before the end of the year. We also call for a total overhaul of the programme to serve the purposes for which it was meant before embarking on another round of enlistment.
Austyn Ogannah Editor – Olaolu Olusina Deputy Editor – Amos Esele Politics Editor – Ayo Esan Business Editor – Sam Diala News Editor (Online) – Felix Oboagwina Copy Editor – Chux Ohai Cartoon Editor – Victor Asowata Entertainment/Society Editor – Ivory Ukonu Photo Editor – Peace Udugba Head, Graphics – Tosin Yusuph Circulation Manager – Victor Nwokoh
With youth unemployment in the country currently standing at over 42 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, we call on the Federal Government to step up its game and provide dignifying and sustainable employment to the youth instead of the so-called palliatives that are always hijacked by the political class without benefitting the vulnerable masses for which they are meant.
Nigeria Bureau: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria. info@thewillnigeria.com / @ THEWILLNG, +234 810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888. EDITOR: Olaolu Olusina @OLUSINA [Letters/Opinions: opinion.letters@thewillnigeria.com]
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now and there is no indication that the outstanding payment will be disbursed.
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OPI N ION
Jos Prison Attack as Message
BY JONATHAN ISHAKU
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unday’s daredevil security breach at the Jos Prison demonstrated the increasing contempt for the nation’s armed forces by terrorist gangs in the country. This prison is virtually in the centre of security establishments in the city, sharing a fence with the DSS and directly opposite the state headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force. The seat of the military outfit, Operation Safe Haven, is just uphill, probably only 200 meters as the crow flies! Although the nation witnessed similar outrage some months ago with the invasion of the premises of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, this particular incident occurred a day after a national newspaper, Daily Trust, carried on its front cover a story focusing on a pattern of attacks on Nigeria’s prison facilities nationwide. In Nigeria, it will take several days or months before the public is briefed (if ever) of preliminary findings on the incident (something that is done abroad within a few hours). In my earlier write up I said the attack on Jos Prison was “foiled” by security forces. I was misled by press statement of the prison publice relations officer. I take back that statement. For the records, it was a highly successful operation
from the terrorists’ standpoint, carried out in a clean and surgical manner. Apparently while the security men were busy surrounding the premises and believing they had trapped the invaders inside the prison, as we were told by the PRO, they had long bolted out. But not before they had freed 263 inmates, who, I believe, included the ones they came for, broken into the armoury, stolen ordinances and killed an armed officer. None of them was arrested. They, however, lost one individual in the exchange of fire. According to a source, Danbala Garba, the nine inmates that died during the attack were killed by the prison guards. I am not celebrating this failure of our security forces, but if I don’t retract the initial error it would be tantamount to conspiring against the truth and suppressing the urgent imperative of sharpening the teeth of national security: intelligence gathering, alertness, defensive and offence capacities, as well as cultivating the will to fight this menace with all means necessary. We know that prison breaks usually constitute a significant component in the gathering storm of terrorism in a country, either to free incarcerated comrades, free and recruit certain individuals of unique criminal skills or to simply steal ordinances. But the Jos attack also sent a clear message because apart from the guts displayed in the attack, it was evident that careful planning and
painstaking execution preceded it. The message is to confront all Nigerians with the truth about the dismal counter- terrorism measures, which the government or its agencies have claimed to put in place in the face of the deteriorating security situation. It seems any hope is baseless. The first line of tackling insecurity is the establishment of formidable intelligence gathering machinery, the purpose of which is to detect, infiltrate, arrest and/or abort terrorist acts before they are ever carried out. But what do we have here? Just imagine. How can tens or hundreds of illicit non-state actors aggregate in an urban city like Jos, conduct surveillance on such a strategic axis for many weeks probably and subsequently move to the target, armed and in large numbers, in daylight, completely undetected? To me it is no longer the question of whether we the masses are safe. The question now is whether our Government Houses and their occupants are safe! Let us get this into our skulls: Terrorists are not bandits. Bandits seek booties, terrorists seek power. That is where all this is leading to. •Ishaku is a senior journalist resident in Jos, capital of Plateau State.
NIPR: In Search of a Country
BY UKANDI ODEY
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post-independent Nigeria did not maintain a steady growth and development curve or trajectory long enough as expected, given its abundant human and natural resources. The national economy is as much raped as national politics has suffered a miscarriage, just as public service and moral rectitude have been plundered by ethical devaluation and dearth of national ethos. After surviving two military coups and a civil war, Nigeria has not been the same again. The general enthusiasm that the country witnessed at independence has since given way to the enthronement of tribalism, geocentric politics, nepotism, and other vices, as well as variants of corruption in the public service have left the imperatives of nationhood and integration as orphans of ethnic competition and tribal distrust. The absence of a detribalised, people-centred, transparent and inspiring leadership that can harness ethno-linguistic plurality into a unique national asset has meant that for a longer period, national unity and cohesion will remain at best paper proposals and issues for seminars and workshops. The failure of a neo-Nigerian spirit to thrive, endure and consolidate into ethos that regulate citizens’ perception, response and approach to national unity and integration, is also the bane of the failure of many public sector policies, plans, projects, programmes and budgets. National conversations rarely take off or succeed because of the absence of a ‘national’ coordinator, or coordinator with a ‘national’ outlook, acceptability and conviction. The situation is even worsening, with the degenerating insecurity situation, ethno-religious strife, suspicion and irresponsible/ irresponsive public sector governance. The effect and danger of the development is that the ideals of national conversation and trust building, as riders to national unity and cohesion, are threatened by closed cultural borders kept or maintained by cross-border distrust and lack of cross-border interaction. Forty-eight years after the take-off of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme, the programme, which appeared to be succeeding initially, has become entangled in a web of ethno-religious and geopolitical agitations that have in turn arrested the growth and flourish of the national process itself. Ethnic assertions, cultural distrust, religious fundamentalism, absence of peace and security across borders have been threatening the continuity of the scheme, including free flow and mobility of skills and services on a national scale. With banditry consolidating in the North-West and THEWILLNIGERIA
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insurgency still thriving in the North East, while kidnappers, killer herdsmen and other criminal elements continue to straddle the length and breadth of the country, national integration and unity have never been so threatened in the history of this country as it is under the subsisting political dispensation. Institutions are as much in want of structures and systemic order as professions and careers are in need of discipline and ethical culture. Routines such as recruitment, deployment, posting, and promotion are no longer based on the traditions of service track and excellence, but on privileges of tribe, religion, lineage, and even inheritance. The worst expression of nepotism and lack of commitment to nationhood, equity, good conscience and geopolitical balancing has occurred under the Muhammadu Buhari civilian administration. The President has superintended over lopsided appointments in the public service and ensured that the security architecture of the country is mostly under the control of a particular ethnic group. Never in the history of Nigeria have agitations for selfassertion been so entrenched and ethnic consciousness so promoted and patronised as is the case in the present political dispensation. Worsening standards and policy compromise have also grated on the potential of national integration, peace and security. On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, Prof Ishaya Tanko, commenced his single term tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos. Tanko, who is a native of Kebbi State, is coming as vice-chancellor after a six-month interregnum, during which an acting vice-chancellor had to be appointed to avoid a vacuum and diffuse the tension that became palpable as a result of the geopolitical, religious and ethnic sentiments that propelled the race and competition to succeed the immediate past vice- chancellor, Sebastian Maimako. This was because about 20 years ago, the political leadership in the country narrowed the stakes from a free and fair contest to one based on quota, state of origin and geographical location of the university. In which case, the appointment of Ishayo Tanko may be returning to and restoring the old order, in furtherance of the urgency to enhance national integration, peace, ethnic mutuality and rebuild the collapsed cross-border trust. Politics without ideological content, governance without focus, vision, will and sincerity of purpose have impoverished the productivity and potential of the economy, leading to a high unemployment rate, inflation, lack of food security, crime, weak national currency or exchange rate, hunger, poverty, malnourishment, diseases and deprivation. These
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in turn have heightened the sensibilities of tribes and geopolitical entities now agitating for self-determination, resource control and fiscal federalism. Ethnic clamour and secessionist agitations that have worsened under the Buhari regime are actually an expression of the failure of the national process, national integration project, collapse of trust and lack of conversation on a national scale. Such failures derive from the failure of leadership at the national level. The celebrated case concerning proceeds from Value Added Tax (VAT) is a vexed issue for national debate and conversation. Not all states and all citizens contribute ultimately and summarily to the VAT revenue. With the imbalances, especially in the distribution of infrastructures and amenities across the country, including the size and number of local government areas in states and geopolitical zones, revenue sharing and derivation formula have to be discussed and reconciled via and dialogue for unity and integration to be attained. Nigeria’s general elections also present a huge issue for conversation and determination. Ideals, such as signing of the Electoral Act, which was avoided by President Buhari before the 2019 general election, matter as rotation or zoning, voter education, voting, results collation and transmission are still replete with reservations. Similarly, the Constitution itself needs to be factored into the national conversations, especially as it has to do with autonomy for the third tier of government, that is, the local governments; autonomy for the legislature and the judiciary and the powers of state governors. That Nigeria has not succumbed to predictions of disintegration and, or, revolution does not suggest that the processes of implosion and divisionism are not alive and agog within; nor does it establish the lie that more predictions as possible may come true. The US has once again raised the alarm that Nigeria is in the last phase of its existence as a corporate entity, no thanks to the abundant indications of a failed state. A report by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Harvard Kennedy School said, “Nigeria has since moved from being a weak state to ‘a fully failed state’, having manifested all the signs of a failed country, including the inability of government to protect the citizens, large scale violence and festering insurgency”. Apparently on a salvage operation, the NIPR is right on time to pull the chestnut out of the fire, reinvent the missing links and all the structural essentials and restore Nigeria as a country?
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www. t hew illni g eri a. c om VOL .1 N O.4 3
Onyeali-Ikpe
DECEMB ER 5 - DECEMBE R 11, 2021 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R
Q3 ’21: Fidelity Bank’s Profit Slows on Net Interest Income Plunge BY SAM DIALA
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igeria’s Tier-2 lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, recorded a significant decline in net interest income in its third quarter (Q3) 2021 performance. This could alter the stakeholders’ expectations for the financial year as the result has many implications on the bottom line and dividend. Net interest income is the difference between revenues generated by interest-bearing assets and the cost of servicing liabilities. For banks, the assets typically include commercial and personal loans, mortgages, construction loans and investment securities. It helps to determine the extent to which a bank engages in the traditional role of creating facilities through loans and advances to the real sector of the economy. It is an important component of the firm’s profits. The unaudited interim financial statements of Fidelity Bank for the period ended September 30, 2021, which was posted on the website of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), showed that the bank’s net interest income plummeted by 45 percent from N26.68 billion in Q3 2020
As Domestic Carriers Partake In $78bn Dubai Airshow BY ANTHONY AWUNOR
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he recent Dubai Airshow, no doubt, was the biggest edition since it first began in 1989, with $78 billion worth of deals announced during the show. According to the organisers,
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the event welcomed more than 104,000 attendees and witnessed a 50 per cent increase in the number of visitors that attended the event, including global senior executives from 148 countries. The Airshow was bigger than Continues on page 33
to N14.65 billion in Q3 2021. At the 9-month levels, the figure also showed a decline of 13.4 percent – from N75 billion in 2020 to N64.95 billion in 2021, notwithstanding that loans and advances to customers rose to N1.61 billion in Q3 2021 from N1.27 billion in Q3 2020 a 21.11 percent upward jump. Although gross earnings rose from N49.27 billion in Q3 2019 to N62 billion in Q3 2020 representing 26 percent, the impact was vitiated by the decline in net interest income with overall negative impact on the profit. It also eclipsed the gross earnings’ positive performance at 9-month level which showed a N20.32 billion rise or 13.11 percent from N155.03 billion at September 30 2020 to N177.35 billion as of September 30 2021. It, again, dwarfed the positive record in profit after tax (PAT) which rose to N26.51 billion during the 9-month period to September 2021, compared to N20.40 billion in the corresponding period of 2020 – representing 30 percent. The report further revealed that interest expense rose
MORE INSIDE Innoson Wins 2021 Auto Manufacturer of The Year Award PAGE 41
Ogun Tasks Farmers On Preservation Of Farm Produce PAGE 41
Continues on page 15
COVID-19: Sterling Bank Partners LASG On Mass Vaccination Campaign BY SAM DIALA
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n a bid to ramp up the vaccination of people against the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, Sterling Bank Plc has announced a partnership with the Lagos State Government to launch a vaccination campaign. The campaign is expected to create an opportunity that will enable individuals to book for their vaccinations at private hospitals by visiting their website. Continues on page 41 THEWILLNIGERIA
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AVIATION/BANKING As Domestic Carriers Partake In $78bn Dubai Airshow
Q3 ’21: Fidelity Bank’s Profit Slows on Net Interest Income Plunge Continued from Page 16
Continued from Page 16
from N18.16 billion in Q3 2020 to N33.63 billion in 2021or 85.19 percent – a trend that reflected in the nine-month period as of September 30, 2021, which recorded N72.45 billion as against N57.46 billion in the preceding period or 26 percent. Operating expenses, which rose to N9.86 billion in Q3 2021 from N8.97 billion in Q3 2020, or 9.94 percent, was driven largely by three major elements: banking sector resolution cost, deposit insurance premium and outsourced cost.
L-R: Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, Mr. Christian Scherer; Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, Mr. Mfon Udom; Governor of Akwa Ibom State , Mr. Udom Emmanuel after signing the agreement papers for aircraft orders at the Dubai Airshow recently.
the pre-COVID-19 pandemic edition held in 2019 in terms of the total number of visitors and deals announced. It was also a significant milestone for the defence and space sectors, which saw a range of deals and agreements declared. Some of the notable deals, which took place during the event, included Airbus who announced orders and commitments totalling 408 aircraft (269 firm orders and 139 commitments). Nigeria’s indigenous airlines were not left out in the huge records of aircraft purchase at the show. For instance, Ibom Air, owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, used the opportunity to place an order for 10 A220 aircraft with Airbus at the event held at the purpose built DWC event arena in Dubai. The Group Manager Marketing and Communication of Ibom Air, Annie Essienette, hinted that working in collaboration with the Airbus team, Ibom Air took an innovative approach to making the choice of the A220. He said the airline had started by wet-leasing two (2) A220s for a year, to test the suitability of the aircraft for their needs. “Within six months of this process, the airline was able to validate the A220 as the right choice for its domestic and regional aspirations. “The order of the 10 Airbus A220 is in line with the airline’s aggressive growth plan, which will see it expanding its footprint into new domestic routes, as well as regional routes covering West and Central Africa in the immediate future”, Essienette added. Also Overland Airways made a firm order for three new Embraer E175 regional jets, plus rights for the purchase of another three at the Dubai Airshow 2021. Speaking on the order, the Chief Executive Officer of Overland, Capt Edward Boyo, said it was based on the confidence that the right moment for investment had come. “We are confident that this is the right moment to invest, as regional aviation is on an optimistic post-pandemic recovery,” he said. The deal is worth $299.4 million, at list prices, if all purchase rights are exercised and the aircraft will be delivered with a premium class THEWILLNIGERIA
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cabin configuration and 88-seats from 2023. Vice-president for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Embraer Commercial Aviation, Cesar Pereira, commented on the order: “We are proud of this partnership with Overland and to support their regional expansion. We are seeing a growing long-term demand for rightsized aircraft to deliver profitable domestic connections in Nigeria.” The E175 is Embraer’s smallest of the E-jet family and the only one not to have been reworked into the new technology E2 configuration. It has proven to be a popular aircraft during the pandemic, offering incredible efficiency and the right sort of capacity for the depressed market size. “The aircraft will enable Overland Airways increase its domestic flights and expand more regional routes. “Our customers will really enjoy all comfort in the E175, and we appreciate our partnership with Embraer, “ Boyo added. Timothy Hawes, managing director at Tarsus Middle East, organisers of Dubai Airshow 2021 said: “It has been a truly incredible Dubai Airshow. The event has been a real testament to the resilience, robustness and adaptability of the aviation and aerospace industries to come back with such strength after the pandemic. “We have seen an industry transition with significant levels of innovation, technological advancement and digital transformation, right across the show with many exhibitors displaying brand new solutions. There have also been greater commitments towards sustainability and decarbonisation, which is of critical importance across the globe. The attendance levels of global senior executives from across the industries have never been higher than this year. “We thank the UAE leadership for their continuous support, trust and guidance in helping make this the biggest ever event of its kind. $78 billion worth of deals truly shows that the industry has an exciting and prosperous future with partnerships and collaboration at its heart. “Dubai Airshow is recognised as a world-class platform that shapes the future of the aerospace sector and we thank everyone involved for helping to make the 2021 edition a truly pivotal moment and a resounding success.” THEWILLNIGERIA
The rise in the bank’s total net fee and commission income from N3.34 billion to N6.3 billion in Q3 2020 and Q3 2021, respectively, representing 88.2 percent was driven majorly by ATM charges that grew by 89.8 percent from N833 million in Q3 2020 to N1.58 billion in Q3 2021 and accounts maintenance charge, which jumped significantly from N731 million in Q3 2020 to N1 billion in Q3 2021 representing 45.41 percent. Cheque issue fees of N25 million in both Q3 2020 and Q3 2021 recorded the bank’s least income from fees and commissions. Fidelity Bank’s performance, in the last five years, has been one of mixed fortune, especially as the lender, like its competitors, tries to wriggle out of the COVID-19 pandemic effects, which worsened the hostile operating environment for the financial service industry. The 34-year-old deposit money bank recorded a decline in PAT in 2020 from N28.42 billion in the previous year to N26.65 billion. The result impacted negatively on the gains recorded in 2019 when PAT rose 24 percent from N22.92 in 2018 to N28.42 billion. The bank’s profit performance moderated after the significant result in 2017 when PAT rose by 225.87 percent from N5.4 billion in 2016 to N17.76 billion in 2017. Net interest income also plummeted in 2020 to N87.26 billion or 1.2 percent from N88.34 billion in 2019. Between 2016 and 2020, net interest income rose from N26.43 billion to N87.26 billion or 230.15 percent. Total assets rose from N2.57 trillion to N3.18 trillion as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2021 representing 23.7 percent. The bank paid a dividend of 22 kobo per share in 2020. “If the bank recorded such a huge decline in net interest income, it suggests that it has issues with its lending portfolio or that serious adjustments must
“
Fidelity Bank performance, in the last five years, has been one of mixed fortune especially as the lender, like its competitors, tries to wriggle out of the COVID-19 pandemic effects which worsened the hostile operating environment for the financial service industry have been made along the line. You need to find out the sanctions that the regulatory authorities have imposed on the bank for credit facility violations,” said Owolabi Afolabi, a financial expert. Afolabi told THEWILL that Fidelity Bank shareholders should expect a drop in dividend this year, except there is tremendous improvement in the bank’s net interest income in Q4 2021. The National President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Boniface Okezie said the only way to reverse such a trend is by the management to devise ingenuous strategies. He told THEWILL in a note that “they need to work hard to post good profit that will lead to paying good dividend. That is my concern as an investor”. The Corporate Communications Department did not respond to a request for comment. The Chairman, Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Mukhtar Mukhtar commended the bank for the Q3 performance, noting that the operating environment has been challenging. “Banking had never been this difficult. Honestly, realising a 7.2 billion Naira PAT is a big feat. We must commend this performance; in spite of the decline, it is still profitable. Secondly, no company can boast of upper figures all the time. Business is a game of profit and loss. Fidelity Bank has been consistent in profits and dividends over the years, so this slight decline will not discourage us,” he said in a note to THEWILL. Fidelity Bank was among the 10 deposit money banks sanctioned a total of N2.5 billion by the financial regulatory authorities in 2020 for various market infractions. Its share of the sanctions was N893.8 million.
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MARITIME
Barge Operations: Improving Job Creation, Activating More Businesses at Lagos Ports BY TIMI OLUBIYI
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here problems exist and persist, there are usually opportunities. This is the case in Lagos ports, where business opportunities abound alongside the perennial issue with vessel, truck, and cargo congestions. The ports, Apapa and Tin-Can, are the busiest in Nigeria, accounting for why the congestions exist and cargoes remain trapped. This situation makes cargo evacuation difficult and ultimately affects the ease of doing business in the ports and their environs. These situations continue to hinder trade, free flow of traffic and ease of doing business in and around the Apapa area of Lagos. According to findings, the vessels calling at the Lagos ports suffer extraordinary delays. The waiting periods at the terminals exceed 20 days, which is bad for economic reasons. The findings further showed that the congestions are largely due to inadequate and aging infrastructure, unautomated systems, bad and under-construction roads. In addition, the poor state of the rail system means 90 per cent of cargo cleared at the port have to be transported by road. These challenges are prevalent and, from information gathered, some shipping lines sometimes divert Nigeria-bound cargoes to ports in neighbouring countries. With the perennial congestion and terminal operators running very low on yard space, there is a need for short- to medium-term solutions before the government comes up with a lasting resolution to the challenges. In the meantime, opportunities exist in barge operations to ease cargo evacuation processes at the ports. From indications, barge operations have been initiated by maritime regulators to reduce the congestion at the ports, but it is high time more attention was paid to it and the benefits thereof. For readers unaware of what a barge is, it is a wide and flat-shaped boat, like a raft, built mainly for river and canal transport of bulk goods. The main reason for this particular shape is to ensure that the cargo-carrying capacity is enhanced and more bulk can be hauled in and out conveniently. Therefore, efficient and regulated barge operations can effectively to resolve the congestion issue. This option can drastically reduce the pressure on the roads if adequately regulated and put to use. In my opinion, if harnessed with adequate technology, barge operation can improve the current situation at the ports, particularly the traffic gridlock in and around Apapa. Without a doubt, barge operations can reduce the dwelling time of cargo and turnaround time on vessels calling at the Lagos ports. Further to this, using barges to evacuate cargo from the ports can become a sustainable way to reduce the burden on Nigerian roads. in the meantime. If the operation and setup are done effectively, it can help reduce the overall cargo clearing cost. In fact, if barge operations are encouraged on our waterways into the hinterland, the human and trailer traffic going into the ports will reduce significantly. In addition, if barge operations are effectively adopted, the ports’ capacity to receive more imports would be enhanced and more shipping lines will be encouraged to call at the Lagos ports. Recall that Nigeria has the population, market, businesses and has an import-dependent economy. Therefore, barge operations can become an essential part of intermodal transportation in the country, a quick way to ensure seamless cargo evacuation from the ports.
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… the barge operations can easily compliment the already established architecture at the ports and ease the high volume of traffic in and out of the ports
Currently, cargoes from the ports are moved or evacuated mainly by trucks, while a very insignificant number is moved by rail. Barge operations can help improve the evacuation process at the ports. For example, a large number of the traffic entering the ports is to deliver empty containers. An alternative to these drop-offs of empty containers can be through barges to the ports, without the pressure on the roads and the long queues of articulated trucks at port entries. Recall, most of the time, a truck can only transport one container, irrespective of the size of the container. However, a barge can take at least twelve (12) 40-foot containers at once. Therefore, container barging can form key succour to the current congestion at the ports and promote ease of moving cargo out of the ports. A good illustration of how barge operations can be effective can be seen in the arrangement to move 500 containers out of the Lagos ports in a day. The current situation will require 500 articulated trucks. However, only 42 flat container barges will be required to move the 500 containers to the hinterland, menaing there will 500 less cars on the road per day. This will adequately decongest the port and the roads over time. In my opinion, barge operations can easily compliment the already established architecture at
the ports and ease the high volume of traffic in and out of the ports. So, it is safe to say barge operations ought to be part of the architecture of the ports and consideration should be given to improve intermodal transportation around the country. Considerably, for ease of cargo movement and to further promote ease of doing business at the ports, barge operations will assist. It will create jobs and help activate more new businesses in that ecosystem. Port terminal operators (companies that operate terminals) may need to align their operations with barge operations and ensure that barge loading points are created at their various terminals to grow and support this line of business. When a more enabling environment exists, it expands opportunities and can be achieved at the ports with barge operations. In fact, it will drive job creation, promote more business creation and value-added services within the maritime sector. In reality, it will improve service delivery and business competitiveness at the ports. Truckers and haulage companies will eventually be challenged to innovate, reduce charges, and improve service delivery time. In conclusion, there is a need to reduce cargo dwell time at the ports from twenty-one (21) days to the regional average of seven days and achieve efficient trade facilitation and ease of doing business at the ports. In the meantime, this can be achieved through the use of barge services. Therefore, to support this cause, key stakeholders in the maritime sector, regulators, government agencies—National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA; Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC; Nigeria Port Authority, NPA; Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA; Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, and Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA— need to work on barge operation regulations, licensing and registration, market entry and exit modalities, service minimum standards and standardization, security, safety, insurance, tariffs, pricing, and others to ensure stable operations of barges in the country. Good luck and God bless Nigeria! •Dr Olubiyi is an entrepreneurship and business management expert. THEWILLNIGERIA
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DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021 DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnigeria.com
ENIOLA BADMUS
The Jolly Good Actress THEWILLNIGERIA
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Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus speaks with SHADE METIBOGUN about her acting career, the challenges she encountered as an actress and why she is celebrating 20 years as an actress
Badmus
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D CELEBRATE 20 YEARS IN NOLLYWOOD – ENIOLA BADMUS Y
ou will clock 20 years as an actress this December. How does it feel celebrating such a landmark? I feel super excited and elated. I feel so good about myself. I feel fulfilled but not fully because I am still on a journey. I thank God that I don’t look like what I have been through.
What do you mean by not being fully fulfilled? What I mean to say is that I am still on a journey. I am a work in progress and I am still growing. I am still striving, but I am not there yet. I know I am trying and will continue to try. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I can assure you that I will keep trying. What challenges have you had as an actress and how were you able to overcome them? Challenges are part of life. There will definitely be one challenge or the other, but the way you handle it is the most important thing. Every industry and every career has its own challenges, but I will say that my journey has been a bit fair, maybe because I am a friendly person. I can relate with anyone. I respect people for who they are and I can manage anyone. Whether they bring good vibes or negative ones, I know how to handle everyone. A lot of people came into the film industry and left within a year or two. What has been your staying power? My childhood prepared me for my career. I was a member of the drama unit in secondary school. I also studied Theatre Arts at the university. I was raised for what I am doing now. I come from a background of acting. The experiences I had prepared me for what I am doing now. Didn’t your parents oppose your decision to start a career in acting? They did not like it. They told me that it was school they sent me to and not to become an actress. But I studied Theatre Arts. I don’t know what they were thinking. Both of them didn’t like it. It wasn’t until people started telling them that they saw me on television that they changed their attitude towards my career. After people started telling them that
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they had not been seeing me in the movies, both of them just left me. What are the things you usually consider before accepting a movie script? I have to know the story line. I have to know the producer, the director and the people that I will be working Badmus with. A good work will always be a good one. Once the script has a good story line and it is well put together, I will accept it. You are planning to launch a book for your 20th anniversary. What is it all about? I just want to tell my story. The book is about my childhood experience, things that happened in the industry, my journey so far, from childhood to adulthood. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag yet. Let us wait till the book is launched and people read it. You seem to be comfortable with your sturdy physique. How easy has it been to close your ears to social media comments on your size and weight? It has not been easy for me, I must say the truth. But my upbringing prepared me for everything. My mother has a carefree attitude and she has a good heart, too. She is always free with everyone. She doesn’t take anything to heart. I think I took after her. I don’t keep grudges. If I have issues with you, I will speak my mind and that is it. I just try as much as possible to be free and happy with everyone. As much as people talk about my weight, I am not sure I have addressed any hater about it. I live my life as if they don’t exist. That is one of the things that guards my mind. That is why most things don’t get to me. I know that such things can break some people. It makes them to be distracted from what they are doing and lose focus. In spite of it, my eyes are always on the prize. I stay focused because where I am going is much more important to me. If you insult me today, it does not mean I will not be paid tomorrow. It is really not part of me to reply my detractors. Sometimes when they insult me, I
go to the comment section and read up what they wrote and laugh over it. I come first in my decision making, I can’t be thinking for you. How come you have lost a lot of weight? First of all, I had planned that when I celebrate my 20 years on stage I would be showing a new me and I worked towards it. It wasn’t a day’s journey. I worked for several months. I have been filming my process of weight loss and it is titled My Weight and I. This is one of the things we shall bring out next year. What was it like? No weight loss is easy. I am doing a lot. I am using some products that I don’t want to disclose till the appropriate time. I am also filming the journey as well. When I get to my desired weight, I will share the experience with my fans. What is your desired weight? I don’t know for now. I just know that I don’t want to weigh more than 100kg. You are an actress, entrepreneur and content producer. How do you manage to juggle all at once? It has not been easy, really, but I can tell you that my mouth is very wide. I need more money and you know that man shall not live by bread alone. I just need more money and I have to do more in other to get what I need. Many actresses can hold a grudge over a frivolous thing. What do you think is responsible for this? THEWILLNIGERIA
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There is no way many people will be in the same place and not fight among themselves. Everybody can’t behave the same way. It is not possible. We were not created equally. Some people are stupid, some are sane and some are mad. In the film industry, there are people from different walks of life. We cannot all think the same way. For me, I don’t have issues with anyone. If you have a grouse with me, then you have a problem because I am a jovial person. I tend to manage every situation and I tend to manage everybody. I can step on toes, but once I realise it, I will apologise. I am always the first to apologise. Most of those things don’t really matter to me. That is why it is easy for me to apologise, if I offend you.
How was it like growing up? My growing up was fantastic. I grew up with my father. At some point, I went to my mother. My parents are not living together. I attended Maryland Convent Private School and Airforce Primary School in Ikeja. I had my secondary education at Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu Ode. I have two degrees. I studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan and Economics at Lagos State University. It was my father’s decision to get a second degree in LASU. A lot of women don’t like to talk about their age, but a controversy surrounds your own age. How old are you? The reason for the controversy is because I am friends with my older colleagues in the industry. When you see me with such people, you will think we are in the same age group. I think I am the youngest among my friends. They even bully me for it.
Who are your friends in the film industry? When you say friends, maybe your definition of friendship is not my definition of friendship. I have friends. There are people that I exchange pleasantries with. I think I have more of those people in the industry. The closest person to me is Funke Akindele-Bello. I have other people like Bimbo Thomas and Iyabo Ojo. It is just that I know the level of friendship I have with everyone. I relate with people at different levels, I must tell you the truth. I can’t be sitting here and lying that I have the same rapport with everyone. It is not possible. Even God did not create all of us equal. There are some people that you will like more than the other person. That is life.
Why do you want to celebrate 20 years in Nollywood? I want to have a party. I want to host people. I am planning to host 800 guests. It is a celebration for me. 20 years as an entertainer is not easy. It is huge. I never thought I would be here 20 years after. Even when I started, I just wanted to be acting and that was it. So, I want to have a party. I want to have fun with my colleagues, friends, my god-father and every one that I met in the course of my career. I just want them to come and celebrate with me. Everyone that has been part of my story and my history, I want to see them all that day.
But Iyabo Ojo called you out not long ago over Toyin Abraham’s movie, The Ghost and the Tout? That is quite recent. I am talking about some years ago. We have been together for a very long time. Are you still on speaking terms with Iyabo Ojo? I don’t have issues with anyone. If you have issues with me, then you have a problem. Iyabo Ojo is one of the people I can point to and say I have people in the industry. Attaining 20 years in the movie industry means you have considerable wealth of experience that you can share with people aspiring to be actors or actresses. If you are to advise such people, what will you tell them? If you are interested in becoming an actress, you have to be ready, mentally, physically and emotionally. When I started out, I was only seeing the movie part of it. I didn’t know there is a business side to acting, which is what we are enjoying today. I am talking about things like endorsement, branding and anchoring. They are the business part of the job. It was just about the job back then. I didn’t know I could leverage the business aspect. But, we thank God, we are moving. We are not there yet, but we are hoping to get there. Can you compare the industry when you started out to what it is now? Between the time I started out and now, a lot has happened. Obviously the technical part of it has changed. The camera we used back then is not what we using now. We have different big brands now. When we started, the culture of going to the cinema was not like it is today. It has improved greatly. A lot of people go to the cinema to see our films now. Can you recall one of your lowest moments as an actress? That was when I was not getting movie roles in the industry. Despite the fact that I had been around for some time, roles were just not coming. The big break didn’t come on time. I featured in one Yoruba movie then, Hundred Years. That was when they started calling me Wule Bantu, which was not a proper break for me. It was not until Jenifa was released in 2009 that light finally shone on me. People got to know Eniola Badmus, Gbogbo bigsgirls and today, we are still bearing the nickname Gbogbo bigsgirls. Why do you think you weren’t getting roles back then? There was a whole lot of stereotyping. They were stereotyping me to a particular role just because they were body shaming me directly and indirectly. They said I was too fat for some roles. Some said I wouldn’t be able to carry my body. A whole lot went down emotionally for me. It got to a point where the new actors who came after me would be getting roles and I remained stuck. I would introduce them to producers and they will eventually abandon me for those new actors because I don’t have the kind of body that they have. That is why I made up my mind to shed weight before my 20th anniversary in Nollywood. Have you always been this big, even before joining Nollywood? THEWILLNIGERIA
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If you are interested in becoming an actress, you have to be ready, mentally, physically and emotionally. When I started out, I was only seeing the movie part of it. I didn’t know there is a business side to acting, which is what we are enjoying today Yes, from childhood. A lot of people will see my pictures from childhood during my event. We are putting all that together. I have always been chubby. Are there still stereotypes in the movie industry? There are many cabals in the industry. Everybody belongs to a clique. You have your own people you would love to use for some roles in the industry. There are some producers that would say they can’t use a particular person in their movie. In my own productions, I only cast people that I know will be available for what I want them to do. And they are people who will do the job well for me. Like my last movie, I didn’t even have my people in it. Most of the people I chose to work with were first timers and they performed very well. You love to attend parties and to spray cash on celebrants. How rich are you? I don’t have the kind of money that people think I have. I only manage to do what I can do. I am just a cheerful giver. Even if it is the last kobo on me, I will still share.
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After your anniversary what more should we expect from you? I am still in the journey. People should expect more from me. I will be churning out great movies from my stables. I am also into other things as well. I am into grocery business, it is called Enibad Essentials and we sell American brands of groceries. There is Enibad Production, the movie aspect of my business; Eniola Badmus TV, where we stream entertainment contents and events on YouTube. I also have a clothing line, Da Big Line clothing for plus size people. I have a new project I just shot. It is titled Whiskers. It is coming soon on Netflix and other platforms, if possible. But for now, we are pushing for Netflix. We are also planning a new series. We are still producing more movies under Enibad Productions.
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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU
OLORI HADIZA ELEGUSHI SHUNS CO-WIFE, OLORI SEKINAT’S BIRTHDAY PARTY F
associated with Olori Sekinat attended the party to felicitate with her. But conspicuously missing from the crowd was her co-wife, Olori Hadiza, the daughter of prominent Kano politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai. Hadiza’s absence at the party simply confirmed that both Olori Hadiza wives of Oba Elegushi were still not on speaking terms with each other. While Sekinat sees Hadiza as students of the Lagos an usurper, who has come to reap State University. She must have where she didn’t sow and to divide thought that their love would the full attention her husband has stand the test of time without a been giving her, Hadiza considers her third party. But she was wrong. co-wife a greedy person who wants After three female children the dashing monarch all to herself and perhaps longing for a heir when he is clearly allowed to marry as apparent, Oba Saheed Elegushi many wives as possible, as a monarch made his intentions known about and Muslim. taking Olori Hadiza, as his second At their husband’s 45th birthday party wife. Expectedly, Olori Sekinat earlier in the year, the rift between protested vehemently against both women came to the fore when this, but she soon calmed down Sekinat remained glued to the side after emissaries visited her and of the monarch, never giving Hadiza reassured her of her rightful place. a chance to come close to him except Olori Hadiza eventually bore the when it was time to cut the birthday monarch a son and heir apparent. cake. Thereafter, she went back to To keep both wives happy and sitting quietly with her retinue of ensure peace in his home, he had friends and eventually left the party. to scale up his spending pattern Olori Sekinat has always thought by providing them with some of the world of her husband, believing the finest things that money can that he has eyes only for her. Their buy. Who says you can’t have it all love dates back to their days as when you have the means.
Olori Sekinat
ollowing her philanthropic gestures to elderly residents and market women within and around Eti Osa Local Government Area and Ikate-Elegushi, to mark her 45th birthday, Olori Aramide Sekinat Elegushi succumbed to pressure and finally threw a party, two weeks after her birthday. The queen had initially planned to do something different, away from partying, which informed her hitting the streets to celebrate with ordinary folks through her Queen Sekinat Foundation. She gave out gift items to market women, presented cash gifts to some, bought goods on display from others and organised a free eye test to about 150 elderly people with a 100 of them going home with free eyeglasses and medication. The lavish birthday celebration took place at her events centre, The Monarch, in Lagos. For dress code, the guests were required to wear normal western-styled clothes. Olori Sekinat wowed her guests, including the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Adewasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Prohetess Funmi Lucas, Folashade Okoya, actress Toyin Abraham, her mother inlaw and many others in a floor-length shimmery gold dress complete with a crown. King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, who had just married a new wife, thrilled the guests to his brand of Fuji music. Everyone who knows or is closely
Ini Edo Stuck Between Married Lover And Love Interest F ollowing the demise of her relationship with wealthy businessman and CEO of Stanel Group, Stanley Uzochukwu, Nollywood actress, Ini Edo, proved that she isn’t one to wallow in self-pity and quickly moved on. Afterwards she allegedly became entangled in an affair with a Delta Stateborn businessman called Oghenekome or simply Kome. Just like Stanley who has his hands in several pies, Kome is wealthy and has his tentacles spread across various sectors of the economy. He is a hotelier. One of his hotels is located on the popular Fola Osibo Street in Lekki, Lagos. He also owns a bottling water company where one of Ini Edo’s female relatives earns her living. He is involved in many other businesses and loves flashy cars. Kome is married with three male children. His wife is a businesswoman, who reportedly runs a boutique in the same neighbourhood where his hotel is located. Like Stanley too, Kome showered Ini Edo with love, affection and some of the
best things that money can buy until her interest in him began to wane. Ini is alleged to be interested in hooking up with a former love interest called Ifeanyi Nwune. Ifeanyi is a US-based entertainment entrepreneur, who runs a string of businesses under his One Shrine Management Company. He also runs an avant-garde fashion outfit, I.N Official; a Los Angeles based record label, Soundgod Worldwide, with singer, Runtown as one of his signees, alongside other entertainment ventures. This perhaps explains why Ini spent about three weeks in the states between October and November, under the guise of a holiday trip, but in a bid to allegedly solidify her relationship with Ifeanyi. Unfortunately, Kome is alleged to be unhappy with Ini’s decision to end their affair and move on. He has been doing everything possible to prevent her from starting a relationship with Ifeanyi who is single. He is believed to have issued threats to the latter and Ini
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is allegedly uncomfortable with this. Well, it remains to be seen who comes out unscarred from this threesome battle. Ini, who used to be married to a businessman, Philip Ehiagwina ended the union due to allegations of infidelity by both parties. The union produced no child and Philip has since given love a third chance with another woman.
Alleged Thorn In Ikedi Ohakim’s Flesh Called Chinyere Amuchienwa
Police on The Trail of Killer Maid
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he Police are currently on the trail of the maid who strangled the matriarch of the Igbinedion family of Edo State, Maria to death last week. The maid is reportedly from Cross River State. The late woman’s children have vowed to assist the police to track her. The gruesom killing has thrown the Igbinedion family into a mournful mood. THEWILL had exclusively reported that Maria from Usen in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, was strangled to death, on Thursday December 2 at her home in Ugbo, BeninCity, the Edo State capital at the age of 85. Unfortunately, the octogenarian did not die of old age neither was she nursing
an ailment. She died through the dastardly act of one of her maids employed to live with and attend to her needs. THEWILL gathered that the maid strangled her, ransacked her home for jewelries money and disappeared into thin air. Maria had remained confined to a wheelchair since her 80th birthday, unable to move around. She managed to survive the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic only to be killed by a hired hand entrusted to take care of her. Maria was married to Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom. She is survived by the former governor, Lucky Igbinedion, Bright, Patience and Philomena as well as numerous grandchildren.
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f Ikedi Ohakim, former Imo State governor, could conveniently turn back the hands of time, he would have wished above all things that his path and that of socialite and luxury entrepreneur, Chinyere Amuchienwa, never crossed. Besides engaging in a public show of shame, which further ‘demystified’ the former governor in the eyes of those who probably held him in high esteem, Ohakim’s long suffering wife, Chioma, has had to endure the humiliation of staying married to a man who chose to drag his name and that of his family in mud because of his inability to keep his pants zipper up. 64 year-old Ohakim and 57 year-old Chinyere, who is a divorcee, had a chance meeting and both began a romantic relationship. Somewhere along the line, they fell out with each other. While Ohakim, in a petition to the police, claims Chinyere has been blackmailing him with plans to destroy him and kill
Ohakim him since his bid to return to Imo State Government House in 2019 failed, Chinyere claims that he owes her a large sum of money, some of which accrued from his visit to her shop where she stocks luxury items, carted away some goods and refused to pay for them. But Ohakim claims the goods he carted away were gifts she said she bought for him when she travelled abroad. He again accused her of squandering the sum of N100 million, which he released to her for his governorship campaign in 2019, an allegation she denied, arguing that Ohakim was too broke to cough out that kind of money. She also accused him of being a fraud, who got her a fake diamond engagement ring, but Ohakim insists that what he gave her was an expensive and original diamond ring and it was not for engagement. These accusations and counter accusations has dragged on for almost two years now, with more accusations surfacing with each passing day. THEWILLNIGERIA
Chinyere recently accused Ohakim of conspiracy, attempted kidnapping, threat to life as well as accepting payment for the sum of N500 million for the purchase of a parcel of land in Lagos, an allegation investigated by the police and found to be untrue. This false allegation earned her an arraignment in an Abuja court for which she had to seek bail. Not yet satisfied, Chinyere again accused Ohakim of threatening to release her nude photos, if she failed to drop charges of attempted kidnap against him. Probably exhausted with the matter, the police decided to discontinue with the case for want of evidence. At this point, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation sought to take over the case, an application Justice Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja gladly granted the AGF. Now hearing in the case will commence on January 17, 2022 and Ohakim will be arraigned on a five-count charge of allegedly bullying, harassing, intimidating and conspiring with a certain Okpareke and others at large to send grossly offensive and pornographic pictures portraying Chinyere as an indecent and obscene character, which is offence punishable under section 27 (1) (a) of the cybercrime Act of 2015. If only Ohakim could see the future, he probably would have respected himself as a former governor, his wife, children and grandchildren and kept his pants zipper up. Will he come out of this long winding case unscathed? That remains to be seen.
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DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021 T H E W I L L N E W S P A P E R • www.thewillnigeria.com
STORIES BY SHADE METIBOGUN
Controversy Trails Salamatu Gbajabiamila’s N12m Fashion Statement
MEN EMMANUELLA ROPO DATED BEFORE SETTLING FOR KWAM1 having multiple affairs with different men. They claimed that she was fond of seducing other women’s husbands as well. She was once married to Joshua Adewale, an oil magnate whom she allegedly snatched from one of her younger sisters, Deremi. She gave birth to three children, all girls for Adewale before their marriage crashed due to infidelity on her part. She allegedly took the three children to her sister, who is based in California, so as to continue enjoying her eyebrow-raising lifestyle. Not long after her marriage to Joshua broke up, she allegedly got engaged to another man simply known as Femi and gave birth to a son named Joba. But Emmanuella didn’t stay long with Femi because he wasn’t a cash cow like her ex-husband. Their relationship hit the rocks and the two moved on. Then she allegedly jumped into another relationship, this time with Fuji artiste, Alhaji Sefiu Alao Adekunle, also known as Omo Oko, after he lost his wife to the cold hands of death. Emmanuella also, allegedly made a beeline for one Engineer Toye, who is a friend to the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Their relationship was however short lived. According to sources, she made moves to link up with the Ooni after his union with Olori Wuraola crashed in 2017, but it was a futile effort. She later got hooked with a certain Jimi Shanu, in September 2020, but the marriage didn’t take place. Jimi’s wife who was a manager at Wema Bank, allegedly ensured that their wedding did not take place. She eventually got lucky when KWAM1 who can’t resist the sight of beautiful women decided to get married to her.
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UNVEILING OLAMIDUN, BEAUTIFUL L WIFE OF OYO SPEAKER O Maria Benjamin Makes First Public Appearance With Married Lover Ropo
ess than two weeks after popular Fuji artiste, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, otherwise known as K1 de Ultimate or KWAM1, got married to gorgeous Emmanuella Aderopo, in an elaborate wedding held in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, unpalatable tales about the bride’s past have surfaced. The beautiful entrepreneur is said to have been married two times before meeting her present husband. Tale bearers allege that Emmanuella had formed a habit of
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eality television star, Maria Benjamin seems to have made up her mind never to let go of Kelvin Anene, despite the dragging and name calling she suffered in the hands of Pascal Chibuke Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest. Cubana Chief Priest had accused the Big Brother Naija star of snatching Kelvin, a Dubai-based entrepreneur, who is incidentally his friend, from his wife, Maryanne, whom he claimed to be his relative. He revealed that Maria also threatened Maryanne. For that reason, he vowed not to fold his hands and watch Maria disrespect his ‘relative’. According to him, Maryanne gave up on her marriage after finding out that Kelvin and Maria were waxing strong in their relationship. She thereafter served him divorce papers. Although Maria promised to leave Kelvin in a series of leaked chats between her and Kelvin’s wife at the peak of their altercation, it all turned out to be a lie. From all indications, Maria is not ready to leave Kelvin anytime soon. This is all the more true, going by a recent video she uploaded on her social media page. The video showed herself, Kelvin and her younger sister cruising in a car, with Kelvin behind the wheels. The two were also spotted in the company of Paul Okoye, her manager who defended her when her affair with Kelvin was made public, having a good time at the One Africa Music Festival that took place in Dubai last week. Benjamin & Anene THEWILLNIGERIA
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lamidun, the beautiful wife of the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin, has an impressive resume. She is one of the few who can be described as both beauty and brain personified. She is the daughter of Chief Femi Majekodunmi, the Baagbile of Egbaland, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State. Olamidun’s mother, Honourable Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi, is a former High Court Judge in Oyo State. Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, she moved to North Carolina in the United States of America at the age of nine. She fell in love with contemporary dance and started attending contemporary dance classes when she was 10 years-old. She also took interest in art and became part of some of the best dance companies as she grew up. Olamidun studied Business Management at the University of Maryland, Baltimore but later got transferred to North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University where she graduated with high honours. She relocated to Nigeria thereafter and set up a contemporary school, The Studio, where she assists young children to develop their talents with professional dance classes. She also established the Performing Arts School of Nigeria, an institution where those passionate about developing artistic talents are tutored. She is also the Nigerian Director of Nexford University as well as a Director of Education for the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum. This is in addition to Sooyah Bistro, an upscale suya joint which she established in 2018, with branches in five locations in Lagos State.
alamatu Gbajabiamila, wife of the 9th Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, is known for her shocking and weird fashion statements in designer clothes. The 53 year-old woman has no qualms acquiring the latest trends in fashion, but when it comes to putting ensembles together, she throws caution to the wind and makes bizarre appearances in public. Despite being criticised several times for her fashion choices, Salamatu seems unperturbed by the opinion of her critics. A few days ago, criticism and backlashes trailed one of her recent fashion statements when her picture surfaced online. Salamatu was tongue lashed for wearing a few fashion items and accessories estimated to be worth N12 million in a manner that was far from tasteful. In the picture, the dark complexioned woman wore a brown Gucci jacket, which is estimated to cost $2,340 (equivalent of N2.6 million); a pair of pink platform shoes with a price tag of $3,500, which is almost (N2 million). She also had on a Rolex wristwatch, which cost $11,000 (N6.05 million). Her mini handbag didn’t come cheap. Made of Lambskin by Italian fashion house, Bottega Veneta, it is estimated to be worth $2,661
(N1.4 million). Many Nigerians were dismayed that she could spend all of N12 million, which they alleged was taken from public funds but be unable to put it all together stylishly. According to critics, despite the outrageous amount spent, Salamatu still looked ‘tacky, crazy and unkept’ like a student going for a rag day celebration. They frowned at her choice of colour combination, while advising her to get a stylist. However, some fans are of the opinion that her style is eccentric, peculiar to her and should be respected. This isn’t the first time that she or members of her family would face criticism over their dress sense. About three years ago, her husband stepped out in a Gucci Heritage wool jacket and pants worth N1.2million during her 50th birthday celebration. He was castigated for his fashion sense, which many labeled as trashy. Also during his inauguration as the Speaker of the House of Representative in 2019, Salamatu faced a backlash for her choice of sunglasses, which she wore during the ceremony. Many felt the style of the sunglasses, which were ‘larger than life’ and obscured most of her face, was anything but appropriate for such an important political event.
Gbajabiamila
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STORIES BY IVORY UKONU AND SHADE METIBOGUN
LAIDE BAKARE, KEMI AFOLABI END RIFT A
few months ago, the rosy relationship that once existed between Nollywood actresses, Laide Bakare and Kemi Afolabi-Adesipe, hit the rocks. The two best friends became sworn enemies. They even had altercations on social media for some days. Despite attempts by friends and colleagues to call them to order, the two chose to continue their show of shame. Trouble started after Kemi Afolabi called out Laide Bakare, describing her as delusional, crazy and an attention-seeker, without explaining why. In response, Laide called Kemi a crazy fellow and unfortunate hater who had a man’s physique. THEWILL gathered that the bone of contention was a younger lover, Dauda Suleiman, more popularly known as Gida. Kemi Afolabi had been dating
Real Reason Lolade Abuta Failed to Attend Iyabo Ojo’s Party
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Bakare & Afolabi
Dauda for a while. Despite the fact that he was married with kids, the two still found time to frolick together. However, Laide got quite close to Gida while they worked together on the set of Family, a movie produced by Usman Michael. Kemi noticed the closeness between Gida and Dauda, became suspicious and fell out with her best friend. Laide tried to address the rift between her and her once close pal. According to her, she only responded to Kemi after she called her out. Laide also stated that Kemi should have called her personally on phone to sort out their differences. She however denied fighting her friend. She also expressed dismay at the thought of fighting her colleague over a younger lover. She stated that it was degrading and laughable. She also labelled those behind the
tale as jobless haters who needed to get their facts right. Explaining further, Laide made it known that she wouldn’t stoop so low to fight over a man in Nollywood. She said the young man in question was their colleague and she had only met him a few times in the course of work and at movie locations. Now, the two actresses have sheathed their swords and are back on speaking terms. A few days ago, Laide Bakare took to her social media to post some of the pictures she took at Iyabo Ojo’s late mother’s remembrance ceremony. One of the pictures she posted was the one she took with Kemi Afolabi-Adesipe. She stood with her look-alike friend and asked her fans to tag their favorite celebrities. It was gathered that the two decided to put the past behind them as a result of their colleagues’ intervention.
Mohammed Buba Marwa’s Daughter Gets Political Appointment
Marwa-Abubakar
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ainab Marwa-Abubakar, one of the daughters of the Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mohammed Buba Marwa, has been rewarded for her political
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zealousness. She has been appointed to the position of a Special Assistant on Community Relations to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammed Bello. The 40 year-old mother of five who joined politics in 2018 after 10 years of being a housewife is elated over her new appointment and has promised to use her latest position as a stepping stone to actualise her vision to be a part of the solution to the ills plaguing Nigeria. With a background in law and service management through her Zawram Foundation, an organisation that promotes peace and uplifts the economic status of citizens, and her Aspire Women Forum, Zainab’s foray into politics began in 2019 when she contested for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the 2019 general election, but failed at the polls. Her latest appointment, no doubt, will be helpful in subsequent polls.
n an industry that is characterised by strife, back biting, envy and disrespect, the relationship between actress and entrepreneur, Iyabo Ojo and her former younger colleague turned businesswoman, Ololade Abuta, is one that many people within and outside of the movie industry find worthy of emulation and wish to have. From the days of little beginning when both of them were still struggling to make a name in the industry, Iyabo Ojo stood by Ololade, carrying out her duties as her ‘fairy godmother’ to the best of her ability. And then Ololade made the switch to real estate business and became so successful that she bought Iyabo a Range Rover Evoque to appreciate her role in her life. So when Iyabo began to receive cash donations, cows and other gifts for her late mother’s one year remembrance anniversary, Ololade naturally topped the list with a large donation. She had attempted to donate over 20 cows to Iyabo, but later converted it to cash after Iyabo told her there was no space in her compound for the cows.
Abuta & Ojo
Many expected to see Ololade at the party and began to wonder what could have gone wrong when she didn’t turn up. THEWILL reliably gathered that Ololade recently started a nine-month course and had secretly travelled
out of the country as her due date approached. This she and Iyabo successfully kept away from their friends, fans and colleagues, leaving them to speculate. Ololade is a divorced mother of one.
Alex Okosi Named One of Britain’s 100 Most Influential Black People
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igerian-born media executive, Alex Okosi has emerged one of Britain’s 100 most influential black people in the Powerlist 2022. The Powerlist is an annual event that recognises the United Kingdom’s most powerful people of African, African-Caribbean and African American heritage. The list honours outstanding men and women across media, technology, business,
education, arts, fashion, science, politics, design, and entertainment. Alex was selected due to his contribution and his responsiveness for driving the growth of entertainment brands across Nigeria and the international scene. A native of Onitsha in Anambra State, he started his education in Nigeria before relocating to the United States at the age of 12. He attended Zik Avenue Primary
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School, Enugu and proceeded to Philip Exeter Academy in the United States before studying Business Administration and Economics at St Michael’s University, Vermont, United States of America. Okosi started his career journey in 1998 with Music Television, MTV as part of the Trade and Integrated Marketing team. In 2000, he joined the MTV Network Affiliate Sales and Marketing division where he was responsible for securing the distribution for MTV Networks brands, such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike TV, VH1. In 2003, he was transferred to MTV Network International’s Strategy and Business Development team as a manager. He later developed the business plan for MTV growth in Africa and was made the head MTV base Africa, an Africa version of the MTV Europe’s urban music service, MTV base. He was the driving force behind the launch of the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), a highprofile event. In 2020, Alex was announced as the Managing Director of Emerging Markets for YouTube in Europe, Middle East and Africa. He also spearheaded the launch of other localized Viacom brands in Africa. Alex married his beautiful heartthrob, Ziyanda Marthe in April 2017 and they are blessed with three children.
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NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA) (Established under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act, 2007) Maritime House: 4 Burma Road, Apapa, P.M.B. 12861, Lagos. E-mail: info@nimasa.gov.ng Website: www.nimasa.gov.ng
MN 12/21/SN01
MARINE NOTICE TO ALL: Ship Owners, Shipping Companies, International Oil Companies (IOCs), Ship Operators, Terminal Operators, Dock labour Employers, Stevedoring Companies, Ship Masters/ Captains/ Agents, Maritime Stakeholders, and the Public.
RENEWAL OF REVISED STEVEDORING SERVICES RATES
Further to the Agency’s regulatory powers to ensure 6. compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Stevedoring Regulations 2014 particularly Regulation 16(4) that empowers the Agency to review levies, fees and charges stipulated in the Regulations and issue directive(s) on the reviewed rates, NOTICE is hereby given as follows: 7. 1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
S/N
That further to the Marine Notice published on the 23rd of April 2021 and referenced MN04/21/SN01, the Agency has resolved to renew the Offshore Cargo Handling and Operations Stevedoring rates contained in the second Schedule of the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations 2014. That the downward review of the Offshore Cargo Handling and Operations Stevedoring rates contained in the second Schedule of the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations 2014 has been renewed for a period of six (6) months commencing from the date of publication of this Marine Notice. That this renewal is necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic and its overall effect on business activities globally, particularly the cost of production in the petroleum industry in Nigeria. That the revised rates applies to dry bulk cargo, liquid bulk cargo, onshore stevedoring and offshore Royalty. That the renewed revised rates are detailed below as follows: TYPE OF OPERATION
EXTANT RATES AS PROVIDED IN THE REGULATIONS
REVISED RATES
NIMASA Charges
Onshore $19.8/MT Payment in Lieu of Services N760.00/MT (Offshore Royalty)
$18.80/MT 0.5% N500/MT
0.5%
3.
Bulk Liquid
$8.00/MT
$2.40/MT
0.5%
4.
Dry Bulk
$8.00/MT
$4.00/MT
0.5%
1. 2.
SIGNED: THEWILLNIGERIA
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That for the purpose of clarity on payment and recoverability of Dockworkers wages and other statutory earnings on accrued tonnages, the Offshore (Royalty) have been re-categorised as “payment in Lieu of Services”. That the renewed revised rates is for a period of 6 months only commencing from the date of publication of this marine notice and may be further renewed for another period of six months vide the publication of another marine notice.
8.
That following the expiration of this marine notice, the Agency would revert to the Offshore Cargo Handling and Operations Stevedoring rates as contained in the second schedule of the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations 2014 except the duration of the new rate is extended via the issuance of another marine notice.
9.
That all other provisions of the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations 2014 remain valid and compliance with same is compulsory; and
10. That non-conformity with the foregoing requirements will be punishable under Regulation 17 of the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations 2014. • NOTE: THE RENEWED REVISED RATES IS ONLY A TEMPORARY MEASURE TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF COVID 19 AND AS SUCH, THE AGENCY WOULD REVERT TO THE OLD RATES AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. Please be guided. For further enquiries, please contact: The Director, Maritime Labour Services Email: aliyu.lawan@nimasa.gov.ng or aliyulawan@gmail.com Telephone: +2348033037131
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STATE OF THE STATES BY SAM DIALA & OLAYEMI SHABA
Introduction:
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here are concerns that Nigeria’s worsening revenue challenge may escalate into a financial implosion, with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (subnationals), being the worst hit. The situation is aggravated by the nation’s escalating public debt stock (now over N35 trillion). The debt stock comprises domestic and external loan obligations of the Federal Government and the sub-nationals. With over 70 percent of the nation’s revenue committed to debt servicing annually, governments at all levels are struggling to survive. There is little left for capital budget, pay salaries and undertake other priorities to grow the economy. Moreover, there is a limit to which the people and corporates could be taxed. Yet, profligacy and waste take the centre of
our governance space while frugality assumes the back seat. As such, the sub-nationals are hemorrhaging huge resources in paying salaries and other emoluments of a bloated bureaucracy. To survive, they are urged to diversify their revenue base, embark on aggressive internally generated revenue (IGR) and depend less on the shrinking federal allocations. The purpose of State of the States project, is to present evidence-based alternatives. These include avenues for the sub-nationals to become more viable and less dependent on the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) – referred to as Abuja handout. State of the States, a bi-weekly publication, features two states per edition. It endeavours to unearth hidden treasures in each state and ascertain, through consultations and evidencebased survey, areas of comparative advantages and economies
KANO STATE
K
ano State was created in 1967. Its capital and commercial nerve centre is Kano. It is bordered by Jigawa State to the north and east, Bauchi to the southeast, Kaduna to the southwest and Katsina to the nortwest. Kano consists of wooded savanna in the south and scrub vegetation in the north and is drained by the Kano-Chalawa-Hadejia River system.
of scale. The publication will show-case, in no exaggerated terms, the socio-economic status of each state and highlight the opportunities and threats. Furthermore, State of the States will examine existing realities that hinge on sector-specific areas of competitive advantage – Agriculture, Tourism, Transportation, Education and Skill Acquisition, Wellbeing and MSMEs. Ultimately, the project seeks to create the desired spotlight on the subnationals to motivate them to venture into something different for better results. We have featured Lagos and Ogun, Kwara and Kogi, Anambra and Enugu, Benue and Taraba, Kebbi and Sokoto, Cross River and Akwa Ibom, Ekiti and Osun, Bauchi and Gombe, Rivers and Bayelsa. This week periscopes Kano and Jigawa.
In Kano, the wet season is muggy and mostly cloudy, the dry season is partly cloudy, but hot in the course of the year. Kano is the second most industrialised state in Nigeria (after Lagos). It is a trading house not only in Nigeria, but also in subSaharan Africa. All the commercial banks in Nigeria have a strong presence in Kano. Multinational and large indigenous business organisations are either headquartered or have branches in Kano. The agricultural sector (especially peanut and cotton production), manufacturing, services, trade and commerce are the main sources of state government revenue. It has one of the busiest railway stations and a major gateway to the south by rail. The state is a major producer of hides and skins, cotton, peppers, garlic and gum arabic. It is also famous for the production and sale of handicrafts, gold, Arab jewellery, shoes, plastics, cosmetics, ceramics, dairy products, vegetable oils, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages.
The state is popular for its traditional arts and crafts, including weaving and indigo cloth dyeing. It has long been known for its leatherwork. Because of its strategic location, investors flood Kano in search of opportunities to exploit. Natural Resources Kano is rich in granite, copper, gemstone, glass-sand, lead/zinc, tantalum, tungsten, silica, kaolin and gold. Tourist Sites Kano has many attractive sites to boost tourism as an alternative revenue stream. These include the National Gallery of Art, Challawa Gorge Dam, Gidan Rumfa, Ado Bayero Mall, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano City Wall, Kano Golf Club and Kano Film House Cinema. Others are Bashir Uthman Tofa Mosque, Kofar Mata Dyeing Pits, Kurmi Market, Tiga Dam, Tiga Dala Hill, Adu Bako Zoo, Roxy Amusement Park, Kano Porto Golf Resort, Hills and Valleys Amusement Park. Agriculture And Rural Community Development Kano keyed in to the community-based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme, which was launched in eight states in northern Nigeria where poverty is widespread. Its objective is to help the most vulnerable groups improve their incomes and living conditions. The programme targets a large section of the rural population, especially women, landless people, nomadic pastoralists and small-scale farmers, as well as those with only marginal lands. It is designed to empower these groups to participate in development activities. Specifically, the programme works to: Promote awareness and build the capacity of public and privatesector service providers to respond to the needs of poor rural
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women and men Empower poor communities to manage their own development and support vulnerable groups Improve agricultural practices, resolve conflicts between farmers and pastoralists and intensify crop and livestock production Develop or upgrade safe water supplies, environmental sanitation, irrigation, health and education facilities This is facilitated by the state’s robust irrigation scheme, mainly the Kano River Irrigation Scheme (KRIS), which is one of the largest and most successful irrigation schemes in Nigeria. Its source of water is the Tiga Dam, which provides a perfect setting for gravity irrigation with a total irrigable area of 22,000 hectares. FACT FILE: LGAs: 44 Land Area: 8,150sq mi. Population: 2.20 million (est) @ 2019 Registered businesses: 835 Public primary schools: 3,450 circa Public secondary schools: 683 circa University (4): Federal - 1, state – 2, private- 1 Polytechnic: State - 1 College of Education (5): Federal-2, state-2, private-1 College of Agriculture (2): Federal -1 state- 1
Ganduje
Kano is rich in agriculture. The state’s light sandy soil is fit for growing groundnut, a major commodity for export. Other cash crops include cotton, onions, indigo and tobacco. Wheat, gum, millet, sorghum, beans, cowpeas and corn (maize) are crops cultivated for subsistence. Cattle, horses, goats, and sheep are grazed in large and commercial quantities.
Nursing School/Health & Science (7): Federal -3, State - 4 Technical school (4): State – 4 Vocational school (3): State -1, private -2
Domestic debt: N16.93bn @ 2020
Total revenue: N113.08bn @ 2020
External debt: $68.40m @ 2020
Total tax: N24.76bn @ 2020
Unemployment rate: 25.36% @ 2020
Total IGR: N31.82bn @ 2020 (22.14% of total revenue)
Airport: 1
FAAC: N81.26bn @ 2020 (71.86% of total revenue)
The state has Police Academy, Inland Dry Port and Naval Base THEWILLNIGERIA
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STATE OF THE STATES
Kano Partners BoI for Industrialisation, Job Creation T he Kano State Government has created avenues for industrialisation and job creation through partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI). The bank provides financial assistance for the establishment of large, medium and small projects, as well as the expansion, diversification and modernisation of existing viable businesses.
They also key into the various Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention programmes to drive special development-oriented programmes. These include the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) and the Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) created in 2020 for the implementation of agricultural interventions worth UIS$3.23 million. The fund will come from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), while the state government will release the sum of $1 million US dollars as counterpart contribution to the KNARDA for its value chain interventions.
The interventions target 100, 000 smallholder legumes farmers across the 44 local government areas of the state, over five years, beginning from the 2020/2021 planting season.
The sectors of the economy where the funds were invested include textiles and materials, manufacturing and production, agribusiness, petrochemical and gas, metal fabrication, infrastructure and solid mineral.
To ensure continued performance of the productive sector, BoI donated N20 million to support palliative arrangement for the downtrodden in Kano State at the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown in May 2020.
A N3 billion Federal Government facility for manpower development in transport and logistics is set to commence full operations in Kano.
BoI disclosed in September 2017 that it had provided a total of N24 billion to industrialists in Kano State. The bank, through the disbursement of the funds, generated about 96,000 direct and indirect jobs in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. It said that the funds were disbursed through different funding windows such as the BoI/Kano State Government matching fund; the Bol-Dangote fund; and the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (Market Moni).
The construction of the new institute, an annex office of Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, is equipped with modern facilities, offices, hostel accommodation, and recreation solution. The NITT disclosed that the project sited on six hectares of land at Dawakin-Kudu local government area, about 15 kilometers from Kano, was strategically located to provide professional training to youths in Kano and Jigawa states. Challenging Factors: Insecurity, poor electricity supply, multiple taxes, traditional/cultural extremism.
ENDOWMENT AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Gold and jewelries
Leatherworks and shoe making
Ceramics production
Vegetable oil
Tourism
Fast food business
Wholesale pharmaceuticals
Corporate cleaning outfit
Printing press
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STATE OF THE STATES
J
JIGAWA
igawa State was created on August 27, 1991 from the northeastern-most region of Kano State. It is located on Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic. The state capital and largest city is Dutse.
Maigatari Border
Polytechnic (2): Federal – 1, state - 1
Mandara/Talata Gets in Hadejia
College of Education: State - 1
Dabar magini Birds Sanctuary in Guri
College of Agriculture: State - 2
The economy of the state is largely dependent on agriculture. Due to its semi-arid climate, outward migration by workers to neighbouring states, such as Kano, in search of off-season work is common. The scarcity of arable land within the state has become increasingly problematic, with farmlands being vulnerable to national disasters like flooding.
Baturiya Birds Sanctuary in Kiri-kassamma
School of Nursing: State - 1
Agribusiness Agriculture is the mainstay of Jigawa State’s economy as it contributes more than 60 per cent of the GDP and provides a livelihood for close to 90 per cent of the state`s population. The sector is robust and fast growing. Recent government interventions are helping the state to move from subsistence to commercial farming. Investors are therefore welcome to tap into the agricultural investment revolution sweeping across the state.
Technical schools: State – 4
Other informal sector activities include blacksmithing, leatherworks, tailoring services, automobile repairs, metalworks, carpentry, tanning, dyeing, food processing and masonry. Although the modern industrial sector is yet to gain a solid footing in the state, the seed for its development was planted through the establishment of small-scale industries, particularly in areas of food processing and other agro-allied activities, such as the Jigawa ethanol programme. These industries have been aided by the Information Communication Technology programme initiated by the state government over the years. Jigawa is famous for the Dutsen Habude Cave paintings in the town of Birnin Kudu, which have been traced to the Neolithic period. The town of Hadejia (formerly Biram) is known as one of the traditional ‘seven true Hausa states.’ Natural Mineral Resources Jigawa is among Nigerian states reputed to have abundant mineral resources that could attract viable investment. These include copper, tin, iron ore, gold, trona ash and kaolin, many of which are currently undergoing exploitation. The Jigawa State Government disclosed in in December 2020 that it procured 11 mining licences from the Federal Ministry of Steel and Mines and called on interested investors to harness the mineral resources available in the area.
Crop production Jigawa State is one of the largest crops producing states in Nigeria. It is currently Nigeria’s largest producer of dates and hibiscus. The state is also the second largest producer of gum arabic and sesame, as well as being among the top three rice producing states.
Total IGR: N8.66bn @ 2020 (13.33% of total revenue) FAAC: N56.36bn @ 2020 (86.67% of total revenue) Domestic debt: N30.96bn @ 2020 External debt: $30.91m @ 2020 Unemployment rate: 38.369 @ 2020 Airport: 1
Notwithstanding that Jigawa is highly competitive in rice, sesame, groundnut, wheat, soya beans, sugarcane and tomato production, the government says that the agricultural sector’s vast potential is currently under-utilised. For example, only a fraction of the available irrigable land is being cultivated and of the state’s Fadama land of approximately 400,000 hectares, only about 25 percent has been developed. There are tremendous opportunities for private sector investments in agriculture and agro-processing.
Hadejia Wetlands Wawan Rafi Lake Kazaure
FACT-FILE:
Dutse Rock Range
LGAs: 27
Gwaram Forest Reserve
Land Area: 23,154 km2
Emirs Palace Hadejia, Kazaure, Dutse Gumel, Ringim
Registered businesses: 23
Garin Gabas-Ancient Settlement
Public primary schools: 1,870 circa
Capatian Philips (Maitumbi) Tomb Hadejia
Public secondary schools: No data
Harbo Village Fishing Village
University (2): Federal – 1, state – 1.
Gwaram Forest Reserve
Birnin Kudu Rock painting
Total tax: N @ N6.17bn @ 2020
Food Production and Processing According to the state government, there is a huge potential in terms of food processing. Already, food processing companies such as Sonia Foods Industries Limited and Erisco Foods Limited have significant presence in the state.
Livestock Production Jigawa is also a major livestock producing state. Its weather is conducive for the rearing of animals, birds and fish, thereby creating opportunities for the establishment of slaughterhouses, cold storage and transport facilities. Investors are also encouraged to venture into dairy production, tannery development, animal feed mills, etc. The state has an appreciable livestock population – estimated at over 3 million cattle, about 6 million sheep and close to 7 million goats. The estimated population of poultry is 16 million. Jigawa State also has the largest livestock market in West Africa, located at Maigatari in Maigatari local government area.
Tourist Attractions
Total revenue: N65.04bn @ 2020
Badaru
Jigawa’s economy is largely characterised by informal sector activities, with agriculture as the major economic engagement. Over 80 percent of the population depends on subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Trade and commerce, especially in agricultural products, livestock and other consumer goods, takes place on both small and medium scales.
Vocational schools: State - 3
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STATE OF THE STATES Jigawa Prioritises Economic Infrastructure, SMEs, Human Capital
J
igawa State has intensified efforts in the development of infrastructure for economic growth, such as roads, electricity, telecommunication and information technology, all of which are witnessing tremendous improvements through rehabilitation and expansion works. With significant road rehabilitation projects already undertaken throughout the state during the last five years, coupled with efforts made towards power generation via independent power platforms and the Internet Broadband Project, the investment climate, in terms of economic infrastructure, is quite promising. The Jigawa State Government said it has expended about N300 million on the building and renovation of schools damaged by rainstorm, while procuring furniture for them as part of its resolve to boost science and technical education in the state.
The government said it allocated more than 400,000 hectares of farmland to potential investors in the state’s agriculture value chain. It added that 35,000 hectares out of the approved 400,000 had already been allocated to companies developing the state’s agriculture complex, citing the Mallam ALU Integrated Agro-Allied Farm as an example of the scheme’s success so far. In April 2021, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched the 28th edition of the National Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic in Jigawa State, which is designed to bring business opportunities closer to the people. Osinbajo launched the facility during a one-day working visit to the state. He said the MSME Clinic was a collaborative project between the Federal and state governments to host all advisory and regulatory bodies of MSME in one place in
order to avoid unnecessary delay and bottlenecks in the establishment and development of the businesses in Nigeria. The Vice President reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to poverty eradication, growth and development by creating an enabling environment for the development of big, medium and small scale enterprises in Nigeria. Osinbajo commended Governor Muhammdu Badaru Abubakar for his prudent and exemplary leadership, which makes Jigawa a pace-setter on agricultural and SMEs development in Nigeria. In his speech, Governor Abubakar commended the Federal Government for executing various projects and programmes that enhanced education, as well as the social and economic development of the state. He said the state was intensifying its development drive in infrastructure, SMEs and human capital. Challenging Factors: Insecurity, poor electricity supply, multiple taxes, traditional/cultural extremism, and draught.
ENDOWMENT AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Tomato Processing
Modern Abattoir
Mechanised Farming
Groundnuts Production and Processing
Leatherworks
Rice Cultivation and Processing
Food Storage
Meat Packaging
Mobile Money
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Mama Roz’s Chronicles
The Sabbath Murder Prison Series (2) BY ROZ AMECHI
I Part 2
t took almost two years to complete the treatment and by that time, the job was no longer available. Her parents had moved to the village during that period and she was back living with her doting grandmother. That was when she met Nnamdi. It was love at first sight. Chioma was very slim, dark and pretty and Nnamdi fell in love with her instantly. His mother was not so keen on Chioma because she saw what she considered to be evidence of waywardness but Nnamdi was completely smitten and within a couple of months they were married. The year was 2003 and Chioma was 21 years old with no higher educational qualifications. She still nursed the idea of continuing her education abroad but as the children came almost immediately, she knew she would have to put it all on hold for a while. This didn’t matter too much though, since her husband was relatively comfortable and willing to take care of her. Now with the interference of Nneka, the mother-in-law from hell, the marriage was crumbling and with it Chioma’s happiness. As they sat in the village in Mbaise discussing the constant battles with Nneka, both Grandma and Chioma’s mother agreed that it would be best if she left her husband’s house and came home to them. Her father was listening to their conversation from his room. He didn’t think it was a good idea for her to leave and he wasn’t as blind as his wife and mother-in-law to his daughter’s stubbornness and wayward behaviour. But he couldn’t take on both his wife and her mother so he kept his counsel. It was agreed that she would return to her husband’s village the next day, but only to pack up her things and then she would come back home to Mbaise with her children. Chioma left her husband’s home the next day but he kept the children. Nneka was pleased to see her go. Feeling lost and embattled, she returned to Abuja to live with her brother. Some of her siblings had moved out of Abuja but her immediate elder brother still lived there and she moved in with him. It was a one room apartment so it was quite tight. They never got on as children and even as adults nothing had changed. They were like cat and dog, constantly fighting. They would fight over the smallest things like whose turn it was to wash the plates. He felt that she should do all the domestic chores because she was a woman but she strongly disagreed. Then sometimes when he came home late, she would ‘accidentally’ lock him out of the house and the next day they would fight about that. Several times, they got into physical combat until the neighbours came to separate them. Eventually Chioma decided that she would prefer to live alone and she moved out. Chioma had joined another Sabbath church and she moved in with some of the Igbo members. One of the church members did not like her. He constantly picked on her and didn’t believe the dreams she claimed to have. He declared her prophecies fake and ran her down at every given
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opportunity. She didn’t like him either and she did not like his methods of ‘delivering’ people especially children. Her fears proved to be well founded when one day after a particularly rigorous deliverance exercise, a child died “in his hands”. The church elders conducted an investigation in collaboration with the police and she was called in to give evidence because she was there when it happened. Some of the prophet’s friends advised her to be a little economical with the truth to save the prophet but she refused. She felt it would be wrong of her to cover up the death of an innocent child so she gave her testimony which led to the arrest and eventual conviction of the prophet. She had thought that with her main tormentor gone, she would now have peace but her problems had just begun. The condemned prophet had several friends in the church and they were none too pleased with her. One day, two of them, a man and a woman came to the home she shared with the other church members and beat her up. They almost killed her and the incident caused quite a stir. The police were called in to arrest
“
The next day she was arrested and taken to the police station at Life Camp and from there to the SARS office for interrogation. She was charged with attempted murder and after a few days the charge was changed to murder. David had died from the extensive injuries he suffered as a result of the attack. He was completely blind as the acid had been poured into his eyes
under the bed and poured it on him in a fit of rage. Chioma says that she never really understood how dangerous acid was and was unaware that it could end David’s life. She thought it would simply leave a mark. She said she had always wanted to harm him because she hadn’t forgiven him for beating her up with the other woman. She strongly denies having a relationship with him though, and says she has no idea why he said that just before he died. She also regrets talking carelessly during her trial when she told the judge that if he came back to life, she would still kill him again. She believes that was why she got a harsh sentence and she did not deserve the sentence she got. Chioma was devastated when she was sentenced to death by hanging. She had not expected it and that first day she nearly ran mad. She had always counselled people in church and now it was the counsel of others that prevented her from losing her mind.
all of them for public disturbance and it took her several months to recover from the beating. Chioma was so angry and vowed to make them pay for what they did to her. After the incident she was forced to move out of that house and she even had to leave the church completely. She found new lodgings with a Sabbath landlord from another church who was very elderly. He lived in the room next to hers. He liked her very much and was very kind to her but her old nemesis followed her to these new lodgings. Her nemesis was a man called David. He was the same man who came with the woman to beat Chioma up in her former home. By some ill-fated turn of events, he was a close friend of her new landlord and came to the compound almost every evening to visit him. On discovering that his enemy lived next door to his best friend who was also the landlord, he tried to get her evicted. When this did not work, he started tormenting her with snide comments as he sat outside talking with his friend in the evenings. Sometimes when he had been drinking and was somewhat inebriated, he would even threaten her. Everything came to a head one fateful day. David had been out drinking with his friends at a beer parlour near the house. From the beer parlour he could see the entrance to Chioma’s house and was waiting for her to return. Shortly after she came in, he followed her into the compound and went into her room in his drunken state. At this point her story differs from his. According to Chioma he tried to have sex with her and she
fought with him. She was told (no one knows who told her or when she was told) that he had a small container of acid which he planned to use on her so she took the acid from him and poured it all over him. He screamed and people gathered. There was no electricity that night so everywhere was dark which made it difficult to see the damage done. But from his screams and the reaction of the neighbours, it was clear to Chioma that she had gone too far this time. She didn’t hang around to find out the outcome, she ran away from the compound. The next day she was arrested and taken to the police station at Life Camp and from there to the SARS office for interrogation. She was charged with attempted murder and after a few days the charge was changed to murder. David had died from the extensive injuries he suffered as a result of the attack. He was completely blind as the acid had been poured into his eyes. However, he had given a statement before he died which was considered his last testament and tendered as evidence in court. He claimed that he and Chioma had been dating and that she had been very angry with him because she saw him with another woman. She entertained him in her room that night and he had been intimate with her. Afterwards she questioned him about the other woman and not satisfied with his responses, she took the acid from
David was 55 years old when he died and he had a wife and grownup children. Chioma would love the opportunity to apologise to his wife and receive forgiveness, even though she had been unable to forgive him. If there is one thing, she would have liked to change in her life, it would be her anger. She regrets being consumed by anger and wishes “she could wear the cloak of humility”. She would really like to learn how to forgive and also be careful not to speak out of turn. She believes that by some miracle, she will be set free. She talks regularly to her mother who always advises her to keep praying. Her father is also still alive and both of them were in the court when judgement was given. Sadly, her beloved grandma has now passed on. Chioma advises mothers to check the spiritual destiny of their children unlike her mother who simply did not believe in such things. She says things could have been worse for her if not for her strong spiritual powers which she employed to avert some of the danger that could have befallen her. She still strongly believes in the white garment church and is certain that her salvation will eventually come from there even though her association with the church has brought her untold trials. Chioma is quite confident that when she appeals, she will be released. When she gets out, she will return to her work in the Sabbath church and as a born ‘Levite’ she will help people by seeing visIons and prophesying for them. Through their tithes, she will travel to the countries she has always dreamed of visiting like Israel, Japan, France, South Korea, Sweden, St Kitts and Nevis. Chioma is currently on death row.
Roz Amechi © 2021. No part of the story/documentary may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the author, Roz Amechi. THEWILLNIGERIA
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SportsLive
Ralf Rangnick: The Man, His Experience And Gegenpressing BY JUDE OBAFEMI
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ast Thursday, Ralf Rangnick was granted permission to begin work as Manchester United’s new interim manager. It came three days after United unveiled the 63-year-old as the freshly-appointed manager to guide the Red Devils progressively back to success for the rest of the season. However, due to the approval process and all the necessary paperwork involved in the process of issuing a work permit, Rangnick could not complete it in time to take charge of the team’s next fixture: a home tie against London side, Arsenal.
Ahead of that fixture next Sunday, the former Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig boss will be expected to address the media for the first time in the new role on Friday. Questions will be thrown at him about his team selection and team intentions with the likelihood that the following public can begin to form an opinion of the German tactician’s mindset, football philosophy, nature, eccentricity, behaviour and mentality. This is only typical of these media events and the interrelationship between the press and managers that come into the glamour of football in the English Premier League as it presently operates in the 21st Century. However, what can be learnt about the man, who has been given the charge to turn the fortunes of United around, beginning in the final moments of the first half of the season goes far beyond what a press conference can uncover. To this end, THEWILL takes a deep dive into the past to articulate a panoramic appreciation of a football tactician so astute in his understanding of football and so comprehensive in his overarching desire to engender a winning formula that he is considered a football “professor” and credited with the creation of a system of high-press that has influenced other coaches in his native Germany and beyond. The new Red Devils’ manager was born on June 29, 1958 in Backnang, a town in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, roughly 30 kilometres northeast of Stuttgart at the time when it was still within West Germany. After a forgettable professional career, he switched to management early, in 1983 precisely, at the age of 25. It was an age considered prime for most footballers but, Rangnick was already displaying a preference for management that was built on his strategic talents and that was going to mark the remainder of his professional career. It was the initiation of the knowledge and expertise of a man who brought the likes of Emil Forsberg, Naby Keita and Timo Werner all to the same club, while bringing that same club from the lower leagues of German football to the UEFA Champions League. Rangnick’s professorial qualities can be traced back to his early academic demeanour, which was picked up by the German media when the then-unknown manager of 2. Bundesliga side Ulm appeared on national television, the ZDF Sports Studio TV broadcast in December 1998. On air, he publicised what even the most sheltered football fan would now recognise as ‘pressing’ to an audience to whom he came across as aloof and remotely transcendental. He was not taken seriously and some may have mocked the young manager’s fantastical ideas calling him “professor” in jest. But, he was confident in his creation and willing to risk his reputation. It worked. In just two seasons, Rangnick was able to take Ulm to the Bundesliga from the Regionalliga Süd, a team which included a young Thomas Tuchel, at least before he was forced to retire with a knee injury at the age of 24. It was the start for Rangnick to earn a name and respect for himself in Germany. Rangnick carried that experience further when he took over at VfB Stuttgart, where he became the first team coach at the club he had served as a player and coached at amateur and under-19 levels previously. But, with Stuttgart’s Bundesliga form hovering in the relegation zone by the halfway point and with an unceremonious THEWILLNIGERIA
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Rangnick
On the bright side, by not immediately going into a debut game before actually acquainting himself with the raw feel of the Theatre of Dreams that Old Trafford is, Michael Carrick’s extended role as interim manager for the clash with the Gunners will be to the new gaffer’s advantage. It will allow Rangnick the freedom to observe and make early notes of how he intends to proceed with bringing about the best in the squad at his disposal, on the one hand, and where they may need to overhaul with fresh inclusions, on the other, as he takes his place in the stands until their subsequent game against Crystal Palace.
European exit in February 2001, the club’s management dismissed him. He returned to management the next season at 2. Bundesliga side Hannover 96, with whom he won promotion to the Bundesliga after a 13-year absence. But, history repeated itself as he was dismissed with a nosediving form in their second season of German top flight action. When, in 2004, Rangnick missed being appointed assistant manager to Joachim Low of the German national team, he accepted to coach Schalke 04 for the 2004/2005 season. Under him, Schalke reached the final of the DFB Pokal Cup Competition and were stopped from victory by Bavarian juggernauts Bayern Munich, who also beat Schalke to the domestic title as well, leaving them as runners up. Although they won the 2005 DFL-Ligapokal and Rangnick first tasted UEFA Champions League grandeur with Schalke, elimination from the group stages of the UCL and an embarrassing knockout of the DFB Pokal Competition cost Rangnick another job in December 2005. Rangnick then pulled the unprecedented stunt he delivered with Ulm when he began his journey to the Bundesliga from the Regionalliga Süd a second time when he took over 1899 Hoffenheim in the third division for the 2006/2007 season. The team was promoted immediately, and for the first time in their history, they spent the 2007/2008 season in the 2. Bundesliga. But, Hoffenheim’s secondplace result in 2007/2008 secured the club and Rangnick promotion to the Bundesliga for the following season, exactly as he has done for Ulm in 2000. Unfortunately, Rangnick resigned as head coach of Hoffenheim on January 2, 2011, citing the transfer of midfielder Luiz Gustavo to Bayern Munich, which he had not been told of, as the cause for his departure. In March 2011, Rangnick was named as the replacement for Felix Magath as coach of Schalke 04, a second stint for the German. He led his old club to their first UEFA Champions League semi-finals by defeating Inter Milan but was stopped from reaching the finals by present club United. However, in September 2011, Rangnick stepped down due to chronic fatigue syndrome, as he admitted that he did not have “the necessary energy to be successful and to develop the team and the club”. In June 2012, Rangnick became the Director of Football for Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig. Under his leadership, both clubs won multiple trophies and reached the UEFA Champions League. But, drawn by the allure of active football management, Rangnick announced in February 2015 that he would be taking over as coach at RB Leipzig for the 2015/2016 season. Resigning as Director of
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Football, the tactician again did what he knew best and secured promotion to the Bundesliga for Leipzig in May 2016. That same month, Ralph Hasenhüttl was announced as his successor as he had done his part. Although Rangnick returned to RB Leipzig as manager again on July 9, 2018, he was not able to keep them in the UCL. Even after they dropped to the UEFA Europa League, they were unable to make it beyond the knockout stages. Yet, they still finished the domestic Bundesliga season in third place, booking yet another ticket to Europe’s most elite football competition for the 2018/2018 campaign. In 2019, he was promoted to Head of Sport and Development at Red Bull GmbH, overseeing global football initiatives, including New York Red Bulls and takeover of Red Bull Bragantino. But he resigned from Red Bull in 2020, with a reported move to Milan failing during negotiations. He then signed a three-year contract as manager of Sports and Development with Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League on July 6, this year and remained in that position until United came calling in November. Over this illustrious managerial career, Rangnick developed his pressing, now fancifully referred to as “Gegenpressing” to perfection. It was a style that he himself first experienced with Valeriy Lobanovskiy’s Dynamo Kiev in February 1983 at 25. Lobanovskiy’s relentless, organised pressing tactics would form the basis of Rangnick’s own philosophy, one he would later implement at these string of clubs he managed including Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig. Combining it with the lessons he learnt from Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan’s zonal marking system, Rangnick evolved a philosophy that helped to revolutionise German football, inspiring a generation of coaches, including Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, and ultimately bringing him to the Manchester United managerial dugout that seems like a poisoned chalice since the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson. Yet, this tactical approach, which requires high-intensity pressing in order to keep pressure on the other team and win the ball back quickly, coupled with tight marking in defence in order to neutralise a counter-attacking threat early, has already had people asking if the current crop of United’s players can cope, with a certain superstar Portuguese forward’s name being mentioned, or if certain sacrifices, like starting him on the bench, will have to be made for the sake of the philosophy to begin to take root and yield fruit as it has done throughout Rangnick’s storied managerial career.
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