SATURDAY 27TH MARCH 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Petrol Price: NNPC Douses Tension, Says No Increase Now Declares it has no intention of pre-empting ongoing engagement with labour Peter Uzoho The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it would maintain its current ex-depot price of petrol until the

conclusion of an ongoing engagement with the organised labour and other stakeholders. Speaking to reporters yesterday in Abuja, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of

NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said the corporation, at the moment, was bearing the burden of importing refined petroleum products, as the supplier of last resort, to guarantee energy security

for the nation. This development comes after NNPC’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Mele Kyari said the corporation could no longer bear subsidy in its books.

Shedding more light on the remarks by Kyari at the State House, Obateru stated that the NNPC had no intention to pre-empt ongoing engagement with labour by unilaterally increasing the ex-depot price

of petrol. He said as a proactive organisation, NNPC had made arrangements for robust stock of petroleum products in all Continued on page 5

Jigawa Gov: Story of Buhari, Tinubu Rift Sponsored to Heat up Polity… Page 5 Saturday 27 March, 2021 Vol 26. No 9484

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Germany’s Move to Return Stolen Benin Bronzes Piles Pressure on Britain Festus Akanbi There are strong indications that the German authorities may hand over some Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in September, a development which observers said would

put pressure on British museum to return its own share of the looted artefacts to the Nigerian government. Sources said the German example may be a game changer which may compel the rank of British officials

currently developing cold feet as far as the return of the bronzes stolen from Benin to Nigeria is concerned. Hundreds of bronzes from the ancient Kingdom of Benin, located in modernday Nigeria – a former

British colony – are held at the Ethnological Museum in the German capital. They were due to be unveiled at the Humboldt Forum, a new museum of non-European art in the city centre. A German Foreign Ministry

official quotes the Humboldt’s director, Hartmut Dorgerloh, as confirming that the bronzes could instead be returned to Nigeria by the autumn (September). The source also disclosed that the head of the Foreign

Ministry’s culture department, Andreas Görgen, visited Benin City last week for discussions with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and other Nigerian officials, although Continued on page 5

Tijjaniyya Islamic Movement’s Leadership Tussle Boils over Buhari snubs Muhammad Sanusi II, few weeks after appointment as sect’s leader, receives factional world and Nigeria leaders Charles Ajunwa and Ahamefula Ogbu The tussle over the leadership of the Tijjaniyya Islamic Religious Movement is far from over, with a faction getting tacit recognition from President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, following a well-publicised courtesy call on the Nigerian leader. The team that visited Buhari identified Sheikh Muhammadul Mahy Niass, a Senegalese as the world leader of the Tijjaniyya sect and Sheikh Dahiru Usman as the leader of the Tijjaniyya in Nigeria, But two weeks ago, two factions of the sect appointed the former emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, as

the leader of the Tijaniyya Islamic sect in Nigeria. He was appointed the caliph at its annual gathering in Sokoto. The appointment, which was made during the annual festival of the sect, is seen as both a spiritual and temporal elevation of the deposed emir. Shortly after the announcement, Sanusi II and many of his adherents converged on the Gawon Nama private residence of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, where they worshipped for about two hours. Muhammadu Sanusi I, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor’s father, was the first leader of the sect in Continued on page 5

Amaechi: Concerns about ABDULSALAMI AT THE VILLA... head of state, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar (left) with President Muhammadu Buhari, during Nigeria’s Future Legitimate... Page 5 Former Abdulsalami’s courtesy visit to the President in Abuja ....yesterday godwin omoigui

SATURDAY MARCH 27, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ˜ ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹

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Jigawa Gov: Story of Buhari, Tinubu Rift Sponsored to Heat up Polity Festus Akanbi The All Progressives Congress (APC) Strategy and Contact Committee Chairman, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, yesterday said stories about alleged rift between President Buhari and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu were being pushed by some unnamed people to heat up the polity. He said, “I think people wanted to see that and that will not happen. I believe it is all politics. President Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu and all the leaders of the party speak with

one voice. “They are pushing that story about President Buhari and Tinubu to certainly heat the polity. But it is not true. We know that the party is one indivisible and all the stakeholders are being carried along.” Badaru’s clarifications came a day after the Presidency dismissed the alleged rift which it described as “handiwork of cynics.” A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, and released to the public on Wednesday described

the speculation as unfounded, explaining that President Buhari and Tinubu “have a very strong commitment to the All Progressives Congress, APC, towards bringing change and this is a commitment they have made to the Nigerian people.” According to the statement, “The Presidency wishes to make it clear that there is no rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and his strong ally, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “The President and the Asiwaju have a very strong commitment to the All Progressives Congress, APC, towards bringing change

and this is a commitment they have made to the Nigerian people.” The statement regretted that certain sections of the media feed on birthing controversies, providing a nexus for naysayers who work behind the scenes planting such stories which are absolutely false. The statement adds: “This administration is aware of pessimists and cynics who willfully spread misinformation to create doubts in the minds of the people about the relationship between its leaders and whether the party will remain intact or

not. There is no doubt that the President and the party are focused on development, peace and security, restructuring of the economy and war against corruption in the country and will not be diverted to anything else. This desperate attempt to fool the people will not succeed. “To President Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu remains one of the most respected political leaders in the country who has stuck to his principles in the face of all adversities. He was instrumental to the formation, growth and development of the APC into a formidable political party and

the political alliance is waxing even stronger. “If the Asiwaju is not a frequent face in the Aso Rock Villa, it is on account of the fact that he is not a cabinet member of this government. The fact that he is not every day around the Villa does not make him less of a friend to the President and this administration.” Political affairs watchers blamed the controversy on preparations for the 2023 general elections amidst speculation that Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State might be warming up for the Presidential contest.

Amaechi: Concerns about Nigeria’s Future Legitimate Bennett Oghifo With rising clamour for restructuring and regional self- determination, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said that these concerns were legitimate, but that the clamour was transient and could be resolved through active engagement of all stakeholders. Amaechi stated this while delivering the 34th Convocation Lecture of the University of Calabar, titled, “Beyond our Imperfect Union: The National Question and Nigeria's Future.” He said, "In recent days, we have begun to hear loud voices of disunity from various sections of the country. In response to current economic difficulties and the problem of insecurity, some have insisted on the now familiar argument for restructuring of the federation. Others have advocated increased regional autonomy. Some extremists are calling for secession of parts of the country from the federation. None of these divisive options would serve the urgent needs of this nation or the long term aspiration of all our people for

a better life in a happier nation. "Let me say without any fear that the concerns being raised by Nigerians about the future of our country are legitimate. They are indications of great patriotism and love. We all treasure this country and are anxious that it transforms into a better place for all of us. This overwhelming wish for a better Nigeria far outweighs the doomsday predictions of a few pessimists." He added that ethnicity and class, poverty and inequality were a major part of the problem, describing poverty as one of the greatest threats to the country's national unity and survival. He said: "For the avoidance of doubt, let me state that the desperate poverty that we have today has its roots in dispensations that came before the Buhari administration. Specifically, our epidemic of mass poverty dates back to the return of civil rule in our country. It is unfair to heap the responsibility for the prevalence of poverty and inequality on this or any one administration in the history of the country. "I have a personal conviction

that of all the challenges facing our nation’s actualisation, none is more urgent than the scourge of increasing poverty and the threat of massive inequality. We must attack and conquer inequality and extreme poverty or the poor will overrun Nigeria. "Let us take the threat of mass poverty seriously and elevate inequality to the status of a perennial national emergency in the years ahead. Nearly all the troubles that confront us as a nation can be traced to either direct poverty or the fear that the ogre of poverty could rise one day to devour the fortunes of the rich and prosperous. "I believe that the destiny of Nigeria can only be best actualised in the context of one indivisible and united nation. What is required is for us to continue to work towards a nation in which the doors of opportunity are open to all our citizens irrespective of ethnicity, creed, class or circumstance. Amaechi noted that tackling insecurity and criminality must also be on the front burner to avoid an escalation leading to un-governability. He also cautioned the political elite on actions that contribute to

insecurity in the nation. He said, "I agree with those patriotic voices who have cautioned that we need to do everything to arrest the general drift towards un-governability and state failure. "Nigeria should not queue up behind nations that have allowed these nascent forces to threaten their very existence or overwhelm them. We should instead face up to the challenges with maximum will. It is in this context that we need to appreciate the valiant efforts being made by the Buhari administration to ensure our national survival through the restoration of security, rehabilitation and expansion of national infrastructure and the alleviation of desperate poverty. "Challenges like Boko Haram, sporadic terrorism, banditry and other insurgent flare-ups are active national defence challenges of a grave strategic and military nature that have continued to engage the energies of the military. I believe that with time, these challenges will be overcome by the undisputed and tested professionalism of our military.

"On the other hand, we now have a plethora of criminal infractions ranging from transactional kidnapping and mass school abductions, armed robbery, cultism, rape and urban gang warfare. I believe that the correct cure to criminality is stout law enforcement and crime fighting predicated on accurate intelligence and interdiction. "We must not fail to recognize the responsibility of our elite in creating the problem of insecurity that we are facing today. In many parts of the country, the political elite failed in their responsibility to educate the majority of children of the lower classes. These children who were denied the right to education and a better life have grown up to find themselves with no other choice than to enroll in criminal undertakings such as banditry and terrorism.” Amaechi also condemned the desperation of some politicians who shop for criminal gangs to shoot themselves into office at great cost to human lives and property. According to him, "Politics has become weaponised in the sense that desperate political actors now patronise armed

gangs of criminal thugs for political purposes. Hate as an instrument of political mobilization has been enhanced by the emergence of the social media as a force of public opnion and information deployment. Taken together, these pressures and developments have tasked the security of the state almost to breaking point. "In times of desperate social and economic challenges, identity politics resurfaces in ferocious ways. This is why we now have these calls for restructuring backed by increasingly militant regional and ethnic nationalism. The rhetoric of anger usually drips of hate and divisiveness. The politics of desperation plays up ethnic, regional, religious and other primordial instincts to advance its cause. This, in my view, is the background to the current wave of insecurity, hate rhetoric and divisive politicking in the nation.” Amaechi also stated that in answering or resolving the national question, politics, leadership and governance in the real sense of it must also be prioritised.

and prayed that never again shall we experience such. “He welcomed the Grand Khalifa to Nigeria and commended their efforts in finding solutions to the problems of security in the country. “President Buhari described the visit of the spiritual leader as historical while

commending the sect for its peaceful conduct in carrying out its activities,” said Garba Shehu. President Buhari recalled the lives lost to the 30-month civil war in Nigeria and prayed that never again shall the country witness such. The presidential aide quoted Buhari as paying tributes to

the martyrs of the civil war. In his speech, the sectional leader of the Tijjaniyya in Nigeria, Sheikh Dahiru Usman described the sect as the largest with 70 million followers across the globe and prayed for continued peace and blessings for the country.

said NNPC could no longer bear the burden of under-priced sales of premium motor spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, adding that the market price need to be implemented. He said NNPC was paying between N100 and N120 billion

a month to keep the pump price at the current levels. “The price could have been anywhere between N211 and N234 to the litre. The meaning of this is that consumers are not paying for the full value of the PMS that we are consuming

and therefore someone is paying that cost,” he had said. “As we speak today, the difference is being carried in the books of NNPC and I can confirm to you that NNPC may no longer be in a position to carry that burden.”

the British… is coming from a museum in Germany. In many ways, that shows us that so many of these objects are not only in the British Museum. “In fact only eight per cent of more than 10,000 objects that were taken in 1897 are now in the British Museum. The rest are in 160 or more museums around the world. What this signals is that each one of those museums, including 45 here in the UK, will now be having their own conversations.” In a statement, the British

Museum said: “The devastation and plunder wreaked upon Benin City during the British military expedition in 1897 is fully acknowledged by the Museum and the circumstances around the acquisition of Benin objects explained in gallery panels and on the Museum’s website. “We believe the strength of the British Museum collection resides in its breadth and depth, allowing millions of visitors an understanding of the cultures of the world.”

TIJJANIYYA ISLAMIC MOVEMENT’S LEADERSHIP TUSSLE BOILS OVER Nigeria. The origin of the Tijaniyya sect dates back to the 1830s, and was reportedly introduced to Nigeria by the Sokoto caliphate. However, the sect broke into two factions in Nigeria after his death, with a faction led by Isiyaka Rabiu, and another led by Dahiru Bauchi.

Yesterday, Sheikh Muhammadul Mahy Niass and Sheikh Dahiru Usman were well received by President Buhari, an indication that Muhammad Sanusi II is not recognised as the leader of Tijaniyya sect in Nigeria by the Nigerian President. Speaking at an event to welcome the factional world

leaders of the Tijjaniyya Islamic Religious Movement, President Buhari thanked the Movement for their profuse prayers for an end to the civil war and the reunification of Nigeria. Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said the President recalled that in the 30 months of the civil war, Nigerians on both sides lost numerous lives

Continued on page 36

PETROL PRICE: NNPC DOUSES TENSION, SAYS NO INCREASE NOW its strategic depots across the country to keep the nation well supplied at all times. Obateru advised petroleum products marketers not to engage in arbitrary price increase or hoarding of petrol to avoid disrupting the market.

He also urged motorists not to engage in panic buying, stressing that NNPC was committed to ensuring energy security for the country as the supplier of last resort. The national oil company's spokesman assured

marketers and all other relevant stakeholders in the downstream sector of sustainable collaboration in the public interest. Speaking during a ministerial briefing on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Kyari

GERMANY’S MOVE TO RETURN STOLEN BENIN BRONZES PILES PRESSURE ON BRITAIN terms are yet to be finalised. The Benin Bronzes were looted in 1897. Weeks after British military officers, colonial officials and traders were ambushed and killed by local soldiers, British troops took revenge, exiling the king and helping themselves to thousands of objects, including statues, commemorative heads and ivory carvings. Barnaby Phillips, author of a forthcoming book, “Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes,” said that this will put pressure

on Britain and the British Museum – which boasts the world’s biggest collection of Benin Bronzes. He said: “If other museums are giving back (their bronzes), the British Museum will look out of step.” The British Museum rotates its displays and makes all objects available for study, he pointed out that it is also bound by legal constraints. “Neither the director nor the board of trustees could return the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria without Parliament

voting to change the law,” he said. “Ultimately, it would be down to politics. If you see the kinds of things (culture secretary) Oliver Dowden has said, warning British museums not to hand over their crown jewels, let alone sponsoring a vote in Parliament that the Government would support, I can’t see that happening. So this is awkward for the British Museum.” He noted that the British Museum and several institutions

have already hashed out a careful compromise with the Nigerian authorities, with a consortium of European museums agreeing to loan back 300 Benin Bronzes. Dan Hicks, a curator at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, which holds about 150 Benin objects taken in 1897, said: “Time’s up for simply ignoring these longstanding claims.” He added: “It will come as a surprise to some people that the move towards restitution of objects that were taken by

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

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Service Chiefs Agree, Submit to Authority of Defence Headquarters Revert to tradition of seniority, hierarchy in appointments to command positions Kingsley Nwezeh ÓØ ÌßÔË

The military high command has decided to restore established command structure and yesterday agreed to subordinate themselves to the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor.

The body of service chiefs affirmed that it was, by the decision, following global military convention where the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) is responsible for the command and control of the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). The Chief of Air Staff, Air

ICPC Cautions Hospitals, Finance Directors against Budget-Padding Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has condemned the padding of budget by government officials, warning that the Commission won’t tolerate breach of government financial rules and regulations. Prof. Owasanoye gave this warning during a meeting with the Forum of Directors of Finance of federal hospitals convened by the Budget Office of the Federation to review a position paper presented by the Forum on the challenges of implementation of the 2021 budget recently in Abuja. “Once you breach the rules, sanctions must follow,” the ICPC boss told the directors. He pointed out that it was an aberration for Federal Medical Centres to have more staff than teaching hospitals and criticised the fraudulent practices associated with outsourcing of services which was prevalent in the hospitals. Owasanoye advised the management of the hospitals to carry out a proper evaluation of the actual number of personnel needed and for which services so

as not to go beyond the number of non-regular staff required. He noted that a review of the health sector undertaken by the Commission revealed that funds meant for specific projects in hospitals had been diverted to other unimportant areas. On internally generated revenue, Owasanoye told the finance directors that agencies which receive allocations from government were expected to pay 100 per cent of their IGRs into the government treasury to avoid abuse. “There are some agencies and institutions that pay severance packages but do not remit their IGRs to the government. If an agency or institution is 100 per cent funded by the government, it is expected that such agency will remit its IGR to the government,” he declared. On their part, the Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Samson Adegoke raised the issue of non-regular staff whose allowances were not captured in the budget, especially house officers and interns, and wondered how they were supposed to be taken care of. He also spoke on the challenge of outsourcing, claiming that

Insecurity Tops Agenda as Abdulsalami Meets with Buhari Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË

Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja. Though, there was no formal statement on the focus of the meeting, sources close to the Villa said Abdulsalami and President Buhari spoke extensively on the security challenges facing the nation and the way forward. Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, shared news on the development on Twitter: “President @MBuhari receives in audience former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd.) at the State House, Abuja.” Ahmad said his principal received Abdulsalami on Friday

afternoon. Killings by Boko Haram, banditry by Fulani militias and kidnapping across the country have assumed a frightening dimension, with security agents struggling to contain the crisis. Unending mass abduction of school children and the failure of security agents to tame the menace have also left many Nigerians worried. Abdulsalami, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, was Nigeria’s Head of State between June 1998 and May 1999 when he handed over power to a democratically elected President in the person of Olusegun Obasanjo, thereby, heralding Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and return to democracy after years of despotic military reign.

COVID-19: 113 New Cases Recorded Nigeria recorded 113 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, taking the number of confirmed cases to 162,388 with 149,986 discharged and 2039 deaths.

Marshal Oladayo Amao, who made the disclosure in Makurdi, Benue State capital, said by the decision, all ongoing joint operations and joint task forces were directly subordinated to the DHQ and their commanders’ report directly to the CDS. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and other sister services have agreed to subordinate themselves to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) under the abled leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor,” he said. The last military leadership faced the challenge of disharmony and lack of coordination among them, causing the services

to take independent decisions which stoked rivalry. A statement issued by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said Air Marshal Amao made this known in Makurdi while on his maiden tour of Tactical Air Command (TAC). The decision, he said, “is the new line the service chiefs have all agreed to tow as efforts are on to bring the various security challenges to an end. “When we say we are members of the AFN, we mean the three services represent a single entity. When we accept the fact that we the members of the AFN constitute a united

entity, the need for rivalry will not arise,” he said. Air Marshal Amao also spoke of his administration’s resolve to revert to the military tradition of adherence to seniority and hierarchy in the appointment of officers to head command posts. “Situations where subordinate officers are given command appointments ahead of their seniors does not augur well for the system as this breeds insubordination and indiscipline,” he said. Speaking on discipline, Air Marshal Amao stated that there would be no sacred cows when it comes to discipline as

those found wanting would be punished as prescribed in the Armed Forces Act. He also spoke of the impending arrival of some platforms purchased for the NAF to Makurdi and urged personnel to support the 131 Engineering Group, being the hub of some of the platforms, as well as make the foreign technicians feel at home. The air chief said the platforms, when fully operational would be deployed immediately to the theatres of operations and should hopefully be the game changers in all DHQ led operations nationwide.

ENRICHING KNOWLEDGE. . . L-R: Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi during the 34th Convocation Lecture of the institution...yesterday.

LASG Debunks Underhand Sale of COVID-19 Vaccines Segun James

Following cries that the COVID-19 vaccine was being sold by unscrupulous medical personnel, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said that it was impossible for officials to sell the vaccine without detection. He debunked the allegation of vaccine sales at any of the 88

vaccination sites, stating that the allegation at the Ikate vaccination site was “untrue and baseless”. Abayomi said that the state government will never compromise on the vaccination protocols rolled out by the federal. According to him, the state government had vaccinated over 100,000 persons since the exercise started. He explained that “COVID-19

vaccination protocols were strictly monitored to ensure accountability of every unit of the vaccine received by the state, adding that every unit administered on citizens was accounted for at every stage of the process.” Abayomi noted that every unit of vaccine administered tallied with the vaccination card and the barcode on the vaccination card as part of the quality assurance

and accountability framework put in place. He stated that “it is difficult and near impossible for any unit of vaccine to be sold without being detected. “This why vaccinators are mandated to return every unit vaccine vial after use to us for proper audit; we then destroy the vial ourselves after a proper audit has been taken and every vial accounted for.”

Create Pathway to New Constitution, Ekweremadu Charges NILDS Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Friday tasked the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, on creating a pathway for the making of a new constitution. Ekweremadu made the call in a paper entitled “Constitution Amendment: Fostering Greater Involvement of NILDS”, which he delivered at a capacity building programme for Research Fellows of the Institute in Abuja He said whereas Section 9 of the Constitution empowers the parliament to amend the

constitution, the process, in reality, was not as easy as it appears to some onlookers. According to him “Constitution amendment is the single most important and rigorous lawmaking power of the Nigerian legislature. I had the rare privilege of piloting the process in the 6th, 7th, and 8th Senate, and I can affirm that it is not only rigorous, but enmeshed in convoluted politics, Nigeria being a pluralistic society. It was therefore not surprising that every attempt to amend the Constitution between 1999 and 2007 did not succeed until we took over in the 6th National

Assembly”. Ekweremadu, however, stressed that NILDS could be very relevant to the constitution amendment process by building the capacity of members and support staff of Constitution Amendment Committees of the National and State Assemblies and by championing the procedure for creating a new Constitution. He said: “The Constitution has undergone several amendments since 2010. The global best practice is that when a law undergoes so many amendments, you repeal and re-enact it, just as we are currently doing to the

Electoral Act. However, the manner the provisions of 1999 Constitution can be altered is already circumscribed in the document and it permits only amendments. It does not provide for how it could be repealed and a new one “We tried in the 7th National Assembly to make provisions for how a new constitution could be brought into being. That proposed amendment included a referendum. That was what countries like Brazil, Kenya, etc. did. Unfortunately, somehow, it didn’t work. It was voted out and rejected. But I think this is a cause NILDS should pursue.

SATURDAY MARCH 27, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Ehanire: foreign Embassies seeking vaccination THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

NEWS Chadian Lady with 234 Grams of Heroin in Private Part Nabbed Michael Olugbode ÓØ ÌßÔË

DIRECTING DEVELOPMENT… L-R: Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Greg Nnaji; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Steve Oruruo, during the inspection tour of Etudo/Awkunanaw Street, Achara Layout, Enugu, for immediate reconstruction by the state government, yesterday.

Ortom Urges Air Force to Support Army to Weed out Bandits George Okoh ÓØ ËÕßÜÎÓ Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has urged the Nigerian Air Force to support ground troops through aerial patrols in the fight against criminals in parts of the State. The Governor made the call yesterday when he received the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi. He also called on the Chief of Air Staff to direct the tactical

troop in Agatu to carry out some patrols outside the camp to help contain the insecurity in the area. The Governor acknowledged the contributions of the Air Force to the Operation Whirl Stroke(OPWS) which he said had restored relative peace in the State, pointing out that determined and patriotic Nigerians should support security agencies to secure the land. He expressed the hope

that hiccups from the civil air operations which had already commenced would soon be addressed for civil flight operations to resume. Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao stated that he was in the State on a familiarisation visit to get acquainted with challenges of the Tactical Air Command, saying courtesy demands that he pays homage on the Governor. While appealing to the

Governor to wade into the land dispute between the command and host community for amicable resolution, the Chief of Air Staff said they had always restrained their personnel from any negative reaction even in the face of provocation. He pledged the sustained support of the Nigerian Air Force under his leadership in collaboration with other security chiefs to fight insecurity in the country

Abiodun’s Wife Laments Neglect of Elderly Citizens Kayode Fasua ÓØ ÌÏÙÕßÞË Wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, yesterday expressed displeasure at the apparent neglect of elderly citizens, as she laments the absence of social welfare schemes to fend for them. Abiodun, in a demographic analysis of their plight, said come 2049, one in three persons would fall in the pensionable age-bracket and could be liable to untimely death as a result of lack, arising from socioeconomic neglect. She disclosed these in Abeokuta, the state’s capital, at the formal launch of JBS Elderly

Health and Well Being Foundation, also known as Africa’s ‘Adopt a Gran’ programme. The Ogun State ‘First Lady’, who is part of the foundation as a Patron, described the initiative as a response to cater to the needs of underprivileged elderly citizens in the Southwest states, to begin with. Bamidele submitted that the initiative would see to the welfare of pensioners who are increasing and are neglected by the society. “This is a direct response to the clear need for a well-established system that would cater to the underprivileged elderly population in our society, who represent

a key demography in the nation’s statistics. “For any society to thrive, a commitment to manage and take care of the elderly must remain a priority, because according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the proportion of the population aged 65 and above is expected to increase tremendously in the coming years, especially in developing countries like ours. “What this means is that by the year 2049, one in three people will be a pensioner. “Figures show that the aging process is accelerating and the number of old people at the world level is expected to double

considerably. “Therefore, we are in a race against time to ensure that the elderly can grow old with security and dignity while they can still participate in the society with equal rights and privileges,” she admonished. The governor’s wife added that the journey to that destination had just begun and that the JBS had caught that vision with the JBS Elderly Health and Wellbeing Foundation Africa. “Through the ‘Adopt A Gran’ initiative, we can scale our efforts over time while tracking and measuring our success until we can expand our reach.

planning. The realities of the economic hardship or financial pressure triggered by the COVID-19 restrictions for families has apparently opened the eyes of many people in the state to the fact that voluntary adoption of birth control was the way to go in today’s world. Speaking on the topic, ‘Family Planning and COVID-19’, an expert, Mrs. Patience Abudu, disclosed that whereas her Family Planning unit at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, the Delta State capital, previously recorded an average of 150 clients, the family planning unit received at least 172 clients in April 2020 when there was lockdown in the state. The figure of persons accessing family planning services rose steadily, forcing the healthcare providers to render home services especially from May of last year with as many as 187

clients to attend to that month, she revealed. In June, the figure dropped slightly to 177 while it rose even higher to 192 clients in July 2020, Mrs. Abudu further said, noting that the situation was similar in many urban areas based on available reports. According to her, stringent measures including restrictions occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic increased the hardship most people were facing, especially as businesses and commercial activities slowed down remarkably during the period. Therefore, although increased bonding were apparent among families, the tough times in most homes forced them to toe the line of caution simply to avoid unwanted pregnancies and to maintain a measure of financial discipline, she observed. Abudu said, “Family planning ensures discipline and

proper child spacing, and many families have become aware of this, so they have sought and taken up family planning at the FMC Asaba facility before now. “However, at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic challenges, the acceptors of family planning increased at the facility.” She noted that the modern family planning methods had provided a window of opportunity for every family, especially with women of childbearing age, to plan and ensure proper child spacing and healthy living by adopting globally accepted methods that are appropriate for the couples. “The real challenge is on how to take the advocacy to the rural communities, to educate the people particularly the women, to enable them do the needful to help themselves”, she further said.

A Chadian lady, Vivien Tarmadji has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with 234.35 grammes of heroin concealed in her private part. She was nabbed while trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight 911 enroute Addis Ababa to Italy. A statement yesterday by Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said Tarmadji, who runs a saloon business in Italy since 2016 upon her relocation to the country via Libya was nabbed by vigilant narcotics agents during an outward clearance of the airline at the boarding gate after being scanned. Babafemi said under interrogation, she claimed she was contacted by a man who called her from Italy to collect the drug from one man who delivered the illicit substance to her in a hotel she lodged in Lagos early in the morning before she took her flight to Abuja same day for onward journey to Italy. Tarmadji was said to have further claimed that the man brought 50 wraps of heroin for her to swallow but she couldn’t, and as such she decided to insert 18 wraps into her private part and returned the remaining to the man that brought the drug to her in the hotel. She also told her interrogators that she came into Nigeria to raise money to pay for her house and shop rents which had expired in Italy, as life has been so difficult since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic. She said the owner of the drug was to pay her €10,000 on successful delivery of the drug in Italy. In a related development,

one Okojie James from Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State has also been arrested with illicit drugs while boarding Turkish airline flight enroute Abuja-IstanbulCyprus. The drugs found with him include 549 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa; 223.8 grammes of Tramadol; 192.34 grammes of Rohypnol; 214.05 grammes of Flunitrazepam, all of which were concealed in tins of Bournvita and milk, packed in a bag of foodstuff. James during interrogation, claimed his friend, Mr. Elvis who resides in Cyprus asked him to collect the luggage for him. He said Elvis’ sister sent the luggage to him in Abuja from Benin through a transport company, adding that he was into shawarma and indomie business in Benin before Elvis invited him to Cyprus claiming that he got him admission to school there. The Commander, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Command of the NDLEA, Kabir Tsakuwa, said while Okojie James was arrested last Saturday, Vivien was nabbed on Tuesday 23rd March, 2021. He added that both suspects would soon face prosecution. Also the NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO Export Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos on Wednesday 24th March seized an abandoned five cartons of green leaves suspected to be KHAT with a gross weight of 105.7 kilogrammes. Meanwhile the Chairman/ CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended men and officers of the two airports Commands and challenged them to continue with the offensive action to secure Nigeria from the damaging effects of the drug scourge.

Widow of Late Ekiti Surveyor -General, Osalusi, COVID-19: More Deltans Access Family Planning Services Freed from Kidnappers’ Den Omon-Julius Onabu ÓØ ÝËÌË There are indications that more people in Delta State were adopting one form of family planning method or the other, with the number of persons accessing family planning services in urban areas of the state increasing significantly since the COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020. This came to light at a roundtable on expanding the scope of the campaign of safer and responsible parenting with the theme, ‘The Role of Women in Family Planning’, held yesterday in Asaba under the auspices of the Delta Media Forum for Family Planning. Also, experts in family planning and participants at the roundtable were agreed on the need for women generally to take more interest in reproductive health issues, particularly family

Victor Ogunje ÓØ ÎÙ ÕÓÞÓ After spending five nights in captivity, the wife of the late Surveyor- General of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmilola Osalusi, who was kidnapped last Saturday, has been freed by her abductors. Mrs. Osalusi, who is the wife of the former surveyor General Ekiti State, Mr. Felix Osalusi, was abducted in her house behind Immigration service, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti around 8.30pm last Saturday. The victim is an administrative staff of the Ado Ekiti Local Government of Ekiti State. Confirming her release to newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, said the woman was released Thursday night. Abutu said she has reunited

with her family following efforts made by the combined forces of the Police, Amotekun corps , local hunters and vigilante group of Nigeria in trailing the criminal elements to their hideouts. “I can confirm to you that the abductee, Mrs. Funmilola Osalusi has been released by her abductors. “The police and other security outfits upon hearing that the woman had been held hostage, started combing the suspected surrounding forests day and night . Our detectives worked 24 hours inside the forests. “We are happy that we got a fruitful result and the woman had been released unhurt”. Abutu appealed to Ekiti residents to be security conscious and work with all legitimate security outfits in Ekiti to combat crime in the state.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

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Secession Can’t Be on South-west’s Table

n the last few days, I have listened to few incoherent and impish fellows, who claim to be Yoruba rights activists, saying the only way forward for the South-west is to secede from Nigeria. One of them even proclaimed a Yoruba nation. I won’t mention their names here so as not to accord them any iota of recognition. They don’t deserve it and they do not represent the good people of this region. They cannot represent the South-west because they lack the capacity for this. One of them also clearly lacks the intellectual capacity to even talk about separatism. These jumbled men talk about secession as if it would solve all the problems of the region; that the South-west will become an Eldorado once it is out of Nigeria. So, once the South-west secedes from Nigeria, their politicians will no longer steal the people’s commonwealth; that corruption and nepotism will become history. There will no longer be intra-ethnic clashes. Insecurity, poverty, disease and hunger will be history; that education, health and roads in the region will be world class. These people need to be forcefully told that secession has never been the solution to issues of insecurity, corruption, marginalisation and bad government anywhere in the world. Immoderation destroys. These chaotic secessionists link all the problems of the South-west to its membership of the Nigerian state. They hardly question what their political leaders do with the trillions of Naira that accrue to states in the Southwest. For me, genuine patriots of this region should be talking about a greater federated South-west within a truly federal state. Of course, all is not well with the Nigerian federation and rightly needs restructuring. Even the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) agrees and has restructuring as part of its agenda. South-west politicians in the APC should nudge the party to do the needful. I am with the true South-west patriots fighting for restructuring, true federalism, fiscal federalism, resource control and devolution of power to the component states. This is the way forward for South-west, not secession. On this, the United States federalism should be the model for Nigeria. In the US, nobody is talking about secession because of unabridged federalism. The pillar of the U.S. remains full implementation of virtually all the tenets of federalism. In that country, the canon of federalism enjoys a pride of place. Just imagine different states having different rules to elect the President of a country. That’s what happens in the United States. Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution failed to create a balance of power between the federal government

Fayemi

and the states. As a consequence, the federal government has become too powerful and chokes the federating units. What we have in our 1999 Constitution is pseudo-federalism. Pragmatic South-west patriots should fight on until the main goal of federalism is attained in Nigeria. The key aim is to create a balance of power, so that neither the federal government nor the federating units can get too commanding. Many Nigerians do not like the idea of a federal government far away in Abuja turning and twisting their lives. The federal government has no business registering births in state and local governments. This should be the business of the federating units. The states can’t even take charge of their security, despite the ineptitude of the centrally-controlled one. The federal government has appropriated so many local issues. Going forward, each state in Nigeria must have its own constitution. This can be sorted out with unabridged federalism. A massive amendment of the 1999 Constitution along this line is pertinent. If it is well worked out, you won’t find any part of this country agitating for secession. A lot of items on the Exclusive Legislative List of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution are unequivocally needless and have turned the

federal government into a monster snake, piercing the federating units. Mines and minerals (including oil fields), geological surveys and natural gas have no business on the Exclusive Legislative list. We should fully implement Federalism by allowing states to control their natural resources as was the case in the First Republic. Back then, it was beneficial to all the regions. Unmistakably, there is no state in this country without enough natural resources to survive. They just need to look inward deeper, with a progressive and pragmatic leader anchoring the drive. I have heard some people agitating for a return to regional structure. This is clearly not the way to go. We will simply create another monster snake with regional governments. In the defunct Western Region, money from Cocoa was being used to develop non-cocoa producing areas of the region. We can’t afford to go back to this. Nigeria is good to go with the current 36-state arrangement, with full execution of all the creeds of federalism. If Nigeria had 36 states back then, the country’s civil war would not have happened. I stand with those that want this country to remain one. I am in support of a united Nigeria where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and equality of opportunity are paramount, regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender or political affiliation. But we must rejig our Federalism and restructure Nigeria to the benefit of all. The few talking about breakup are jumbled people. It was good hearing governors of the South-east pledging their commitment to an indivisible and united Nigeria built on love and justice. This is the way to go. The positions of Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State make sense. Fayemi said: “I have gone on record to say that I have unfailing optimism that in spite of all our challenges, this country will triumph and we’ll survive current challenges. We as leaders must focus on the goal of protecting lives and property, and focus on safety and security as the primary responsibility that we have. “The people who are talking about secession frankly, some of them are doing it out of frustration. I don’t think that’s the solution to the Nigerian predicament right now. In matters of economic development, we may need to begin to look at other ways of managing diversity and difference in our country and that devolution of power is an idea whose time has come.” Akeredolu remarks: “Our people are knowledgeable enough to determine their interest at any point. If and when they consider self-determination as an option, they will

Customs out to Kill Nigerian Airlines

Onyema

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the executive order on zero-duty for all imported aircraft and spare parts in 2020. Section 39

of the Second Schedule of the Finance Act as amended, also clearly states that airlines registered in Nigeria and providing commercial air transport services are entitled to duty-free importation of their aircraft, engines, spare parts and components whether purchased or leased. But the Nigerian Customs Service has been giving all these different interpretations. It says Nigerian airlines must pay some strange taxes for their imports under ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and Comprehensive Imports Supervision Scheme (CISS). As a result, Air Peace was forced to pay a huge N189 million as taxes for the E195-E2 aircraft it imported recently. In today’s Nigeria, the NCS charges duties between 10 and 35 per cent of the cost of aircraft and spare parts which the airlines must pay before they receive their equipment and this is frustrating. The Chairman of Air Peace and ViceChairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Chief Allen Onyema remarked: “I plead with the federal government to talk to the Customs to feel the pulse of the president and his government. We must always do things that will reduce the

name-calling or bad-mouthing of a particular regime. The Customs know very well that waivers have been signed into law yet I have an aircraft on ground for over one month because the engine which was imported is with the Customs because of duties. I paid over $1 million insurance on the aircraft. This is a company with a staff of over 3,000, our spare parts and engines will come into this country and Customs will keep them, giving us all manner of reasons.” The exemptions clearly state that such imports must be duty free. This refers to the act of being able to purchase an item in particular circumstances without paying import, sales, value-added, or other taxes. So, the NCS can’t insist that the aforesaid did not grant concession on CISS and ETLS. These two are also forms of taxes. The NCS is obviously defying the federal government’s order on the importation of commercial airplanes and spare parts. Nigerian airlines are already struggling to survive. It seems the NCS is out to cremate them. Customs boss, Hameed Ali, and his boys must be called to order before this happens.

not depend on external promptings to act. That is why we are different. That is why we are who we are.” Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, candidate of the Peoples Trust in the 2019 presidential election, adds an interesting aspect to the debate: “The truth must be told that despite the increasingly frustrating realities in Nigeria, a united Nigeria still remains our best alternative. Separatists’ advocacies are always ever seductive during moment of crisis but they never deliver good results afterwards. Ask the people of Southern Sudan. After about 30 years war and secession from Sudan, they are still embroiled in factional wars. Despite their oil wealth, their people are still wallowing in poverty and the GDP of their economy is lower than that of Ogun State.” Olawepo-Hashim argued that ethnic or regional homogeneity of a state would not necessarily guarantee peace. He cited an instance of countries like Somalia, a predominantly Muslim country with one language but embroiled in unending war for over 30 years. While arguing that separatism would not robotically bring justice, Olawepo-Hashim affirms that only good governance, around policies and fear of God could ensure justice in the polity. Nigeria needs to amend its Constitution to allow unabridged Federalism. So, let’s put pressure on our lawmakers to do the needful. This country needs to review its current governance and political arrangement. This is the restructuring patriots are talking about. Power devolution to the federating units is pertinent. States must be allowed to explore and exploit their economic resources. Nigeria operated unabridged federalism in the First Republic and it worked very well for everybody in this country. Restructuring is a struggle for justice and equity in Nigeria and not the balkanisation of this great country or setting brothers against brothers. My last word for these few untidy separatists in the South-west: Southwestern intelligentsias, professionals, businessmen, manufacturers, traders and artisans need the bigger Nigerian market for their initiative, just as the entire country needs them. Having invested across the country, and with huge number of South-westerners living outside the region, the best option is to team up with those pushing for the nation to be restructured. This is the truth that must be told.

The Steel of Hakeem BabaAhmed When it comes to taking firm positions on national issues, the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has never disappointed me. He was his robust self when he spoke on the faltering Buhari government on Arise television last Wednesday. My take away from the interview is this: “If I have an opportunity to speak with the president, I will say ‘sir, please wake up and smell the coffee, this country is falling apart. It is in very serious danger; it is going down under your watch. You swore in 2015 and again in 2019 that you will protect citizens, the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Sorry, sir, you are not doing that, doing it well or you are not doing it at all. You keep changing things but we see the same result. Why is it not possible for Nigerians to deal with banditry, kidnappings? Do you have a way of finding out because we don’t have the time for you to fix this country at your own leisure and the rate you are going, you are too slow and people smell a vacuum around your government and this is why you see people saying we don’t want to be part of Nigeria. What happened to the country, to the oath you took to protect Nigeria?’ “Those are the kinds of questions I will ask Mr. President. Hopefully, he will have some answers and if he doesn’t, the solution will be asking those who know.” God bless Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27,2021

NEWSXTRA ‘FG, NDDC not Involved in Aba Urban Renewal Projects’ EmmanuelUgwu-Nwogo inUmuahia

ENHANCING EDUCATION… L-R: Executive Secretary, NUC,Professor Abubakar Rasheed and Delta Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, receiving letter of approval for the upgrade of three Delta higher institutions to universities at the Commission’s headquarters, Abuja... recently Yinka Oladosun

Fayemi Disowns Aide over Comment on 2023 Presidential Poll Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has disowned the statement allegedly ascribed to him that any Nigerian above 60 years shouldn’t be supported for the presidency in 2023. Fayemi said the statement stoutly negated his belief that every Nigerian has inalienable right to vie for any position of his choice, regardless of age, creed, ethnicity and political belief. An aide of the Governor, Mr.

Makinde Araoye, was reported to have made the statement during a National Youth Summit and Conference organised by the Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) in Abuja on Thursday. The statement had been widely misinterpreted to mean vituperation against the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Debunking the statement in a statement by his Chief

Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, yesterday, Fayemi said Araoye spoke in his personal capacity at the event; hence the purported statement was at best his personal views and not representative of Governor Fayemi’s position. Fayemi said: “The attention of the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has been drawn to a news report in the Blueprint Newspaper of March

26, 2021 edition, which is also being circulated across social media with the headline “No Room for Presidential Aspirant above 60 years- Fayemi” and other variants. “As a matter of fact, the view is in conÁict with Governor Fayemi’s well known position on political participation. He is one of the leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that is not Àxated about zoning of presidential and other elective positions.

Oyetola Inaugurates Integrated NJC, Governors not Obligated to Recommend Financial Management Most Senior as Chief Judge Information System Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Rivers State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, has insisted that neither the National Judicial Council (NJC) nor the Governor of a state was obligated to recommend or appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court as substantive Chief Judge of a state. Adangor, made this assertion while reacting to a statement credited to a group, Concerned Lawyers in Rivers State led by Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt branch, John Owubokiri, impugning the recommendation of Justice Simeon C. Amadi by the NJC to the Governor of Rivers State for appointment as substantive Chief Judge of the state upon the retirement of the current Chief Judge. He argued that it was wrong

for the Concerned Lawyers to rely on what they termed “Judicial tradition” to demand that the NJC should have recommended Justice Joy Akpughunum to the Governor of Rivers State as the next substantive Chief Judge based on seniority from amongst the serving Judges on the High Court Bench of Rivers State. According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Information, Mr. Kelvin Ebri, Adangor, explained that his understanding of the law was that a rule of “judicial tradition” if one really exists, was only relevant where there was no applicable rule of substantive law governing the particular issue in question, adding that the rule of judicial tradition could not be relied upon to subvert or supplant an applicable rule of substantive law on any issue.

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday inaugurated the State Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS) to strengthen the financial management of the state’s treasury. The initiative was to curb corruption in the public service and build an “impregnable and efficient” financial system that will enhance Osun budgetary implementation. Inaugurating the application at the premises of the Office of the Accountant General of the State, State Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, Oyetola said the initiative was aimed at leaving an enduring financial and economic legacy for the state.

He said the application would henceforth serve as a potent weapon to rid the system of corruption, unnecessary bottlenecks and serve as a catalyst to the administration’s development strategy, which was targeted at providing prosperity and better life and services for the citizens. Oyetola said the initiative would further help the state to instill financial discipline in her bureaucracy and make the state a player in global financial best practices and a model in financial efficiency in the nation. “As a government, we are desirous of leaving an enduring financial and economic legacy for the state. It is our belief that the best way to fight corruption in the public service is to build an impregnable and efficient financial system.

US Senate ConÀrms Nigerian born Adeyemo as First %lacN DeSuty Sec of 7reasury With the conÀrmation of the appointment of Nigerianborn Adewale Adeyemo by the US Senate on Thursday, Adeyemo has emerged as the Àrst African American to hold the position of deputy secretary of the United States treasury department. Adeyemo’s appointment was conÀrmed on a voice

vote, amidst praises by US lawmakers. In her short speech, Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, believed Adeyemo had gathered enough managerial experience and values which would ultimately become a good asset to the United States’ economy. She described Adeyemo as “a master of shuttle economic

diplomacy who would help meld US economic and national security interests. “Wally is everything the Treasury Department needs right now: He has spent his career working at the intersection of America’s national security interests and our economic ones,” Yellen was quoted to have said in a statement.

“In the process, he’s become a master of shuttle economic diplomacy, helping keep America’s economy strong at home and competitive abroad. “Those values – and that managerial experience – will be a tremendous asset to Treasury now as we continue implementing the American Rescue Plan.”

The controversy generated by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, over the funding of the road reconstruction projects going on in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State has continued to rage across the state. Kalu had, in apparent bid to attract votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Aba federal constituency by-election slated for today, claimed that the federal government was funding the road projects in Aba through his intervention. Though Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has dismissed the claim as outright deceit and disinformation, Senator Kalu has not withdrawn his claims with the APC faithful and a section of Aba residents holding on to what the Abia

North Senator has said. But the Managing Director of ECKLEEN Integrated Services, the contractor handling the 2.3km Osusu Road project in Aba, Mr. Uzoma Onuoha has joined the fray, saying that it was wrong for Kalu to claim federal involvement in the projects his firm was doing for the state government. Speaking with journalists yesterday in Aba, Onuoha said that he was surprised to hear that a contract awarded to his firm by Abia State Government was awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC). “It is to my utmost consternation and it shocked me to my marrow that somebody will just come up overnight to claim a job I did for the Abia State Government, of which I have the documents to substantiate my claims.

Chief of Naval Staff Visits Anambra over Killing of Officers David-Chyddy ElekeinAwka The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has visited Anambra State over the killing of some of his men by yet to be identified gunmen. Gambo ordered officers and soldiers in Anambra State to be on alert and redouble their efforts on war against criminal elements attempting to truncate the existing peace in the state. The Chief of Naval Staff who spoke to journalists, shortly after meeting Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano at the Governor’s Lodge, Onitsha, said they were working in conjunction with the armed services and security agencies to ensure lasting peace to the state. Gambo who had earlier made an operational visit to Onitsha Naval Outpost, described the maiden visit as timely as well as period of sober reflection following the ugly incident. He said, “I’m here on operational visit to Onitsha Naval Outpost. We wouldn’t have been here but for

expediency following the two separate incidents we had last week that led to the loss of some of our men and two weapons. “Even though the attack was not limited to our men, because I understand that Correctional Service team conveying a suspect to the court was also attacked. “I’m here to reassure our staͿ at the Naval Outpost who have been here since 2010 to redouble their eͿorts and to be more alert based on the potent threats we’re observing now from the Eastern Security Network, the security arm of the IPOB. “We’re working in conjunction with the armed services and security agencies to ensure we bring lasting peace to this state which has been peaceful for quite some time. “This is in line with Mr. President directives after our inauguration to service chiefs to put heads together to ensure we change the deepening insecurity situation around the country so our people can have peace and do their job well.”

Kwara Police Rescue 3 Abducted Farm Managers in Ilorin Hammed Shittu inIlorin

The Kwara State Police Command yesterday said that, the three farm managers recently abducted at their farms at Panmo Village in Asa Local Government Area of the state have been rescued. The three persons are Dr. Julius Owoeye, Mr. Akeem Ajadi and Mr. Bola Adedoye The aͿected o΀cers were the workers of BaͿord Morola’s Farms at Elega Via Pampo Village Ilorin. They were abducted at their farms at Pampo Village in Asa Local Government Area of the state on Monday by six armed uniforms men that armed with AK- riÁes. The abductors later demanded the sun of N45 million for their release. The development however prompted the police command and other security agencies in the state to begin the searching of

the kidnappers and later paved way on Thursday night in Ilorin. However, in a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday signed by the command Public Relations OfÀcers (PPRO), Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi stated that, “the aͿected three workers were successfully rescued yesterday at 23. 30hrs by operatives attached to the command led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Lawal Bagega.” The statement said that, “The command was Áabbergasted when the news of the abduction of the victims broke, despite tight security arrangements emplaced throughout the state. “The news of the kidnap prompted the Commissioner of Police to give a matching order to the Command’s anti kidnapping operatives which he personally supervised that eventually forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims when they could not withstand the intense pressure placed on them, hence they Áed for their lives.

SATURDAY MARCH 27, 2021 • T H I S D AY

MARCH 27, 2020 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

FAREWELL, PETER PALMER EKEH Peter Ishaka pays tribute to Peter Ekeh, a scholar of note

n the morning of November 17, 2020, I had a call from Akpofure Ekeh, a surgeon and a Professor at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, United States. He is the ﬁrst son of Professor Peter Ekeh. Being a local call I had thought he was on one of his numerous medical outreach missions in Nigeria. He was straight to the point: “Prof has passed”, he said. It was difﬁcult to take. Prof dead? How can one talk of Professor Ekeh in the past tense? Is that all? He had been having some health challenges for a while, but there was no indication that death was imminent. The last time we spoke – he from his residence in Buffalo, New York, he spoke brightly, preoccupied not with his health but with how to better the lot of the Urhobo people. I knew Prof Ekeh long time ago, through his profound academic prowess at the University of Ibadan. He was in the league of the best and the brightest from the Niger Delta at Ibadan - the Tekena Tamunos, Obaro Ikimes, Omafume Onoges and the Isidore Okpewhos. Though he had his graduate and doctorate degrees in Sociology, he was adept in the field of political science and indeed one of the early successors of luminary scholar Billy Dudley as head of Political Science Department. His first book, “Social Exchange Theory: The Two Traditions,” was published by Harvard University Press in 1974. But his article in a journal, “Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa,” published in 1975, is perhaps the most cited work in Africa and beyond. I came to know Peter Palmer Ekeh closely in 2004 through my former and late boss, Senator David Dafinone. He had come to see Chief Dafinone with a manuscript he edited, “Warri City and British Colonial Rule in Western Niger Delta” to write the foreword. Chief Dafinone gladly did and also cosponsored the publication of the book which threw new light into the main issues underlying the Warri crisis. I was asked to follow up with the printing of the book, and thus started a friendship that endured until his passing. The relationship was strengthened more through the affairs of the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) which he founded with other academics and intellectuals in North America in 1999, essentially to propagate and publicise the history and culture of the Urhobo people. Like the late legendary Mukoro Mowoe, foremost nationalist of the Urhobo people, Professor Ekeh paid to serve his people. He had uncommon passion for

HIS LIFE EMBRACED ALL THE ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE DEAR TO THE URHOBO PEOPLE: SERVICE TO FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, SOCIETY, AND HARD WORK

Urhobo affairs through extraordinary dedication to their cause and ideals. As Dr. Abaka Oghenejode, officiating priest at Ekeh’s funeral mass at Okpara Inland, Ethiope East Local council, Delta State rightly said yesterday, “he worked for the good of the Urhobo people.” Under his driving spirit and chairmanship, UHS published several diverse books – books which tell the true story of his people – they went beyond the achievements of kings and rulers but also the achievements of ordinary people who have risen to make a difference in the lives of their communities. Some of the books he edited, besides Warri City, include Studies in Urhobo Culture, History of the Urhobo People of Niger Delta, Olomu and Development of Urhoboland, and T.E.A. Salubi: Witness to British Colonial Rule in Urhoboland and Nigeria. Dr. Salubi achieved fame and greatness through sheer hand work. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Ibadan. All the books are prefaced and suffused with Professor Ekeh’s intellectual and analytical rigour and are helping to deepen the breadth and depth of knowledge of Urhobo history and culture. He also accompanied these publications with a website, Urhobo waado.org, perhaps one of the largest of its type, entirely devoted to a peoples’ culture and history. In 2007, UHS published a Calendar, the first of its type, featuring several Urhobo men and women of significance. Through UHS he networked with other Urhobo social groups, all to the good of the Urhobo people. Even much earlier, he was involved in the larger cause of the Delta people. Professor Ekeh was involved in high profile political agitations for the creation of Delta State in the 1980’s and indeed authored “The Case for the Creation of Delta State,” for the movement. Peter Ekeh was a decent man. He was a good man. Even with all the intellect, he was simple, humble, down to earth, and full of laughter. His life embraced all the attributes that are dear to the Urhobo people: service to family, friendship, society, and hard work. It is little wonder that he was mourned locally, nationally and internationally. As the cannons boomed yesterday for his final farewell at Imodje, Orogun, it is perhaps apt to look at the book of Wisdom which said, ‘’The virtuous man, though he dies before his time, will find rest.” Good night Prof. Ishaka is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

FINDING LASTING SOLUTION TO INSECURITY IN NIGERIA (2) The government must make a choice between control and protection, argues Kelechi Akubueze

he Nigerian post – colonial state, with its national security infrastructure as presently constituted, is facing a very high risk of ultimate collapse! This collapse will not come as a big bang, but will come as incremental but steady weakening of the authority and capacity of the State to exercise the functions of a State. Already the State is substantially weakened with the number of ungoverned spaces increasing by the day: from terrorist activities and occupation of territories in Borno and Yobe and later Adamawa and Taraba; to banditry in Zamfara, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kastina and Kano; to kidnapping on Kaduna – Abuja road, now extended to Niger State, a border state with the FCT; from the threat of bombing of oil installations by Niger Delta Militants to civil disobedience by IPOB in the South East; from herdsmen/farmers skirmishes in the Middle belt to the call for dismemberment of the federation in the South West; the country’s internal contradictions could be rightly said to have reached the ﬁnal conﬂict phase. As the number of ungoverned spaces increases with widening national fault lines, and as the authority and capacity of the State diminish consequently, these ungoverned spaces will be swiftly occupied by two categories of people: One, criminal elements (terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, etc.) who will keep cashing in on the emerging weakness of the State and hence exacerbate such weakness by unleashing more terror on the citizens and tasking the security forces to their limits;

Two, ethnic champions who are canvassing for secession and who will further exploit the void and make the State more ungovernable. As the above two scenarios continue unabated, the Nigerian State will gradually cave in to its ultimate collapse. The point here is that, the very fear of the State, secession, will finally be realized, this time not due to overwhelming forces of regions to break away, but due to weakness and diminished capacity of the State itself from exhaustion in trying to manage the numerous internal contradictions and social forces that have been unleashed. The solutions proffered here are exclusively within executive powers of implementation, and will address two immediate issues: effectively combat, within the shortest possible time, the security challenges facing the entire country presently; diminish substantially, the rising regional pressure on the federal government, and create the needed space and environment for the good and efficient governance. The immediate solution here is a policy realignment and paradigm shift in the Police administration. Everywhere in the world, the police combat crime. The military is trained and equipped to engage situations where there are targets and defined theatres and boundaries of warfare; when the source of threat is internal and interwoven within societal dynamics, the police must take the lead. Presently, the federal government is inundated with pressure and demands for

restructuring, and one of the key issues is state police, as against the present federal structure of the police. It is suggested here that government implements a “Hybrid Option” that will provide the benefits of state policing but without losing federal central command of the police: A new policy of government that will mandate the deployment of Commissioners of Police only to their States of origin; a policy to ensure that 50 – 70 percent of the police force in every state, including the senior officials, is made up of officers from that state; a review of minimum wage for the police as incentive for a new brand of policing; only 30 – 40 percent of police personnel to be deployed to states outside their origin. The same should be applied to DSS and Civil Defence Corps At the risk of sounding too structural, functionalist theorists may ask the question: if everything was working well within the federation, will people or regions still be insisting on breaking out? The answer is No and Yes. No because if we had a country where citizens have confidence in the government to protect their lives and property, nobody would be agitating to break away. Yes because, in reality, given the present structure of the Nigerian State and the system of security in the country, things can never work well. I have tried researching to find if there is any country that operates the same system as ours and has recorded success in this area, but up till now, I haven’t found one, and I don’t have the confidence that we are likely to score a

first in this. In Chinua Achebe’s popular novel Arrow of God, when the villagers accosted Eze Ulu, the Chief Priest, and demanded why he of all people would allow his own son to attend the white man’s school which was then regarded by the entire natives as an abomination and sacrilege, Eze Ulu wittingly told them that when a strange disease hits the land, the blood that would be used for sacrifice to defeat the disease must be one that matches the level and seriousness of that disease. If the country insists on running the type of federalism it is presently running, then its leaders must be ready to deploy a security structure that can sustain the political system the country is operating. Anything else is self-disillusion, as the truth is emerging every day before our very eyes. The reality is that the government must make a choice now between “Control” and “Protection” or find a perfect balance between the two, otherwise, the State itself might be lost! The primary objective of any government is the protection of lives and property of its citizenry. If a government reaches a point where it can no longer fulfill this responsibility, the result will be anarchy and a return to the Hobbesian state. We can still make hay while the Sun shines; yes, before the sun sets! Dr Akubueze is an international elections expert, and consultant in peace building, conﬂict prevention and resolution

MARCH 27 2020 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Where are they?

Ihedioha: Accolades to a Man for Tomorrow

have observed him closely enough to understand and appreciate what distant observers think and say of him. While some are exaggerated and misplaced, not all of the adjectives that have been used to describe him can be dismissed with a wave of the hand. This is because infallibility is exclusive to the immortal. But objectivity is not a virtue all mortals subscribe to. However, even from a pair of subjective lens, one cannot take away certain character traits that define and stand him out. This is especially in public service where the banana peels litter the space waiting to trip many over. But an untainted political career spanning well over two decades is worthy of accolades and exemplary sampling. Moreso, when more of this time has been spent in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly where leadership positions, until more recently, equate to a game of musical chairs. And this is where Emeka Ihedioha indisputably transcends the levers of biased judgment calls. His political trajectory is a testament to courage, character and consistency. These Cs are rare commodities in the arena of politics and leadership where he has treaded. From the courageous first steps of fierce political baptism in the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) which confronted and eventually outwitted the dreaded Abacha military junta before transmuting into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ihedioha has stayed course with his political convictions. He stands tall as one who has never defected from the PDP since 1999. This is indeed a big deal in a country where we have seen politicians move around almost all the parties that have been of any electoral value; in fact some have jumped ship at very fundamental moments and can be regarded as founding fathers of both current leading parties in the land – the PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC). This consistency is arguably but demonstrably inconsistent with preponderant political behavior in Nigeria. Objectivity demands that such virtue be credited where it is due. Ihedioha surely deserves the credit of a consistent political player. Those who make the argument that there is no difference between both parties miss the point. The principle of fidelity as a virtue is uncommon among politicians in Nigeria. Not even the vicissitudes of his political journey have eroded his principled hold to the platform he helped found and nurtured to an unchallenged winning brand for 16 years. No doubt, he can be said to be a prominent beneficiary of the party but there are even greater beneficiaries that not only bit the finger that fed them but took delight in spitting on the graves of their fathers. And he could have retained or switched certain benefits had he

yielded to pressures to ditch his party. He has shown staying power even when holding the short end of the stick. Or how else does one view the fact that he defeated the combined elements of federal and state incumbency to win the governorship of Imo State in 2019? The deep cut inflicted by the Supreme Court judgment of January 14, 2020 has been taken in stoically. That the cut invariably turned out to be an injury eternally borne by the people of Imo State, offers some comfort on one hand and on the other, a clear indication that a better day beckons for the Mbaise-born politician. His seven months old governorship continues to be a reference point in the history of the state. He has shown courage in smarting out from that setback and now looks ahead like the courageous politician he has always been. Besides being delightsome at home in Imo, Ihedioha has remained a darling brand to be courted across the country and this makes him a personality to watch out for as the politics of 2023 unfolds. The network he built through many years of diligent hard work and clever calculations stand ready to continue to propel him forward for heights ahead. And this is why he is a man for tomorrow. And at 56 years of age, there is still a lot that the future holds as long as the mercies and grace of God Almighty permits. I wish His Excellency, the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and former governor of Imo State, a happy birthday. Oke Epia wrote from Abuja

Ikorodu and the ‘Greater Lagos’ Train

he fast moving ‘Greater Lagos’ train of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration recently berthed in Ikorodu, and, in its characteristic style, left behind enduring developmental footprints. In continuation of its strategies to reduce the housing deficit in the state, Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team stormed the ancient town of Ikorodu to inaugurate yet another housing scheme at Igbogbo. The housing scheme, constructed by the State’s Ministry of Housing has 360 home units, comprising of 120 units (one bedroom), 120 units (two bedrooms) and 120 units (three bedrooms) on an expanse of 6.24 hectares of land in Igbogbo, Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, LCDA. Each building within the estate, which was inherited and completed by the present administration through direct budgetary allocation, has home units designed for low-and middle-income earners. The completion and inauguration of the scheme bears ample testimony to the Sanwo-Olu administration’s avowed commitment to making Lagos a 21st Century Economy via the provision of decent homes and essential infrastructure for its citizenry. The project is unique because it is constructed in line with global specifications. The houses are certified to yield maximum benefits to the future owners because they are built-in line with global standards.

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR FESTUS AKANBI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: ﬁrst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

The estate also comes with infrastructure such as a water treatment plant, central sewage treatment plant, street lights, spaces for community activities, road network, car parks and drainage as well as perimeter fence. A major highlight of the inauguration ceremony was the presentation of a three-bedroom flat at the newly built estate to veteran Nollywood actress, Mrs. Lanre Hassan Adesina, aka Iya Awero’ as a humanitarian gesture by the government. Also, as a reward for their exemplary diligence and industry, Governor Sanwo-Olu presented two teachers in the state’s public schools with a gift of three-bedroom apartments each. They are the Principal of Government Junior College in Ketu-Epe, Mr. Dunni Ikuseyi (Principal of the Year) and recipient of Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Elusakin of Oriwu Model College. Sanwo-Olu, who named the new housing scheme after a former Deputy Governor of the state, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, restated his administration’s commitment to delivering more housing projects in the axis. He pledged to improve the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the axis via the rehabilitation of Bayeiku road, redevelopment of Ita-Elewa Roundabout as well as provision of needed amenities to accommodate the influx of people to the environment. The governor disclosed that the piece of land adjoining the new estate has been earmarked for another housing project, stressing that his administration has adopted the Global Housing Policy, which gives people the option of becoming homeowners, over a period of time through the Rent to Own policy. According to him, this policy, which is targeted at the working class (in the formal and informal sectors), promotes continued prosperity and decent living as beneficiaries pay only a percentage of their earnings as mortgage on a monthly basis just like it is done in modern and developed economies. Without a doubt, the newly inaugurated housing scheme, in addition to the earlier six commissioned by the current administration, would significantly alter the housing deficit narrative in the state. It, however, needs to be stressed that the coming of the ‘Greater Lagos’ train to Ikorodu was not only about the inauguration of the new housing scheme. Governor Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated the new Igbogbo- Bayeiku Local Council Development Area Secretariat, drove through the newly rehabilitated Igbe road, visited the Ikorodu Community Radio and inspected the Ikorodu Community Centre currently being rehabilitated by the government. Tayo Ogunbiyi, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

NEWSXTRA

Borno Assembly Passes Vote of Confidence on Zulum Michael Olugbode ÓØ ËÓÎßÑßÜÓ Borno State House of Assembly yesterday passed a vote of confidence on Governor of the state, Professor Babagana Zulum. The move was initiated to put to bed a publication

that emerged in the week online which falsely claimed there was a rift between the assembly and the governor. Speaker of the Assembly, AbdulKarim Lawan announced the resolution yesterday at a special meeting held at the Assembly complex

in Maiduguri, during which every lawmaker took turn to speak highly of Governor Zulum outstanding performance with projects sited in their constituencies. The Speaker said the lawmakers were surprised when they saw an online medium

African Voices ChangeMakers Hosts Beauty Merchant, Chocolatier African Voices ChangeMakers the magazine programme of the Cable News Network (CNN) sponsored by Globacom will this week host two creative minds who have become employers of labour and encouragement to their ilk. Olowo-n’djoTchala,aTogoleseAmerican and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alaffia Beauty Company, and AxelEmmanuel Gbaou, a chocolatier fromCôted'Ivoire,willfeatureon the programme. Tchala is a social entrepreneur whose company,Alaffia, with an estimatedturnoverof$50million, promotestheeconomicempowermentofwomeninAfricaandTogo in particular.

AccordingtoGlobacom,Alaffia uses local shea butter, coconut oil andotherlocalbeautyingredients tomakepersonalcarebrands.The companyanditsownerreceived an Award for Corporate ExcellencefromtheUSStateSecretary, under the "Women's economic empowerment"categoryin2018 and joined the consultative committeeonAfricantradesameyear. Gbaou is passionate about the handling and processing of cocoa beans into delicacies and chocolates. Though he holds a Master’sdegreeinPublicLawand Political Science and another in Taxation,hestoopedtobecomean apprenticewithanAbidjan-based Ivorian chocolatier after which

hegainedvastknowledgeonthe possibility of turning cocoa into a variety of delicacies. He subsequently quit his secure job as a banker to become a professional chocolate maker and, from his mother’s kitchen, Gbaou became Champion of Côte d’Ivoire, Vice-Champion of Africa and Super Laureate of the Alassane Ouattara Prize for Young Entrepreneurs. Both accomplished entrepreneurs will share their success stories on the programme on DSTV Channel 401 on Saturday at 8.30 a.m.Repeatswillbebroadcaston Sundayat4.30a.m.,7.30a.m.,12.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m. and on Monday at 5.30 a.m.

FG Explains Failure of Previous National Plans Ndubuisi Francis ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has traced the failure of previous national economic plans partly to inadequate cooperation and buy-in by sub-national governments. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who stated this, noted that the overall scorecard of previous national economic plans indicated that they performanced below expectation. In an address at the 19th National Council on Development Planning (NCDP) meeting in Abuja, the minister said that lack of cooperation and buy-in by the states was based on the notion that the plans were more of the federal government’s than sub-national. According to her, this notion had denied previous plans of the needed cooperation from state governments,

which led to little success recorded so far. On the performance of previous plans, she said: “You would agree with me that previous Plans witnessed varying degree of successes. For instance, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020, which was crafted at the wake of the global economic meltdown of 2016, was able to pull the Nigerian economy out of recession. Commenting on the meeting’s themed, “National Development Planning in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges”, Ahmed said it was quite germane as it stimulates robust discussions on a new adoptable approach towards the formulation of effective national plans that will serve as successor to the NV20:2020 and the ERGP 2017-2020 which ended in December, 2020. At the two-day hybrid

Buhari Felicitates With Senator Ojudu at 60 Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with one of his Special Advisers, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, as he marks his 60th birthday anniversary today. The President, in a congratulatory message yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, congratulated the renowned journalist for his strong sense of patriotism, loyalty and sacrifice in moving the nation forward. He joined members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Guild of Editors to celebrate with Ojudu, whose antecedents as a journalist continue to inspire, using his prowess and skills to

fight for democracy and good governance for many years. President Buhari believed the renowned journalist’s courage and forthrightness saw his transition into politics in 2010, and that his contributions to the legislature and the executive have been most outstanding as he brings his wealth of experience and network to support the country. The President affirmed that the Senator’s bottom-up approach to issues and strong relationship with the grassroots always make a difference in his contributions to national issues. He, therefore, prayed that the Almighty God will bless Ojudu with longer life and good health.

meeting, participants deliberated on ways of charting a new economic pathway that will sustain national development.

reporting the house had contemplated impeaching the governor, who is largely considered a role model of leadership in the state and by many across the country. He said: “The house has passed a vote of confidence in the leadership style of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. Ordinarily, the house would not have responded to that malicious report but we felt we should speak in order to avoid innocent members of the general public being misled to believing that totally

false story especially considering the fragile security of our state and also the giant strides recorded by Professor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration in all sectors of the economy. “Fact is that we have very cordial and harmonious working relationship between all arms of the Borno State Government. There was never any problem let alone so called attempt move to remove our hardworking Governor who built and accelerated people’s confidence in governance.

“The house totally dismiss that news publication, we commend the mainstream media and reputable online media organisations for ignoring that mischief and we strongly call on relevant security agencies to bring to book, the perpetrators of that malicious news report.” A largely unknown online medium reported on social media that the Assembly had attempted impeaching Zulum weeks back, in what many considered an attempt to stir controversy in Borno and heat up the polity.

Arochukwu Monarch to be Buried April 5 Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË TheAroNationalRitesofPassage Committee has disclosed that the EzeAro ofArochukwu, His MajestyMaziOgbonnayaOkoro is to burried on April 5, 2021. The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Okoro Ijoma said this yesterday at a virtual media briefing on the transition of the immediatepastTraditionalRuler ofAro Kingdom and custodian of its heritage. The burial will climax a weeklong passage of rites for the late first-classmonarch,whichbegins on April 2. The official funeral announcement made available to journalists yesterday read: "The Aro Kingdom, Abia State of Nigeria hereby announces

the passage of the custodian of the Aro heritage and Eze Aro of Arochukwu, His Majesty, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, CFR. "EzeOgbonnayaOkorojoined our ancestors and theAro saints after a brief ‘ovia uwasi’. The climax of the funeral rites will be held at the Arochukwu Civic and Cultural Centre, Oror, Arochukwu by 10a.m. Ijoma said the burial rites of the late monarch would be an opportunity to celebrate him. He described the late traditional ruler as a shining light in manyways.HesaidArochukwu had a lot to show for it during his 25 years’ reign as he used every opportunity to lobby for the welfareofhisimmediatecommunity and to improve the quality of the road network of Aro.

"Wearemourninginoneform, and in another form, we are celebrating him and Arochukwu, which he represented and still represents.Underhim,animposing civic centre was completed for you to know that Mazi was a great ruler and the event of next week is to celebrate him and to celebrate Aro and to celebrate what monarchy in Aro stands for," he said. Before ascending the throne, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, who trained in the UK as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, was the pioneer head of Department of Laboratory Technology at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. He retired as the Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1988 to ascend the throne.

CHANGE OF NAME

#$! " ! % #$! " ! " ! % %&' #

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ ARCH 27, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY

Yusuf

Zahra

Yusuf Buhari Finds Love in Bichi Yusuf, President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, is set to marry Princess Zahra, daughter of Nasir Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

usuf, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari, is set to formalize his marriage g to Princess Zahra, the daughter g of Nasir Ado Bayero, y the Emir of Bichi in Kano. Preparations p are in top p gear g for the grand g event. As the tradition provides, p the parents of the g p groom have met with the parents p of the bride at the Bichi royal y palace p to express p Yusuf’s interest in marrying y g Zahra. It was learnt that the event would have taken place p earlier but for the absence of the groom’s g mother, Aisha Buhari, who recently y returned from a sixmonth medical trip p to Dubai. A source said: “Now that his mother returned a few weeks to Ramadan (Muslim holy y month), it is clear the wedding g will take place p after Sallah holidays.” y Yusuf and Zarah met in the UK where the former finished his undergraduate g studies. Zahra is studying y g Architecture at a university y in the United Kingdom g while Yusuf graduated g from the University of Surrey, Guildford, also in the UK

in 2016 alongside her sister, Zahra, now Zahra Indimi. Zahra, apart p from being g the daughter g of Emir of Bichi, who’s also the chairman of 9mobile, is the granddaughter g g of late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero. y Interestingly, g y the impending p g wedding g would be the third wedding g celebration the first family y has witnessed since President Buhari’s time in Aso Rock. The first time saw Zahra Buhari marry y billionaire son, Ahmed Indimi in a high g p profile marriage g in 2016. The second marriage g ceremony happened pp last y year when Hanan Buhari was jjoined with Turad Sha’aban, son to former House of Representatives p member and former APC governorship p candidate for Kaduna State. For the first family y to see their only y son, Yusuf marry y will bring g a lot of emotion after he survived serious motorbike accident in 2017. Yusuf was not talked about that much in the media until the horrible motorbike accident. On December 27, 2017, Yusuf was involved in a p power bike accident around the Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital

Territory y (FCT), Abuja. j The accident had left the charming gy young g man with a head injury. j y After receiving g initial treatment at a Hospital p in the nation’s capital, p he was subsequently q y flown abroad. He returned to the country y in March 2017. “We thank God for the return of our son Yusuf today y after his medical trip. p On land at the airport, p he was received by y the Minister of Health (State) Dr. Osagie, g while at the Villa he was welcomed by y family y members, Wife of the Vice President, the Interior minister, Governor Yahaya y Bello and associates,” Aisha Buhari had tweeted shortly y after he returned. She added: “On behalf of the family, y I wish to express p our appreciation pp for the goodwill g & prayers p y since the unfortunate accident. May y God Almighty g bless all and continue to guide us all rightly.” g y The recluse and not so active social media Yusuf was rarely y talked about in the media until the horrible motorbike accident. The sad bike incident became another page in Yusuf Buhari’s biography.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 27, 2021

MILESTONE

Tony Elumelu Strides on at 58 Azuka Ogujiuba

narguably, success is relative and there are only few personalities, who when scaled on any standard, would still be described as successful in the true sense of the word. Without mincing words, Tony O. Elumelu has proven to be hugely successful in virtually all his aspirations. Starting from a humble beginning to accomplishing a great deal, thereby impacting the world and transforming lives, Elumelu at 58, is no doubt a celebration of life, resilience, greatness, courage, influence and more. It’s only right and deserving he gets served his flowers. Though, he is a man that needs no introduction, a little overview as we proceed, is not out of place. Being the founder and chairman of Heirs Holdings, he owns an investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa, through long-term investments in strategic sectors of the African economy, including financial services, hospitality, power, energy, technology and healthcare. These efforts have understandably put Elumelu as one of Africa’s leading investors. When it comes to investment, the Chairman of panAfrican financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries in Africa, the United Kingdom, France, and USA (where the bank ranks as the only African bank with a commercial deposit taking presence in the US), Elumelu’s unwavering belief in Africa as the market place for just any form of lifechanging investment, is master class worthy. He never hesitated to use every platform and opportunity he gets to put Nigeria and Africa on the world map. Making it to TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World, Elumelu had this to say in an interview with Kim Dozier: “Africa is a land of opportunity. Challenges exist in Africa, but we also have a huge return on investment. There’s no better time to make that bet than the time we live in.” With so much hope for his dear continent and its potential economy, Elumelu bets his best for investors to consider Africa as a viable ground for commerce and economic stability despite the COVID-19 pandemic: “Today, there’s more market stability than ever before and there’s willingness and realisation by African leaders that capital will come to where it’s welcome. So, they’re trying to make an enabling environment in their markets and in their countries to attract foreign investments,” he said further during the interview. The above words are not for blabs as he continues to be a man of his words and of actions. As such, over the years, he ensures UBA provides corporate, commercial, SME and consumer banking services to more than 21 million customers globally, contributing greatly to Nigeria’s economy and closing the increasing unemployment gap in the country. Thus, he is also the chairman of Nigeria’s largest quoted conglomerate, Transcorp Plc., whose subsidiaries include, Transcorp Power, one of the largest generators of electricity in Nigeria and Transcorp Hotels Plc., Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand. Also, the business mogul is the Founder and Chairman of Trans-Niger Oil & Gas Limited (TNOG), an upstream oil and gas company which owns and operates Nigeria’s OML17, and committed to creating resource-based added value on the African continent. Speaking on this deal worth $1.1bn, which is one of the largest oil and gas financings in Africa this decade, Elumelu had this to say on microblogging platform, Facebook in a post in January 2021: “Today, after eight years of resilience, endurance, optimism, and persistence, Heirs Holdings, the leading African strategic investor, in partnership with our affiliated company Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (“Transcorp”), Nigeria’s largest publicly listed conglomerate, announced its acquisition of a 45 percent participating interest in Nigerian oil license OML 17, and related assets from Shell, Total and ENI. “Many times, along the way, we faced enormous obstacles that shook even the most confident of us, but never for one day did we turn back or lose faith. It simply did not occur to us to acknowledge the various setbacks we faced, as defeat. “Instead, we went back to the drawing board, reflecting and refining, restrategising and even reversing former decisions made, deploying patience and positivity every step of the way, until we reached the target. “Countless sleepless days that ran into weeks that gradually became months and years, culminating in this victory lap. Everything that we endured brought us to this moment. And for all of the sacrifices that we made, the prize is even more valuable.” His desire to not only see Africa grow but also help her grow through any measure legally possible, his

Elumelu

philanthropic gestures are quite enormous for words. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the pan-African philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and ensuring job creation across all 54 African countries. Since inception, the Foundation has funded about 10,000 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million Africans as part of its 10 years, $100m commitment through its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme. Self-funded, the Foundation is increasingly sharing its unique ability to identify, train, mentor and fund young entrepreneurs across Africa, with institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other global development agencies. As a member, Elumelu joins many influential people in the world on boards such as the Global Advisory Council of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Centre for Public Leader-

ship, World Economic Forum Community of Chairmen and the Global Leadership Council of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited. That is not all, while recognising the transformation, innovation, investment achievement of the world’s deserving most influential personalities, Elumelu made the list of TIME 100 Most Influential People in the world, a feat only attained by few in Nigeria. We could go on and on, the possibility is that we might not be able to exhaust the list of his feats. On every edge of the coin, Elumelu has shown his leadership adroitness, scholarly qualifications, fresh ideas generating prowess and as a man who honours his words. Perhaps he should consider running for the country’s Presidency, as an army of the Nigerian youths, who have had enough of unfit leaders and bad governance, are solidly behind him. May this new chapter in his life, bring about even a bigger historical evolutions for Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

Omoni Oboli to Play Hooker in ‘Domitila’ Sequel 25 years after missing out, star actress Omoni Oboli returns as a hooker in the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster, “Domitilla, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

he mention of Nollywood classic movie, Domitilla, evokes nostalgia for aÀcionados who were around then. The movie which was a favourite in the home video industry in the ‘90s is now set for a sequel 25 years after the original. News of a ‘Domitila’ sequel was Àrst announced last year with a release date scheduled for mid-2021. Well, a recent exchange between one of its principal producers and actress, Omoni Oboli and a fan has ignited talks around the forthcoming drama. The actress while chiding a fan who knocked her for a kissing scene with Richard Mofe-Damijo in her 2019 movie, ‘Love Is War’ says she’ll play a hooker in the forthcoming ‘Domitilla’ sequel. The follower told her in the Nigerian tradition, it’s a shame for a married woman to kiss a man who isn’t her husband: “I am just watching one of your movies when you’re running for governorship election against your husband Richard Mofe-Damijo, see how you guys are kissing each other in the name of Àlm. You’re married woman for God sake and we have tradition in that country. What a shame?” But the star actress and mother of three did not Ànd such comment funny. She responded, telling the nosy fan to expect more of the make-believe in the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster while calling out the critic. She wrote: “These are the issues...how do we educate her now? Oh sorry it was a question! What a shame? I’m playing a prostitute in my next banger! I guess that will make me a prostitute in real life! Oh well...looking forward! Las las everybody will be alright! Domitilla is coming!!! You really haven’t seen anything like it! Y’all know I don’t play.” The new ‘Domitila’, directed by Zeb Ejiro, will follow the adventures of a young Domitila who accidentally witnesses the mysterious death of a politician. With law enforcement on her and her friends’ trail, Domitila decides to go to any length to prove her innocence.

Omoni Oboli

The FilmOne Entertainment, Zeb Ejiro Productions and Omoni Oboli’s Dioni Vision collaboration will also see the actress double as creative director and producer. Incidentally, Oboli had auditioned for a role in the Àrst movie but did not get it because of her size at the time. She was quoted to have said: “When I was a teenager, I auditioned for Domitilla but I didn’t get any part; perhaps, I was too tiny. Today, I’m proud to be one

of the stars, executive producers, producer and creative director of the sequel. It’s going to be a very exciting ride and I can’t wait!” The old Domitilla (1 & 2) starred A-list actors such as Anne Njemanze, Sandra Achums, Charles Okafor, Basorge Tariah Jr., Kate Henshaw, Maureen Ihua, Adah Ameh, and Enebeli Elebuwa, to mention a few. The buzz for this Àlm was remarkable, and the word ‘Domitilla’ was on everyone’s lips.

Revealing the life of an average prostitute and the quest for survival, ‘Domitila’ was a combination of serious humour, empathy and emotion, all struggling for a place in the heart of the viewer. Although the lead character, Njemanze, had earlier starred in an equally successful movie, her role in ‘Domitilla’ shot her to lifelong stardom. One is eager to know what cast would make-up the new Domitilla.

ROSCOE All Stars’ ‘Sùúrù Vibes’ is Classic Piece New record label, Roscoe Music Genies (RMG), whose acronym for Roscoe means (A) Reliable Organized Structure Carved Out (to) Entertain, releases its brand new project ‘S ~r Vibes. The EP, an assemblage of Afrobeats, Afrofusion, Afropop and Afro-hip hop, is a collection of six songs, with features from label signees, YokeeGilla, DAMY and alternative music artiste, Muyiwa Frank; each bringing their individual texture; making this EP a classic piece for audiences. An amazing trifecta with authentic original African and international sounds, aimed to keep their listeners and fans vibed up forever. Produced by Ramoon, Ransom Beatz, Tower Beatz and ThaiBeats, this medley of sounds which originally set out to brim with ‘chilled vibes’, centres around the African continent; home to the most beautiful women in the world and home to the perfectly seasoned indigenous sound that is

the essence of ‘S ~r Vibes’; one that mirrors the tempo perfection of the songs on this project. The EP opens with its first track, ‘Major Reason’ produced by Ramoon, giving off such a laidback groove and intensity, that without a doubt, it’s an audience delight. ‘Arewa’ featuring DAMY who adds body to the song, continues the slow tempo of the EP making it an easy listen. Produced by Ransom Beatz who is famous for working with the likes of Runtown and Dizzie Rascal, ‘Side Nigga’ featuring Muyiwa Frank and ‘Shekere’ featuring YokeeGilla are all about the vocals in a mix of Pidgin English, Yoruba and English - a true vocal celebration in which YokeeGilla shows true mastery. Other tracks on this EP are ‘Zero F ’ and ‘Move Your Body’ produced by Tower Beatz and ThaiBeats respectively. With a symphony of musical talent enmeshed in slow sexy music, this

The trio of YokeeGilla, Damy and Muyiwa Frank

EP is a whole mood that fits perfectly with the label’s motto: “We take the music to another level, we change the sound to a proper Gbedu.” With a steadily growing

fan base, their first single “Zero F*#k$” already has the attention of local and international audiences. “S ~r Vibes” is streaming on all digital streaming platforms.

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Biodun Stephen’s Breaded Life is Ready Filmmaker Biodun Stephen returns with Breaded Life, a dramedy which revolves around a rich spoilt brat and a local bread seller, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

packed cast, mostly comics, largely complemented by their brand identity, maybe the hinge on which acclaimed Àlmmaker Biodun Stephen brings to life the story in her upcoming movie, “Breaded Life”. Maybe not, but so it seems looking at Behind The Scene (BTS) shots from the dramedy which opens in cinemas across Nigeria on April 16, 2021. Ahead of its theatrical release, the Àlmmaker released an o΀cial teaser featuring some of the Àlm’s lead cast. Drawn from the cast list and BTS images are Timini Egbuson, Bimbo Ademoye, Bisola Aiyeola, and Tina Mba. Other notable stars on the set include Jide Kosoko, Adedimeji Lateef, Bolanle Ninolowo, Seyi Awolowo, Amuda Eko, Mc Lively, Funny Bone, Lizzy Jay, Nkechi Blessing Sunday, Tomiwa Sage, and Karen Spikes. The hilarious teaser follows the adventures of a haughty son from a wealthy home that learns life the tough way. Breaded Life teaser evokes one of the overprotected lifestyle given a rich kid until a sudden escape. Shutterspeed Projects and David Wade collaboration, the movie is loosely based on the misunderstood spoilt brat (Timini Egbuson) who falls in love with a bread seller (Bimbo Ademoye). But his mom’s character (Tina Mba) would not take it. “No, no. this is the last straw,” she yells, obviously incensed. “Heaven forbids that I birth a child who will not respect me.” He has made his choice. After all, isn’t responsibility relative? Timini’s character asks. True to his character, he doesn’t do drugs. Neither does he do unprotected sex. Well, maybe he does but not all the time. What else does she want him to do? He asks again, albeit rhetorically. But his new found life with the bread seller exposes him to the other side of the world where he’s accosted. It sets him on war path with his mum. “Mummy don’t give yourself migraine o«” Further scenes showed him Áeeing from danger with his accented bread

Timini Egbuson

seller who “doesn’t have time for rubbish” (spoken in vernacular). On the upcoming project, Stephen, who previously helmed works like Picture Perfect and JOBA, revealed

that the comedy drama promises a lot of emotions and some romance. The Àlmmaker wrote on Instagram: “I present to you Breaded Life the movieeee. Drama, comedy, a lirru bit

of romance and deÀnitely its ganna get you emossshhhh”. The movie is written and directed by Biodun Stephen who tells movie fans to mark their calendar “for this sweet Àlm.”

Lagos Theatre Festival’s ‘Reckless Art Weekend’ The virtual community was saturated last weekend as the largest performing arts festival in Nigeria and West Africa, Lagos Theatre Festival (LTF), held its th virtual edition March 1 -21. With its theme: ‘Reckless Art’; an embodiment of an Out of Bounds movement and the belief that art should be created with reckless abandon and no limits, the festival was replete with inspiring and evocative art. The LTF, founded by the British Council in 2013, as part of its ambitions to foster exchange, collaboration, and strengthen relationships between Nigerian and British artistes through the presentation of high quality Nigerian and British theatre, has so far, reached over 0 million people online. So it came as no surprise to see some spectacular performances

like Kininso Koncepts Productions’ ‘Cream Body’, The Giddy Round Theatre Company’s ‘This Little World: A Solo Performance of Shakespeare’s Richard II’, Maestro Theatre’s riveting production titled ‘Unbridled’ headline this year’s event. With an impressive lineup of guest speakers, the content of the Reckless Art theme was spot on as the 2021 festival had something for everyone; from live workshops and interactive sessions which included Producers’ Hangout with Ngaio Anyia, Directing for Theatre, Exploring Jos City with Bez Idakula, Gisting with Joke Silva, Jobberman Soft skills, Training for the Creative Industry, to Exploring The Love Portion with Tama Nisa, Live Improv session with Omoye Uzamere, Exploring Balogun Market with Bolanle Stephen-Atitebi.

Other events that took over the virtual community included Audition and Casting tips with Hilda Dokubo, Exploring Freedom Park with Theo Lawson, Managing a Theatre with Joseph Umoibom, and Costume Design for Theatre with Obijie Byge Oru. Exciting and heated panel conversations with partners, conversations with Ahmed Yerima added spice to the highly anticipated event which was delivered on all digital platforms and channels. The festival, managed by the Lagos Theatre Festival Foundation, a not-for-proÀt organization is run by a Board of Directors including Olasupo Shasore SAN as Chair, Bikiya Graham-Douglas as Executive Director, Ajoke Jacobs, Tosin Oshinowo, David Evans, and Bolanle Austen-Peters.

Joke Silva

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Glover Hall and the Lagos Cultural Revolution In order to change an existing paradigm, you do not struggle to change the problematic model. You create a new model and make the old one obsolete - Richard Buckminster Fuller Qudus Onikeku

he story I’m about to recount is my attempt to make sense of my journey in and out of Lagos,intheworldandhowmy company, The People Centre came to be at the centre of the revival and management of one of the most important historical and cultural sites in Lagos, Glover Memorial Hall (1 ). But Àrst, my name is Qudus Onikeku, I am a movement artiste and a community organiser. I work at the intersection of body memory and a futurist practice that centralises Yoruba philosophy of aesthetic. The eclecticism of my body of work has enabled me to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. I have had an enviable career which has taken me to over 56 countries. I have been a visiting professor of dance at the University of California Davis and Columbia College Chicago, and I am currently an assistant professor and the Àrst “Maker in Residence” at The Center forArts, Migration and Entrepreneurship of the University of Florida (UF). My current research at UF, explores how AI can be deployed to help protect intellectual property; I am leading a team that is developing a $5m deep tech solution, that uses artiÀcial intelligence, motion capture, computer vision and blockchain technology, for dancers to turn their dance into data, their data into codes, codes into IP, and IP as currency. I hope to bring this research home, to our practice at Glover Memorial Hall. Home and away. When people hear about my achievements, they are quick to assume that I was either born with a silver spoon or grew up outside the continent. I was born in Surulere, Lagos to a working-class Yoruba family and by a twist of faith, in 2006 I received a scholarship from the French embassy in Abuja, to study dance and acrobatics at the prestigious Ecole Superieur National DesArts Du Cirque in France. Upon graduation I started my Àrst company, YK Projects in Paris at the age of 25. YK Projects was conceived as a cross-cultural touringcompanythatwouldbeopentothemigrant experience. Our Àrst production, My Exile is in My Head (2010), was a solo dance piece, which explored how Nigeria had become unviable for me after my Àrst attempt at homegoing in 2009. That Àrst production about the trauma of return won me several international awards and toured over 70 shows in 20 countries. In 2012, I was named the French ‘New Choreographic Talent’. This unexpected success catapulted my career to a new height. By the time I had created “QADDISH” my third choreography, in 2013, my company was already on the list of organisations triennially funded by the French government and headlining prestigious global venues. Despite my meteoric rise and privileged access to European cultural capital before the age of 30, I was restless and unsatisÀed with this exilic triumph. I wanted more. I knew we could do more with the access and experience I had amassed. In 2013, my partner, Haji and I shut down our activities in France to make another attempt to return to Lagos, Nigeria. This is Lagos. We arrived in Lagos, January 2014, without prior plans except the conviction that, it should be possible to change the world, from an African city. But Lagos wasn’t any city. It is an insane, energetic, over-conÀdent mega city. Despite growing up in Lagos, we had to feel her pulse again and re-learn her new dance. After seven months of immersion, we started The QDanceCenter. We envisioned it as a social enterprise, an incubator for artistic expressions for development in a changing and globalising world. Our primary focus was on how to invent a socialist practice, at the intersection of dance and society. We noticed that 62% of Nigerians were below 25 years and 34 Million of them were unemployed. With these dismal statistics, we saw an opportunity to transform this ticking time bomb into a historic opportunity through dance and the performance arts. We believe that this nation can be redreamed and reconditioned to do bet-

ter. With our return to Nigeria, we moved from art making to art practice, we identiÀed major societal problems and creatively seek ways to tackle them. Our thinking was partly inÁuenced by the success of Nollywood and the success stories in music, comedy, and the fashion industry. Dance seemed not to have found its footing among the performing arts. This was both a problem, and an opportunity. We started to think of ways to repurpose and reposition dance by turning its potential energy into kinetic energy. We designed a system of delivering our work through a fourpronged approach called the QDance ACTS: Art making, Community development, Talent development & Services. Our social experiment worked, and in less than two years we grew to become the preeminent creative organisation in Nigeria with a global reputation, we enjoyed support from both local and global partners. In less than a decade since we started YK Projects in Paris, we have managed projects internationally with a budget of over $3m. Our encounter with then Governor of Lagos State, in Brussels began the rebirth of Glover Memorial Hall and our pivotal role in that renaissance. Ambode and the UnÀnished Lagos Cultural Revolution In the summer of 2016, I was invited to Brussels to be part of a panel and to perform at the annual SummerofPhotography,whereLagoswasthefocal city. Amongst others on the panel was Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who had come to Belgium with his wife and key members of his cabinet. During the discussion, the moderator asked him about his views on art and if he thought Lagos was ready to take the lead in Africa, his responses were illuminating. He emphasised his genuine interest in learning from the other panellists and professionals in the audience, because the creative industries were part of his election campaign mantra. I took advantage of his presence and spoke truth to power. I told him that the fact that his administration merges the ministries of tourism, arts and culture together, was a clear indication of an intention. Lagos, however, had something going for it that is unique among world tourist cities: the fast pace, the creative energy and fact of it being a melting point for all the cultures of Nigeria and WestAfrica; its vibrant young population and eccentric nature makes it a seductive magnate for creatives from all over the world, especially from the Black world. I suggested that rather than invest in traditional tourism projects, he’d do better to invest in the creatives themselves and build infrastructure to support them. Using the QDanceCenter as a case study, I explained to him that one of the greatest hurdles for creatives, is Ànding a conducive space in the city to practice their art and when we did Ànd a space, they were insanely expensive.

I suggested to him that there were many abandoned buildings, both heritage sites and public properties that the State could surrender to arts organisations. With that suggestion, I wasn’t even asking the Governor to renovate them, but to hand them over, for artistes to turn them into artist colonies or enclaves, provide them with basic support to create a secured environment for residents and visitors alike, to peacefully exchange and collaborate. By doing this, he will see Lagos mutate into a major creative hub in a few years. I was convinced of this because the world over, creatives have a magical way of lightening up and turning dangerous zones in a city into safe, pulsating, cultural nerve centres. At that conference, I spoke about both the economic and cultural dividends of allowing artists to occupy and reimagine derelict spaces. After the panel, while he was being hounded by his subjects, I went to prepare for my performance “Africaman Original”. Two weeks later, at home in Lagos, I was summoned to meet the Governor. Three hours later, I was in his living room with three others. What followed was a two-hour long conversation where he spoke for an hour about his vision for the city’s cultural sector and his admiration for the arts and artists. I was mesmerised. He spoke passionately about the importance of soft power in Nigeria; believing that the culture industry is a key sector to achieving soft power and delivering many of the social experiments his administration was putting in place. It was at this meeting that he mentioned his intention to commission 50 public arts and build a theatre in each of the 20 local governments. He also mentioned his plan to create an endowment fund for the arts and promised to oͿer us a space to continue our work. After a year of close interactions with him on cultural policy, in August 2017, Governor Ambode oͿered us the semi-derelict Glover Memorial Hall as our creative base and o΀ce space. He tasked us to see how we could breathe fresh air into the facility and the area while he Àrms up plans to get it renovated and hand it to us to fully manage. The QDanceCenter worked out of GMH from then on, and only interrupted for renovation in 2019. Partnering 7owards a Futurist Glover Hall Glover Memorial Hall was Built in 1887 and named in honour of Sir John Hawley Glover, Governor of Lagos Colony between 1864 and 1872. Glover died in 1885, after which prominent Lagosians fundraised same year to build Glover Memorial Hall as a spot for the social and political life of Lagos. The Àrst Àlm in Nigeria was screened at the GMH in 1903, under the invitation of the foremost nationalist Sir Herbert Macaulay. It was also the venue of the launching of his political party, NCNC, and the Lagos branch of theAction Group. Community townhalls, elections and arbitration

caseswereheldattheGMH.Notabletheatreartistes such as Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi, Herbert Ogunde etc. also premiered their productions there. It was the venue for the infamous play “Yoruba Ronu”byOgunde,fromwhichtheWesternRegion Premiere, Obafemi Awolowo walked out, after which it was banned by the government in 1978. TheÀlm“Kongi’sHarvest”byNobellaureate,Wole Soyinkahaditsmajorscreeningtherein1970.GMH hosted W.E.B Dubois lecture, Duke Ellington and other jazz greats. It was ‘the spot’ when it comes to Drama, Dance, Theatre, Music, Recitals and other elite gatherings in Lagos. In recent decades however, Glover Memorial Hall laid in disrepair, a former shadow of itself awaiting reincarnation. In 2000, Governor Bola Tinubu’s administration renovated it and attempted a rebirth, but it was unproÀtable, attracting zero private investment and depended on government allocation, with occasional revenue from hall rental. The facility was poorly maintained with no relevance to a new generation of Lagosians. Myself and my team took a keen interest in the Glover story, despite its illustrious history, the challenges for the current Glover Memorial Hall were numerous: surrounded by businesses, inadequate car parks, overshadowed by high-rise towers and a reputation for harbouring hoodlums which made it di΀cult for producers to put on shows. We knew these were not insurmountable challenges and we were conÀdent that we could turn the legendary space around in less than 3 years. By 2018, the QDanceCenter had become a hub, cultivated a network of young global black networks, backed by the global rise of afrobeats music and dance phenomenon. Nigerian creatives were becoming the shapers of global entertainment and through our work, Glover Hall was being positioned as the laboratory and epicentre for the congregation of local and international community of artists, thinkers, and culture workers. Ourannualdancegathering(nowAfropolis)was the experiment. Each themed year, the experiment attracted over 135 participants from 60 cities from around the world and Glover Hall was the laboratory. In the space, artists from diͿerent discipline gathered to plot, to experiment, to exchange, to collaborate and reimagine new ways of inhabiting the body, space, and existence. On the Ànal weekends, Broad Street becomes an urban stage to showcase all that has been imagined during the two weeks. A big success for a city on the move! With our occupation of Glover Memorial Hall, we were able to continue its long history as a cultural centre of the city, shedding its colonial legacy to allow something fresh and futuristic to emerge. In October 2020, The QDanceCenter was renamed as The People Centre, in order to realise our vision of transforming the facility to Glover Hall _ The People Centre, to centralise “The People” of Lagos, Nigerians and federate all our international partners around the global phenomenon called afrobeats. We wanted to undress the space and hand pieces of it to diverse disciplines, for them to derive various content and knowledge from it, through collaboration between emerging technologies and emerging artists of this generation, who have grown to perceive technology not as something foreign, but as a tool for understanding and reshaping the future from anywhere. Glover Hall | The People Centre serves as a reminder of the human tapestry, the movements, the colonialism, the hyper-creativity, the lost spirituality, the innovation, resilience, and culture that we as a people have forever expressed through dance, music, food, language, fashion, fragrance etc. that this archive should be central to the formation of the Nigerian sensibility. With our joint-venture, GMH could be transformed once again into a major source of revenue and wealth creation. This was the work we were engaged in when the Ambode’s administration, and our cultural revolution was cut short. He however managed to get the renovation started.

Onikeku is Co Founder Artistic Director, 7he People Centre, Lagos Read full article online

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Michelle Dede Reﬂects on Her Journey

Homegirl, Michelle Dede in her birthday post reﬂects on her journey, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

“+

1. Blessed to be alive and healthy in 2021! Thank you Lord.” Pithy as these words appear, you sure can’t miss its sincerity. Of note, it captures the mood of the bearer. More so being one driven by God’s direction, passion for what she does and the fear of failure, perseverance and the desire to succeed. Not one acquiesced to inanity, but simple in her doings, it is not surprising coming from a leading star, Michelle Dede. For her, March 23 is her birthday. Aside celebrating, it’s often a time to reÁect on her journey, and inspire others, as the special day beckons. “March is always a time of reÁection for me,” Michelle shared in a post hours preceding her birthday. “Like so many of us 2020 made me sit back, look within, possibly deeper than I was willing to look before and ask myself hard questions. “I’d thought I was on a journey of internal growth before, but 2020 was the real starting point. Self-growth isn’t easy, especially when you come face to face with the negative aspects of your character, and the work involved with making changes. The work can be brutally painful, yet is undoubtably necessary and rewarding…” She hopes the essence of her pep talk resonates with many who are still living in moments of self-doubt and its complexities. “Why am I sharing this? Because I truly hope this resonates with many. I want others to know that it’s an initially frightening place and then a beautiful place to be in when you Ànally wake up to who you are. If you have moments of self-doubt, suͿer from anxiety, face resistance from those who want to make you feel unworthy, or you struggle with the concept of just how phenomenal you are and can be…” The backstory to her post is such that sets the path to where she is today. “Every March, since I left behind what was familiar and with that city, those whom I considered my safest space, as the 23rd approaches I think to myself: ‘Flipping heck love you’re still here, surviving Lagos. No one thought you’d last this long, you didn’t think you’d last more than a few years.’!” A multilinguist TV host, actor, event MC, voice-over artiste and brand ambassador, Michelle had left New York in 2006 on a visit to Nigeria. That move changed everything and consequently positioned her into the entertainment scene. “It’s deÀnitely been an eye opening journey!” Michelle reveals in a recent interview. “I started in 2006, then stopped and didn’t do anything in entertainment again till 2009 as I had doubts... I had doubts that it was a Áuke, doubts that I couldn’t make a career of it because I didn’t intentionally go into the industry knowing what

I wanted. I spent two years back in the UK trying to Àgure out if I was happy in marketing and realised I was happier talking into a microphone.” Same year, alongside Olisa Adibua, she co-hosted the debut edition of Big Brother Nigeria, a Nigerian television series based on the Big Brother series. “Oddly enough, the entertainment industry wasn’t where I wanted to be, for years I dreamt of being an athlete Àrst, then a diplomat like my father, later in my mid to late teens, I fell in love with fashion. I lived and breathed fashion and always said at the time that Vogue was like my bible. After some convincing, my father allowed me to study fashion design and marketing in University as my dream was to become a renowned Nigerian designer. A holiday in Nigeria in 2006 is what changed everything and led me into the world of television in front of the camera. “A chance meeting with Dele Fadahunsi and Adebola Williams in Lagos, while they were producing the TV show Nigeria International, and a series of events led me to an audition for Big Brother Nigeria. I went for the audition and in my excitement and inexperience was shouting into the mic, bouncing up and down as I am naturally hyperactive. Lol! After a second audition I got the job as co-host, to my sheer amazement given my lack of experience. It was and still is the best experience I’ve had as a TV Host.” In 2012, she co-produced the 2013 Àlm Flower Girl because she had wanted to understand the production process and learn about what happened behind the camera. Before she went on to star as Tari Gambadia in the film Desperate Housewives Africa. In 2017, Dede starred in the Nigerian drama thriller film What Lies Within with Paul Utomi, Kiki Omeili and Tope Tedela. In 2018 she starred in Moms at War. Also in 2018 she starred in Up North. She has also featured in a good number of movies and television series. Her latest movie The Therapist where she played in the lead role alongside her friend, Rita Dominic opened yesterday. “I started acting in 2014, because I wasn’t getting the type of TV hosting jobs I wanted. I was constantly being told by directors I met that I should act and when my friend the actress Thelma Ojiji kept pushing me to audition for “Desperate Housewives Africa”, I did so. I didn’t think they’d hire a TV Host to play a lead role, but I went anyway. Thankfully they didn’t feel the same way and I was cast to play a lead character Tari Gambadia who in the original Disney/ ABC series Desperate Housewives is known as Susan Meyer. Because TV hosting and acting are two very different things, I find it easy to juggle both as long as my schedules permit.”

Michelle Dede

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21 Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

Get Set for Ige, the Unlikely Oil Merchant

GE, The Unlikely Oil Merchant is a story that reÁects on life and how our desires and strong will can earn us the life we hope and aim for. It journeys through the labour pains of Iya Fausat character, played by Toyin Abraham, through the rigorous time of having a baby boy, abandoned by the father and left to cater for the son who grew with so much enthusiasm to take care of his mother and become someone great in life. The journey wasn’t all rosy as it met obstacles and so many life trials but it’s one of resilience and perseverance. This Àlm is one of a distinct stand which has everything installed in it

from the depiction of scenes which takes a roll for the 80s, reÁecting enough connection to the times in terms of wardrobe, Hosie setting, cars, style and so much which takes one on a memory lane of what life used to be before. The attention to detail was everything and the entire production team did an excellent job in bringing it to reality. Lateef Adedimeji took the lead role of Bashiru and played the grown up son of Toyin Abraham, who amid all others, persevered and became a force to reckon with. Bimpe Oyebade took the role of Tayo who was the wife of Bashiru in the movie, bringing so much energy and realism to the

role. She exempliÀed what it means to have a supporting and will-driven wife which undoubtedly would yield productive results in set goals and aspirations. Through it all, Bashiru eventually reach his goals and grew stronger into greater successes and heights. It is a Àlm seasoned with timeless life and family lessons from true experiences. Jaiye Kuti, Antar Laniyan, Yomi Fash Lanso, Kolawole Ajeyemi, Bimbo Ademoye and a host of others took roles in the casts of this production set to premier on the April 3, 2021 and would see movie enthusiasts enjoy realism at its very best. Biodun Stephen directed it with production credits to Toyin Abraham and Moyo Fakorede.

Adedimeji Lateef

Joy Ubeku: Between Movies and the Runway

Joy Ubeku

Though, she started as an actress, but Joy Ubeku has further expanded to becoming a sought-after model strutting the runway and touring the world. Now based in Ghana, leggy Ubeku who just finished a movie, “Shadows of the Night,” and to her credit, won special awards in the modelling industry, also walks on international fashion shows. Speaking about how she got into modeling and her experience working with international designers, the graduate of Human Resources Management from the University of Lagos said: “I have always wanted to be a model but I never gave much

importance to it. So, after my first beauty pageant, I had the confidence and push to realise to my dreams. I remember walking for this designer after being rejected by one, I had massive orders for that same outfit. That feeling supersedes all the racism and rejections I faced while on that journey.” She also talked about her recent show as well and future plans. “My last show was in Malawi and it was amazing. In all the countries I have visited, Malawi is one peaceful place I would love to visit again and

again! Two things I want to do are; continue making movies and also launch my clothing line.” Believing that she is yet to conquer the world in the movie and fashion industries, Niger-Deltaborn Ubeku has an inspirational advice for African women struggling to make it in the fashion industry globally: “Don’t let your race, colour, height, religion, or anyone stop you. Be prepared for whatever that comes your way because it’s definitely going to come - criticism, rejection, racism etc. Always remember, black don’t crack.”

7th Edition of iDesign Art Kicks Oﬀ After a tough year navigating the coronavirus pandemic, the iDESIGN Art aͿordable art fair is back with the 7th edition. This event will take place at the Nimbus Art Centre from the 26th of March to the 11th of April, 2021, at a location that has grown to become the central focus for art and creativity in Lagos. The modern art gallery is located in Ikoyi, Lagos. Unlike previous 3-day durations, this edition will run for an extended period of 16 days, providing multiple opportunities for art lovers and enthusiasts to visit and purchase a wide range of stunning pieces, for prices exclusive to iDESIGN Art. The new time frame is also scheduled to adhere to COVID-19 social distancing rules, with required precautionary measures put in place to ensure the safety of the attendees. iDesign have been forced into extended moments of reÁection and introspection, further evidenced by the work curated in the art fair. The context for presenting these

works just got bigger as artists are exploring a myriad of distinct visual themes to unravel the fast paced global occurrences. iDESIGN Art was founded by Tola Akerele, an avid culture and art enthusiast, passionate about making these important facets of our culture accessible to all. For the upcoming art sale, this edition will be featuring original digitalised art. On this, she stated: “I am particularly excited to announce the launch of iDESIGN Prints, works that are mainly produced through new media and technology. Art continues to be integral to the iDESIGN philosophy in the interior design styling process of transforming homes and spaces, be it through art and digital prints. The 7th edition promises to be an expansive collection of works exploring diͿerent media.” Masterpieces from over 20 artists will be on exhibition including work from Debayo Atanda, Chigozie Obi and Gerald Chukwuma.

Participants at 2020 iDesign Art

Rotimi Nwosa: Fashion Industry Has Grown Immensely Segun Obe to Host New Gospel Show With several trends when it comes to fashion, be it bespoke or urban wears, the Nigerian fashion industry has indeed grown well in all corners. This was an assertion made by the Rotimi Nwosa, CEO,Ashikó clothing, an urban street wears that prides itself with quality and standard. Rotimi said gone were those days when the fashion industry in Nigeria was not dully recognised but currently the Nigerian fashion Industry is recognized and appreciate all over the world and as such has given birth to lots of international fashion collaborations where our own Nigerian made outÀt is been showcased on runways. On the name Ashikó, Rotimi noted that he wanted something unique that expresses his persona. He said: “I wanted something diͿerent, that expresses my person so it’s a name coined from

on Hallelujah Channel on DStv, GOtv

Tim Godfrey, Onos, Frank Edwards set to excite viewers

Rotimi Nwosa

the Yoruba word, Asiko which means time but I wanted to give it a diͿerent spelling and meaning. So, for me, Ashikó represents time being of the essence.”

Multiple award-winning gospel artiste, Segun Obe, will host the premiere gospel live musical show, REJOICE!, on the Hallelujah pop-up channel this Easter. The show will feature live musical performances by notable gospel artistes: Monique, Onos and Mike Abdul on Sunday, 28 March and Frank Edwards, Tim Godfrey and Abdul on Easter Sunday, 4 April from 3pm. The Hallelujah pop-up channel will open from Sunday, 28 March till Monday, 5 April 2021 and will be available to active subscribers on DStv Premium,

Compact Plus, Compact, Confam and Yanga packages on DStv channel 197, as well as active subscribers on GOtv Max and Jolli packages on GOtv channel 85. The Hallelujah pop-up channel is a faith-based channel that will give customers a chance to experience church from home with a line-up of praise and worship sessions, sermons, choir ministrations, prayers and more from diͿerent denominational Christian groups across the country including RCCG (City of David), KICC, Daystar, Dunamis, House on the Rock, Salvation Ministries, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

PEOPLE Bebuzee Targeting Underserved Africans with Smartphones

Joe Onyero

ÙÏ ØãÏÜÙ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÙßØÎÏÜ ËØÎ ÙÐ ÏÌßäÏÏ˜ ËØ ÙØÖÓØÏ ÝÞÜÏË×ÓØÑ ËØÎ ÝÙÍÓËÖ ØÏÞáÙÜÕÓØÑ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜ× áÒÓÍÒ ÙʥÏÜÓØÑÝ ÓØÍÖßÎÏ ÙÖÖãáÙÙÎ ×ÙàÓÏÝ˜ ÞËÖÕ ÝÒÙáÝ ËØÎ ØÏáÝ˛ ÒÏ ÞÏÍÒ ÝËààã ÚÏÜÝÙØËÖÓÞã ÞËÖÕÝ ÞÙ Ferdinand Ekechukwu ËÌÙßÞ ÞÒÏ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜ× áÒÓÍÒ ËÓ×Ý ÞÙ ÜÏàÙÖßÞÓÙØÓÝÏ ×ÙàÓÏ ÝÞÜÏË×ÓØÑ ÝÏÜàÓÍÏ ÓØ ÐÜÓÍË˜ ËÝ áÏÖÖ ËÝ ÙÞÒÏÜ ÜÏÖËÞÏÎ ÓÝÝßÏÝ ËØÎ ÓØÞÏÜÏÝÞÝ

ou are an internet enthusiast and have created commercial web presences since 2005, focusing in marketing and advertising. What more can we know about you? I am a British citizen with a Nigerian background. Interested in technology from the youngest age I can remember, I’ve experimented with and later hosted chats, websites and now a social network and streaming service.

What have been your major challenges so far and what have been your successes as an entrepreneur? The obvious challenge has been building this expansive network with angel investments made in increments over the years. It’s a double-edged sword in that had we unlimited funds, we would have spent them too early and perhaps elsewhere. Our journey takes us to the right place at the right time now, and we retain control of the company as a result of happenstance.

You started off owning a travel and tourism agency prior to delving into the web marketplace. Brieﬂy take us through your career journey and the experience over these years? Travel was a means to the present place for me. I wanted to show others – many others – what these sights I’d sent people off to see really looked and felt like, and how the locals welcomed their guests. Doing that one by one was OK, but I had a much better idea, spurred on by the internet. With that, I could show millions, not just one at a time.

Who or what do you consider the greatest inﬂuence in your life? I have read much about Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk and how they started with little and grew their businesses with a focused mission and unbelievable amounts of passion. I take that as my lesson: passion and vision. I have other heroes in my life, but these two rise to the top for where I am today.

Since your emergence on the scene, can you give us highlights of some of the projects you have worked with? When I started Bebuzee, I hosted live events to promote the site, sometimes sponsored by businesses hoping to connect with the young audience I had amassed. These live events were helpful in popularizing my Bebuzee brand, but not enough. Reaching further using social media tools, we were able to reach many millions. You recently launched Bebuzee, an online streaming platform ofﬁcially. Can you tell us about it, its focus and how it has fared so far with your mission to revolutionalise movie streaming service in Africa? Actually, we launched Bebuzee in 2012, but content was localized first to Britain then to Europe. We added real estate transactions and other features to grow our audience. But I always wanted to return to my roots. So the very recent launch in Africa is my attainment of that goal. Content is localized. Viewership is sponsored and free to the user, including Nollywood movies, talk shows and news. We are the first to do this in a seamless single platform, and hope that African smartphone users will soon grow to consider Bebuzee like their operating system – like Windows – and remain inside Bebuzee for everything including person-to-person messaging, once Bebuzee android and IOS app has been launched in April.

Can you take us through your Nigerian root and background? I was born in Nigeria and left the country at a very young age, I am a British citizen with my relatives all keeping me grounded in my heritage with stories and visits.

Onyero

So far on the average, how many users have Bebuzee garnered? At last count, we have well over 21,000,000 users. We expect that number to double within the first six months of serving the African market.

Bebuzee’s content is tailored to suit the African viewer marketplace unlike Netﬂix and Amazon. Is this in line with your objectives to become a global force in streaming content? Tell us about these objectives… First things first, the millions of underserved African citizens with smartphones are our target for the near and foreseeable future, in addition to growing more users in the UK, Europe, North and South America and Asia.

Lately, most Nollywood productions and releases end up directly or shortly after on streaming platforms. Do you think this is a healthy development considering that the cinemas and the purposes they serve need to be sustained alongside the culture? Streaming was a second cousin to the theatres until COVID-19. Necessity reversed that quickly, and there will never be the same balance of movie viewers as before COVID-19. We all love the live experience of tasting the popcorn, the laughter of others, and the big screen. In my opinion, that will never die. Think of this as the same evolution we are seeing in the retail world as online shopping goes from one percent of retail to twenty percent and beyond.

How would your over 50 affiliates (film studios and production companies) benefit being that you are offering free-to-watch streaming movie services from a select catalogue of over 20,000 movies and with up to 50 movies available weekly? There are three kinds of stakeholders for Bebuzee: its advertisers, its content providers, and of course its audience. Content providers are paid a portion of the advertisements as streamed, and viewers benefit by paying nothing. Everyone wins.

There’s been so much disruption in the global market space in the last one year owing to obvious reason(s). To what extent would you say Covid-19 has driven and impacted the tech and virtual market space since the outbreak of the pandemic? Remote working has presented challenges to companies in the technology sector, who have had to train and retrain employees, but it has also presented opportunities as workplaces restore a culture of learning.

As someone who is based in the UK do you at any occasion grow nostalgia to want to come home? Certainly! I expect that this focus upon Africa and Nigeria in particular will cause me to spend more time on and in the Nigerian marketplace. I look forward to this as a reminder of my roots and a reward for these efforts. What fond memories do you hold growing up as a child and what impact has those formative years on you and the person you are today? When I was 10 years old, I imagined one day building a huge drone that would transport people from one location to the other. So I decided to create a model helicopter using wood as a material and implanted a system that would raise it from the ground. The first result went wrong because the heavy wooden frame prevented the model from flying. I realized the wood was too heavy and prevented the helicopter from flying. I tried again with some cardboard and the result went better, the helicopter rose and fell. So I decided to use plastic, plastic from water bottles, my helicopter managed to get off the ground. I don’t know if this had an effect on me but I think it taught me to never give up and be determined and work hard to get what I want. Who is Joe Onyero on the other side not related to technology, business and project development? A very determine person who starts his working day at 6.30am but on the other hand an ordinary man who reads and get lots of information, a very positive man and curious about life. He likes to devote time to running and gym five times a week, he loves a healthy lifestyle. He loves watching his favourite football team and spending time with his family. He loves to travel and in fact have visited over 70 countries but when he can’t travel, like this pandemic period, he travels through travel documentaries.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27,2021

FAIRGROUND with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

Sanwo-Olu Launches EbonyLife Creative Academy

he Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, last Wednesday declared the EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA) open in a brief ceremony on-site at 10 Engineering Close, oͿ Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island. The academy is supported by the Lagos State Government through Lagos State Creative Industries Initiative (LACI), under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf. EbonyLife’s CEO, Mo Abudu conceived ELCA. Its World-class facility oͿers free courses to both young and established Àlmmakers in a bid to make Lagos the centre of excellence for Africa’s creative sector The Governor of Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu, last Wednesday declared the EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA) open in a brief ceremony on-site at 10 Engineering Close, oͿ Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island. The academy is supported by the Lagos State Government through Lagos State Creative Industries Initiative (LACI), under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf. EbonyLife’s CEO, Mo Abudu conceived ELCA. Its World-class facility oͿers free courses to both young and established Àlmmakers in a bid to make Lagos the centre of excellence for Africa’s creative sector Abudu said: “I am very excited to see that the state’s vision for development in education, technology and the creative sector has been so ably captured in this magniÀcent facility. The building has been beautifully designed and refurbished; it contains the latest Àlm production technology; and a faculty of experts has been recruited from all over the world. Our young people will gain valuable new skills, making them more employable and more likely to succeed as creative entrepreneurs. We are very proud to have this world-class institution in Lagos, as we continue to consolidate our position as the cultural hub of Africa. “This is a very proud moment for everyone involved in creating this Academy, including HP Nigeria and Zinox Technologies that both donated computers and IT support. My vision was to make world-class training available for talented people in Lagos who cannot aͿord to go to Àlm school abroad. Our governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, understood our vision and gave us the support we needed to establish the academy and oͿer free courses. Now we have an opportunity to make a real impact within Àlmmaking that will improve our production quality, provide jobs and business opportunities, and help to grow the creative economy in Lagos.” The governor, Lagos State o΀cials, and other guests later toured ELCA’s state-of-the art lecture rooms with projection and sound facilities, studio workshop spaces, and post-production facilities Àtted with all the latest technology. During the visit, they learned more about the free, practical, three-month courses that cover all aspects of Àlmmaking and media content production, including acting, directing, producing, editing, sound, and lighting. Designed by local and foreign industry experts, the courses are intended to help working Àlm professionals improve their skills and make them globally competitive, and to equip beginners with the skills they need to launch their careers. Registration for EbonyLife Creative Academy opened in December 2020 and classes commenced on 8th March. The next intake commences in June 2021 and every quarter thereafter. For more information on courses available, visit www.ebonylifecreativeacademy. com.

Shaﬀy Bello

Omotola Jalade- Ekeinde Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and Mo Abudu

Kate Henshaw Pat Faniran, Mo Abudu, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu , Mary Ali Baba and Helen Prest- Ajayi

Osas lghodalo

Chigurl

Ini Edo

˜ ˾ MARCH 27, 2021

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

EBERE WABARA

Fulani, Not ‘Fulanis’

“T

HE rice pyramids displayed at Zauro yesterday also shown (showed) the progress the programme had recorded so far.” (Full-page advertorial by Kebbi State Governn

ment, March 3) “Schoolgirls (Schoolgirls’) abduction: You must reveal those behind it, ACF tells Matawalle” (NATIONAL NEWS, March 3) “The Igbo as a tribe (as an ethnic group)….” (Politics & Power, March 3) ‘Tribe’ is a derogatory word! “Obiano urges security agents on AK-47 wielding (AK-47-wielding) herdsmen” “Anambra CP reads riots (sic) act, decoo rates 170 offi fficers” (Oriental News, March 3) Get it right: the riot act “MTN’s subscribers’ base (subscriber-base) increases by 12.2m to 76.5m” “Unknown assailants stab woman to death inside home in Ekiti” (THISDAY, March 6) Why do some journalists like embellishing words? How do you identify (know) assaill ants until arrest? Delete the thoughtlessly redundant fi first word in the extract. “British (Britain or the British government) to slash aid to Nigeria, others” “Army nabs suppliers of ammunitions to bandits” (Source: as above) This way: ‘ammunition’ is uncountable. “Can Man Utd halt City’s 21-match winn ning steak (streak)?” (Global Soccer, March 6) “The Honourable Minister of Transportaa tion…and the Honourable Minister of State for Transportation…cordially invites (how and why?).all stakeholders in the transportaa tion (transport preferably) sector and the general public (and the public) to the….” (Full-page advertorial, THISDAY, March 6) “Good Fulanis (Fulani) must act now” The same thing applies to ‘Igbo’ and ‘Yoruba’. “…your dogged fi fight to recover all ill taken (ill-gotten) Imo wealth, no matter whose ox is gored, has gladden (gladdened) the heart (hearts) of Imolites.”

“…we experience your good leadership in (on) all the campuses of the university.” “If you borrow to fund white elephant projects….” Get it right: delete ‘projects’, which is encapsulated in ‘elephants’. This way: to fund white elephants “PTF: Fresh mandate amidst (amid) COVID-19 second wave” “For President Buhari the time is tickling (ticking)….” “If these three groups pull their resources together, it may not be diffi fficult to….” Get it right: pool (not ‘pull’) resources with the exclusion of ‘together’, which is otiose. “Tenure elongation: Court dismisses Nasarawa LG chairman (chairman’s) suite (suit)” “It’s time (high time) something drastic was done about this hell-born evil in the skin of doctors” Alternatively, it is time something drastic is done about…. “Area Commander reads riot act (the riot act) to criminals” “Airforce (Air force) jet crashlands (crashlands) in Yola” “NBA raises alarm (the alarm) over kidnap of member” “5,000 Ogun residents benefi efit from Aisha Buhari’s health screening (health-screening) initiative” Wrong: Cat and mouse game in APC Right: Cat-and-mouse game in APC “Dear customer, due to our BVN system upgrade (a comma) your ATM card has been deactivated. To reactivate (another comma) kindly (what is the function of ‘kindly’ here?) call MR. JOHN on 08163471976 for reactivation.” Abracadabra: ‘to reactivate…for reactivation’! The number used to send this fraudulent message to gullible clients, mostly, is 09035088335. Please do not be a victim of this kind of serial scam. This intervention is much more important than the excerpted lexical and grammatical blunders. “Jibrin, however, said his lawyers have (had)….” “Stakeholders urge EFCC, ICPC to conduct thorough investigation on (into) the

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

matter” “Disease control (Disease-control) centre activates 3 labs for disease outbreak samples” “Traders count loses (losses) as fi fire guts Sokoto old market” “Mohammed urged the cleric not to indulge in actions that can (could) divide the country along religious lines.” “You are arguably one of Nigeria’s foree most industrialists….” What is the meaning of this schoolboy contradiction? Most of the errors this week are from The Guardian of January 1: “Even when members of the Special Task Force (STF) came to restore order at the venue….” Conscience, Nurtured by Truth: restore order to (not at) the venue…. “Ekiti CAN members protest over clergy killings in the North” The Flagship (is it still?) of journalism in Nigeria should know that ‘protest’ takes ‘about’, ‘against’ or ‘at’; not ‘over’. Even these are optional. “In Nigeria, if you loose, you call a press conference telling the world the judge does not like your face or is biased and so on.” Just lose. “Nigeria’s fi first private reefinery takes-off soon” Phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation. “Every one of us has a part to play as electorates because this is the only country we have.” Democracy for Justice: ‘electorate’ is a collective that does not need any infl nflection. A rewrite: Every one of us has a part to play as a member of the electorate or as an elector (or still, all of us have a part to play as the electorate). Perhaps, with time, the usage would register. “…good governance in a continent where the use of impunity, unfortunately, has become an instrument of democratic governance” Tunisia’s changing times: on a continent. “Like (As) I have always said….” “…calling to question the forced involvee ment of Nigeria in the second world war” At a time like this: World War II. “It was this situation that heightened the political condition in the country that

culminated into….” ‘Culminate’ takes ‘in’. “London was actually constantly under siege until he was eventually extradited back to Nigeria….” The Guardian is not on trial, but let us delete ‘back’ from the extract for all parties’ collective grammatical sanity. “The facility will result in improved fi of the Internet trafffic and security profile save the nation of the embarrassment of….” Info-tech: save the nation the embarrassment of…. “Renowned fi filmmakers will converge in (on) Nigeria next week for….” “Voice of the Electorate (V.O.T.E) congratuu lates PDP delegates nationwide for (on/ upon) defi efining history….” “Politically, experts in IT advocated for the use of e-voting system….” Once again, ‘advocate’ when used as a verb does not admit ‘for’. “There will be what I call enriched mobile communication experience come 2022 through mobile money….” ICT development: experience in 2022. “…today’s presidential primary may be riddled with so much (many) underhand deals and sharp practices.” What is the differr ence between ‘underhand deals’ and ‘sharp practices’? The latter should subsume the former! An aside: ‘much’ instead of ‘many’? “In doing so (a coma) some of the government’s supporters may certainly have overstepped the bound of propriety….” Get it right: the bounds of propriety. “Reactions to this position have been pouring in, and it’s highly elating that most share same position.” This way: most share the same position. “Majority of Nigerians are of the opinion that a country roundly blessed has no busii ness tottering at the brink of disintegration and collapse.” A/the majority of Nigerians…. “A court ruled affi ffirming zoning but paradoxically dismissing Atiku’s suite.” ONE WEEK of big men and small men: simply Atiku’s suit.

Akwa Ibom Open for Business Through Aviation Felix Adeose

viation development is one of the cardinal programmes of the eight-point Completion Agenda which Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State set out to execute in his second term. A carry over from the first term, the programme is one of the many the governor is using to actualize his vision of making the state an investment destination and, ultimately, Nigeria’s industrial hub. The aviation development programme is two-pronged. It involves building the required infrastructure that would support the growth of the industry in Nigeria in general and, in particular, open up the state for business, as well as making Akwa Ibom an active participant in that process through ownership of a viable airline that would play the strategic role of taking the state to the world and bringing the world to the state. The state government has been focusing attention on the development of the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, to bring it up to the standard at which it would take advantage of its strategic location as a Nigerian gateway to the Gulf of Guinea to help drive the state’s economy. A major feature of this development is the ongoing building of a new terminal to serve the growing number of passengers that pass through the airport, and to give it the capacity to handle international operations. The new terminal is designed to meet the highest intelligence, smart standard and also match the best airport terminals around the world. “We are going to have the smartest airport terminal building in the whole of Africa and that is under construction”, Governor Emmanuel said last year. This is in line with his vision of making the airport the aviation hub for West Africa. An indication of the feasibility of this vision is the fact that the government has awarded a contract for the construction of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility – a major component of the airport – to the take the project, which commenced under a previous administration, to its final level. There is a commissioning deadline of December, fi 2021 for the new terminal building, to allow for commencement of international operations in the first quarter of 2022. “These two projects are going to facilitate the emergence of the Victor Attah International Airport as an important

feature of the Nigerian aviation industry, especially the MRO facility”, says Kayode Fashola, an aviation consultant. He said the MRO is of particular importance because at the moment, there is no such facility in the whole of West Africa. “The absence of an MRO facility in Nigeria and the West African sub-region has had very negative effect on the aviation sector, and has actually contributed to the death of many airlines. From what I know of the one the Akwa Ibom State government is building, it is going to be equipped with the most modern facilities that will allow for local repair and maintenance of aircraft”. He said the benefits of getting the MRO facility to come on stream were enormous. “It will save the country scarce foreign exchange, create jobs, reduce maintenance cost for airlines and make the sector more attractive for investors”.

Ibom Air Comes into the Picture The establishment of Ibom Air on June 7, 2019 – the first airline to be set by a state government in Africa – was the government’s bold move to enhance ease of travelling into and out of Akwa Ibom, beyond provision of infrastructure at the Victor Attah International Airport. It is part of efforts to open up the state to make it accessible to visitors and investors by air, land and sea, thus underscoring the government’s determination to make it a destination of choice. The move to set up the airline was considered in many circles as risky and, among critics and cynics, an undesirable and wasteful investment, considering the notorious failure of governments to successfully run enterprises, especially airline business, with the defunct Nigeria Airways as an example. But in less than two years, Ibom Air has proved to be a success story and a wise investment decision. The airline has, in the relatively short period of its existence, carved a niche for itself, winning the hearts of air travelers who are forthcoming in pouring accolades on it for high quality services, professionalism and discipline. The airline has come to be noted for sticking to flight schedules, thereby making it possible for its customers to keep appointt ments. Wale Adeniran, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, has made Ibom Air his preferred airline because of his experience with the carrier, which has bolstered his belief that governmentowned enterprises can be run successfully if they are devoid of political control and interference. “I handled a case for

a client in Uyo in the latter part of 2019 not quite long after Ibom Air was set up and discovered, after traveling with the airline on three occasions, that I could fly into the state on the morning of the case and fly back to Lagos after the matter has been dealt with”, he said. “It saved me the cost of staying in hotels for a case that might not last longer than one hour”. He uses the airline on his regular trips to Abuja. The skepticism that trailed establishment of Ibom Air, which bordered on whether or not it would be run as a government parastatal or a business, has since given way to enthusiasm, belief and hope, going by the success it has recorded so far. This is because from inception, the airline has been run as a business, devoid of government interferr ence. “We want to run Ibom Air as one of the most effi f cient, economically viable and profitable outfits in a way that will make others come to copy our business modules”, Governor Emmanuel had assured. The success story of the airline is evident in the fact that with fi five aircraft in its fleet, it is currently operating flights to Abuja, Lagos, Calabar and Enugu, with plans to cover more airports in the country as it progresses. The ambitious plan of making Akwa Ibom an investment destination would see the airline expand operations to Ghana, Cameroun, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, when the new terminal building is completed. The economic benefits of the two iconic aviation projects – the airport and the airline – to the people of Akwa Ibom are unquantifiable. The projects are going to play the combined role of opening the state to investors to come in and take advantage of the conducive investment climate the government has created. There is going to be increased investment in different sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, health, hospitality, etc., in all parts of the state. This would translate into rapid development of the rural areas, thereby discourr aging rural-urban drift. Increased investment will boost the job creation efforts of the government, thereby reducing unemployment. There is also the potential of making essential goods and products available, with the high possibility of affordability. With more people in employment, there is going to be improvement in the standard of living of the people – a development that may encourage the state’s indigenes in other parts of the country who are not doing so well to find fi the state an attractive place to go back to.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ARCH 27, 2021

POLITY

Sanwo-Olu Visits La Campagne Resort Justina Uzo

agos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has visited La Campagne Resort, a tropical getaway that allows you to escape the stress of city life and breathe again. Sanwo-Olu popped into the nature sanctuary recently after the business of the day, which included a tour of the Lagos Free Trade Zone on the Lekki corridor. The La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort is less than 20 minutes away from the Free Zone. The governor and his entourage were well-received and entertained. Ara Thunder, the lady talking drummer and songstress, gave a brilliant performance. Not done, other dancers presented choreographed Zulu Dance. Sanwo-Olu, who was in high spirits mingled freely with the performers and others present. No doubt, the small crowd was pleased and they had photo opportunity with their governor. For close to three hours, Sanwo-Olu explored, and must have experienced the magic of La Campagne resort. The Governor who was in high spirits praised the CEO of La Champagne resort, Mr. Wanle Akinbobiye and his staff for the good work they are doing in raising the bar high in the hospitality industry. He restated Lagos State government’s commitment to develop tourism. Sanwo-Olu pledged his commitment to the entertainment and tourism industry in Lagos State. “I may not be able to see each and every one of you tomorrow but I have a big plan for this your industry. So, believe in yourself, believe in your creativity, if you are a dancer, dance very well, if you are a drummer, drum out well, if you

Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his host, Wanle Akinboboye at La Campagne resort

are a model and you are called forward, just be the best in your class. “There is no shortcut in business or life. Whatever you find yourself doing, just make sure that you are the best and do it with all your energy and your heart because somebody somewhere is looking at you. And you will be great.” Sanwo-Olu is not a first-time visitor to the resort situated in Ikegun Village, Ibeju Lekki. He had visited many years ago before he became the No.1 citizen of Lagos State. I am sure a lot of you have

not heard about La Campagne on Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja. That was where it all started. “But over the years he (Akinboboye) moved here. I have been here before and I have slept in your chalet here many times. But coming here this evening, I told him that this place has changed a lot for the better. I remember that there was no wall somewhere there, just so that you know that I know this place.” Akinboboye, who was apparently delighted by the visit, expressed appreciation to the governor, saying it was historic. “In all these years that I have been here transforming this zone, creating jobs and various opportunities for the people and community to develop, Governor Babajide Sanwo–Olu is the first governor of Lagos State to come and sit down with us and honour us like this,” he said. He appealed to the governor to create a tourism zone along the Lekki corridor. “I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency to consider the possibility of establishing a tourism zone on this axis. Lagos State has its fair share of resorts. The popularity of La Campagne is on the rise. The resort has been noted for welcoming well-heeled individuals and tourists seeking upmarket offering from across the globe. Even the governor couldn’t resist the exotic beauty of La Campagne with its fresh reinvigorating forest air. La Campagne resort is a massive land of about 65 acres with palm fringed, sandy beaches where time slows down in sync with the rhythm of the waves that gently lap the shore. Take a stroll along the beach, watch birds or relax in the peaceful environment. La Campagne Troopicana Forest River Beach Resort, which provides style accommodation, is about an hour’s drive from Lagos airport.

Emir of Ilorin Tasks HYPPADEC on Flooding in Hyrdo Power States Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has tasked the management of the Hydro- electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to urgently find lasting solutions to the perennial flood disaster bedevilling the people of riverine areas of the state. Alhaji Sulu-Gambari however decried that the annual flood occurrence as a result of release of water from the Hydro- power stations always caused colosssal damage to farmlands and residential buildings in the affected communities. The monarch who spoke at his palace, Ilorin, Kwara State

when the management team of HypadcYPPADEC led by its chairman, governing council of the commission, Hon. Joseph Terfa Ityav, paid him an homage in his palace in Ilorin, stated that, the development would assist the team to address the ecological problems and improve the socio-well being of the affected areas. While expressing his support for the commission’s management team, the monarch thanked President Muhammadu Buhari’s led federal government for ensuring the take-off of HYPADEC. Earlier, the Chairman, Governing Council of HYPADEC, Hon. Ityav, had intimated the Emir about the mandates of the commission. He said the commission would not leave any stone unturned

in finding solutions to the menace of incessant flooding in its areas of operation. He equally assured that the commission would ensure the development of the areas and uplift the standard of living of the people of the host states. Ityav added that: “ One of the key functions of the commission is to tackle ecological menace being experienced by the people of the communities located around hydo- power stations.” The chairman said the administration of President Buhari is committed to making life more comfortable for the people living in the hyrdo- electric power stations communities. The team later visited flood prone communities in Jebba and Pategi in the state for on the spot assessment.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Consultant, Public Procurement, Engr. Ibrahim Abu; Deputy Chairman House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Uju Kingsley; Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu; and Chairman House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Nassir Ali Ahmed, during the training for the House Committee on Public Procurement in Abuja…recently

L-R: A beneﬁciary, Hajiya Hauwa Rahmat; Public Relation Manager, Tolaram Group, Mrs. Omotayo Abiodun; President, Nigeria Medical Students Association, Mr. Danbuba Muhammad; President, Nigeria Association of Dental Students, Mr. Michael Adejumo; Sponsorship Manager, Tolaram Group, Mr. Opeyemi Awojobi; and a dentist, Dr. Kayode Ogunyemi, during the Colgate World Oral Day nationwide dental outreach held at Paiko Village in Abuja...recently

L-R: Council Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Women Forum, Dr. Foluke Dada; Chairperson, NBA Women Forum, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN, Vice Chairperson, NBA Women Forum, Chinyere Okorocha; and Treasurer, NBA Women Forum, Hadjia Safiyah Balarabe, during the NBA Women Forum International Women’s Day conference 2021 in Lagos…recently

MD, Accelerex Networks Limited, Funsho Oyelohunnu (right) presenting a gift to Juliana Ofoegbu for emerging 2nd Best Agent while her husband Alex Ofoegbu looks on

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 27, 2021

POLITY/BOOK REVIEW

The Case for Ogun Cargo Airport Seyi Bakare

ast week, a major paradigm shift in the socioeconomic development of Ogun State was hallmarked by the pronouncement by Governor Dapo Abiodun assuring the people of the state that the first phase of the Agro-Cargo Airport at Illisan-Remo in Ikenne local government area of the state would be ready by May next year. Governor Abiodun, who gave this pledge while undertaking an on-the-spot assessment of work done on the 2.3km access road to the cargo airport, hinged the project on the plan of his administration to have a cargo airport that fully complements the agric value chain investments in the state. The project, he observed, was conceived in 2007 and had all necessary approvals, including the Environmental Impact Assessment from the aviation regulatory body, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). His administration, he noted, had designated the cargo airport a heteropolis (complete airport city) because it would have a special agro-processing zone, with factories where raw materials could be turned into final products for export, and would in fact be complemented with the first international testing centre where goods would be evaluated for export. He said: “We bidded for the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) special agro-processing zone and in that bid document, we chose this location to co-locate the special agro-processing zone here. The AFROEXIM Bank has begun the construction of the first African International Testing Centre here in Sagamu; that is, a centre where items for export would be evaluated and approved for export, so a cargo airport here is just very convenient and economically wise,” he said. The foregoing indeed throws up some salient issues worthy of note. First, in trying to actualize the construction of the cargo airport project conceptualized by the Gbenga Daniel administration in 2007, Governor Dapo Abiodun and his crew are drawing attention to the vital need to shelve the discontinuity politics that has hobbled development in the country for ages, the practice of abandoning uncompleted projects by previous administrations for narrow, partisan reasons; the fact that governance is, and ought to be, a continuum; and the fact that a responsible administration should place premium on value for money. It is manifestly clear that the proposed cargo airport is a project designed to lift Ogun State’s agriculture and business potentialities into a phenomenal level; a giant leap for an administration seeking to harness the Gateway State’s full economic potential and turn around the fortunes of millions. And this is certainly worthy of applause. That the project will open a vista of opportunities is a given. Industries will spring up as soon as the airport commences operations. And, what is more, it is strategically located to reach commodities across the state and parts of the South-West. In any case, Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, will also take advantage of the airport because it

Abiodun

has no such facility; it has only passenger airports. Abiodun, speaking recently when he received the Senate Committee on Aviation led by Senator Smart Adeyemi at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan , Abeokuta, placed the extant issues in perspective. According to him, the agro-cargo airport project conceptualized by the Gbenga Daniel administration in 2007 has lots of potential for the overall development of Ogun and the country in general. As he reiterated, Ogun State is yearning for is an airport that will support its massive agrodevelopment potentials. Governor Abiodun could certainly not be faulted in insisting that the Ogun populace entrusted his administration with qualitative representation to create an enabling environment for public/private sector partnership, which is fundamental to the creation of enduring economic development. In any case, the decision to continue with the agro- airport project, located in Ogun East Senatorial District, was made by the state’s joint inter-ministerial committee. It is heartening that a lot of verifiable work had started on the agro-cargo airport project, which has the imprimatur of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Governor Abiodun articulated the issue very pungently: “This administration is deliberate and methodical. After a thorough evaluation, the choice of the Airport cargo location in Ilishan was unanimous. It complements the Agric/processing factories eco system in that corridor with access/egress road network. To that extent, our decisions are guided by the principles of good governance; is it fair, just and equitable to all? Is the process transparent and inclusive? Did the people input? Is it of economic important/ value? Will it possibly impact the life of our people? As we must hold ourselves accountable at all times. After all, the people are the essence of Governance and we are only holding the office in trust for them. The point has been made that the cargo airport project has been the missing link in Ogun State’s development over the years, the final part of the jigsaw puzzle that will successfully harness all the state government’s investments. It will, among others, provide efficient and effective connectivity for international, regional and local cargo and scheduled air traffic, especially to the Southern part of Nigeria and the West African cluster. It will complement Ogun’s status as the foremost industrial hub in the country while optimising the logistics and distribution value chain, thereby improving competitiveness and enabling the state to take full advantage of AfCTA for economic growth and development. Located within an aerotropolis with a land allocation of c.5,000 hectares comprising facilities for commerce, industry, cargo handling and logistics, it is projected to consolidates Ogun State’s competitive advantage in the agriculture/ agro-allied and manufacturing industries. Having already received regulatory approvals in 2008 from both the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), it would facilitate real estate developments, fully integrated through shared infrastructure and services for synergy and value chain benefits. As noted by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Mr ‘Tope Armstrong Akintunde, it is significant that in the face of the dwindling fortunes of revenue from oil, Governor Abiodun has deemed it fit to build a strong economic base for Ogun State through the resuscitation of the Agro-Cargo Airport project as well as the massive investment in agriculture and infrastructure. According to him, “It’s a project with huge potentials to redefine positively the socio-economic dynamics of the state. It will create jobs in their thousands, open up the state for more investment, increase revenue generation for the state, boosts the agricultural sector and ultimately enhance the economic prosperity of the residents of the state.” The importance of the cargo airport indeed lies in its utilitarian value as a catalyst for economic growth and development. It is a brilliant initiative deserving of utmost support, and must be brought to fruition. ––Bakare sent this piece from Plot 232, Ibadan Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Strategic Management from an Insider’s Perspective Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka

his is a special book that can transport you to the inner workings of government institutions and how they can be reformed and repositioned to deliver effective and efficient services . Every person who reads this book will be inspired by its unique approach to solving complex institutional problems, applying simple management and leadership principles in an easy to understand manner. This important book by Dr. Dakuku Peterside on Strategic Management turnaround demonstrates several important theoretical, policy and practical principles well laid-out in the different chapters. For one, it points attention what is currently lacking in Nigerian public life, which is the need for those who manage public assets to share their experiences and knowledge at the expiration of their tenure. This book does that with considerable diligence. It is an important case study of how to reform and revitalise an ailing public enterprise and in so doing, bring them back to top- level performance. Second, the book shows the nexus of theory and policy in the understanding of Strategic Management. The author understands both the theory and concepts of strategic management, which undoubtedly contributed to the success of the big reform that he envisioned and executed at the agency. The practical lesson here is that we will do well for the country by appointing subject matter experts and those with requisite capacity to the headship of economically critical agencies. Third, this book is a balanced mix of theory and practice and therefore provides sound knowledge for students, practitioners, leaders and politicians all in equal measure. From different perspectives, every intellectual mind and those in managerial function have something to take away . Altogether, the book has 13 chapters that cover the main areas of strategic management. The author “sought to build a knowledgebased organisation and ensured that NIMASA, as a regulatory agency, is driven by the knowledge and implementation of laws, regulations and policies that are in line with international instruments adopted by the International Maritime Organisation and the International Labour Organisation for maritime labour standards”.

In this book, I believe Dakuku succeeded well in doing what he set out to do, that is, turnaround an under-performing state institution into “a model maritime administration for developing countries”. The author seeks to capture and document in this book, the main essence of the four years that he spent at the helm of NIMASAas chief executive CEO. He traces the challenges, the triumphs and the process outcomes of a well-thought out set of reforms. It takes the reader into the workings of a critical public institution. The focus of his thesis is on how regulatory institutions should regulate and not be captured by the political powers that birthed them. For

the most part the Achilles Heel of public agencies is regulatory capture in a Spoilt System such as we often find ourselves. In economic theory, regulatory agencies are themselves dominated by the industries or powerful interests that they are set up with regulating. The result is that an agency, charged with acting in the public interest, instead acts in ways that benefit the political actors or industry owners it is supposed to be regulating. This is prevalent in developing countries such as we are due to significant levels of poverty that in turn bestow political office holders a larger-than-life status. Clearly, Dakuku’s reform focus helped stem regulatory capture, which is a corruption of power, and authority that occurs when a political entity, policymaker, or regulatory agency is co-opted to serve the commercial, or political interests of their constituency. In Nigeria, these are mostly sub-national ethnic groups, represented by a particular geographic area or tribal affiliations. This book serves us a rich menu of lessons to prevent regulatory capture. The turnaround of NIMASAequally shows the critical importance of investing in broad and specific skills and knowledge capabilities if national agencies will meet the demands of the 21st Century. The need for competent staff and expertise, competitive salaries, and management autonomy. The management requires assured political cover for the CEO to make tough decisions and carry out bold structural changes; these are some of the imperatives for the emergence of a credible agency and the framework with which to create a culture of performance. Clearly, Dr. Dakuku built a solid foundation on which NIMASA could thrive and prosper in the years to come and as he set out to do, become an excellent maritime regulatory agency. The turnaround of NIMASAshows clearly that with leadership that is visionary and purpose-driven, blessed by committed workforce to implement well laid-out plan, a regulatory agency can carry out its purpose even within an environment of a Spoilt System. As a corollary, it is also evident that state enterprises and public institution that were mismanaged could experience a radical turnaround. I highly recommend this book to students of management,leadership, policy makers, politicians and academics alike. ––Prof Oyelaran-Oyeyinka is the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Industrialisation, African Development Bank (AfDB), Abidjan.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

NEWS

NEW LEASE OF LIFE

27.03.2021

Super Eagles Go for Squirrels’ Jugular

PAGE. 30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Super Eagles during their training season at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Wednesday

Super Eagles Go for Squirrels’ Jugular Three-time African champions, Super Eagles of Nigeria will be hoping to qualify the 2022 African Cup of Nations slated for Cameroon as they go for the broke against the Squirrels of Republic of Benin, therefore, making their last game against Lesotho in Lagos a mere formality

he Super Eagles will be craving to book their place in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations for the 19th time as they confront the Squirrels of Benin who are equally battling to qualify for the biennial showpiece. Nigeria top Group L having amassed eight points, while Republic of Benin is second on the table with seven points and a victory for any of the countries would ensure qualification for the Cameroon party. Nigeria soccer fans would however be hoping that in-form strikers, Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu would be able to re-enact their clubs’ form for the Super Eagles against the Squirrels. While Iheanacho has scored nine goals in his last nine games, Onuacho currently tops the goals chart in the Belgian league and has scored 27 goals in all competitions. Meanwhile, Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr believes the Republic of Benin will be a hard nut to crack, given their recent performances. The three-timeAfrican champions will square off against the Squirrels at Porto-Novo’s Stade Charles de Gaulle today. Michel Dussuyer’s men are on a five-game unbeaten run, having last tasted defeat against the Super Eagles in their firstAFCON qualifying game in November 2019. Their home form has also been spectacular, given they have not lost in eight years, having last tasted defeat on home soil against Algeria in 2013 and Rohr has warned his side to be battle-ready for the encounter. “Benin have not lost a match for eight years at home, the last time they lost was in 2013 so you can imagine that we want to be the first team to win there in eight years,” Rohr told reporters. “It will not be easy, they have a very good defence, they were quarter-finalists in the last AFCON. They eliminated Morocco.” Rohr also revealed Benin had all the players needed for the game as the country provided a private plane for their stars based in France to ensure they honour the match. The provision of a private plane has been part of the conditions given by the French govern-

ment before players in the top two leagues could be allowed to leave for international duty. The rule prevented Nantes forward Moses Simon from honouring the Super Eagles invitation and Genk forward Paul Onuachu was drafted in as his replacement. “They have a private plane to help the French-based players, what we could not have, unfortunately,” he continued. “They found the money to take a private plane and to bring them back by charter. This was the condition to get the French players.” Rohr on Wednesday said he would use the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho to “restore a winning mentality” to the squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. This will be the only chance for Nigeria to play together before the next international break in June when they open their Qatar 2022 campaign. They are drawn against Cape Verde, Liberia and Central African Republic with only the overall winners advancing to a final playoff to be played on a knockout basis in November. “We are keen to restore a winning mentality to the group ahead of very crucial games we have,” said Rohr. “It is important that we earn victories in the upcoming matches so that we get into our paces for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers,” he said. “There will be tough games to come and we will be raring to go.” The Super Eagles have been relatively unaffected by travel restrictions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and are able to call on their top players like Victor Osimhen from Napoli, Leicester City pair Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi and Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal. Meanwhile, Fulham defender Ola Aina has vowed to make the Super Eagles fans happy by winning today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Republic of Benin. The Chelsea academy product has been one of the key players in a Fulham side battling to beat the drop, starting all but one of their last 27 matches in the English Premier League. Aina probably stands a good chance of making Nigeria’s starting lineup to face the Squirrels

as Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma has not been called up for the games in March due to fitness issues. “My ambition is to always be better and progress, you can learn something new every single day,” Aina said. “We have to play, we have to make the fans happy somehow, and hopefully that’s how we can win the games and hopefully qualify.” With three–pointer Sierra Leone scheduled to commence hostilities with bottom placed Lesotho at 3p.m., and Nigeria and Benin due to kick off at 6p.m., it means the match in Southern Africa would have ended before the group leaders take to the pitch of Stade Charles de Gaulle in West Africa. A draw in Maseru sends Nigeria through to the finals in Cameroon, but the armada of Europe–based actors that Nigeria has again assembled say they are not interested in the encounter in Maseru and would rather concentrate on achieving a double over the Squirrels. “We are not looking at what happens in Lesotho,” said Captain Ahmed Musa. “It is not necessary for us to bother ourselves with what they play. Our focus is to get the three points in Porto Novo and wrap up qualification. Three points will get us to Cameroon no matter what anyone plays, and that is what we are determined to get.” The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the Eagles contingent will travel from Lagos by waterways to Porto Novo on Friday morning, where they will disembark and head to Cotonou by road to stay the night. The team moves to Porto Novo this morning and returns to Cotonou after the match. Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, assured that the team was happy to travel to Benin Republic by the waterways in Lagos State, where the contingent is camped this time, “is the State of Aquatic Splendour.” He praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his many youth development schemes that were changing the face of Lagos State. “I believe the Eagles will not only win in Porto Novo, they will come back and beat Lesotho and still play many more matches in Lagos going forward.” Nigeria lead Group L of the qualifiers table

with eight points from four games and victory over Benin or Lesotho will seal their place at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Cameroon.

AFCON GROUP L Today

Nigeria Benin Sierra Leone Lesotho

4 4 4 4

2 2 0 0

2 1 3 2

SUPER EAGLES TEAM LIST GOALKEEPERS:

Francis Uzoho John Noble Maduka Okoye DEFENDERS:

Leon Balogun Chidozie Awaziem William Ekong Olaoluwa Aina Jamilu Collins Zaidu Sanusi Tyronne Ebuehi Adekunle Adeleke MIDFIELDERS:

Oghenekaro Etebo Wilfred Ndidi Abdullahi Shehu Joseph Ayodele-Aribo Oluwasemilogo Ajayi FORWARDS:

Ahmed Musa Alex Iwobi Samuel Chukwueze Victor Osimhen Kelechi Iheanacho Henry Onyekuru Paul Onuachu

0 1 1 2

10 7 32 56 36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

L-R: Vice-Captain, Golf Section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Dr. Anthony Oboh; Nduneche Ezurike, the Head Strategic Brand Management of Polaris Bank; Dr. Meckson Innocent Okoro, Captain, golf section of Ikoyi Club; Bukola Oluyadi, Acting Group Head, Customer Value Management and Strategic Communications, Polaris Bank and Chairman, Planning Committee of Unity Cup, Peter Eben-Spiﬀ at the pre-tournament brieﬁng recently

The Super Eagles on arrival at Porto Novo jetty yesterday

Super Eagles Storm Benin Republic with Fanfare Nigeria’s contingent to today’s crucial 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Benin Republic hit the tiny West African nation with much buzz, glitz and glitter yesterday afternoon, arriving at the Porto Novo Jetty in half a dozen boats across the waterways from Lekki, Nigeria. His Excellency Ambassador Olawale Awe, Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic, led mission staff to await the delegation and then accompanied the team and its officials to Cotonou, where the group is ensconced at the Golden Tulip Hotel. The Super Eagles will ride by bus to Porto Novo this morning and return to the Golden Tulip after their clash with the Squirrels at the Stade Charles de Gaulle. Three-time champions Nigeria could make sure of a 19th appearance at African football’s flagship tournament if Sierra Leone and Lesotho are locked in a stalemate in their early game in Maseru today. But the Eagles are insisting on focusing on their own game and result rather than wait for help from one bumpy pitch in southern Africa.

The Squirrels, who sensationally reached the quarter finals of the last edition of the AFCON in Egypt two years ago before losing to Tunisia, had their last training session at the Stade Charles de Gaulle on Thursday, with Coach Michel Dussuyer saying his boys were ready to calmly collect the three points from better –fancied Nigeria. Dussuyer, 61, a former French professional footballer and well –travelled coach, is confident his Squirrels can sneak past the Eagles to top of the pool ahead of the last round of matches in a few days. He is banking on the powerplay upfront of the hulking Michael Pote, the defensive competence of David Kiki, Yohan Roche, Khaled Adenon and Cedric Hountondji, the midfield savvy of Anaane Tidjane, Jordan Adeoti and Rodrigue Kossi and the guile of Steve Mounie, Jacques Bessan andJeromeBonou.Goalkeepers Saturnin Allagbe and Fabien Farnolle will contend for the number one spot. Allagbe was impressive at the AFCON in Egypt.

Thenff.com learnt that officials of the Federation Beninoise de Football were still awaiting official letter from the Confederation of African Football as at yesterday evening on the number of persons that could be admitted at the Stade Charles de Gaulle. As at lunchtime Friday, they were still being told that only 200 persons could attend. “We are hoping for a favourable opiniononour letter requesting that we be allowed to have between 1,800 and 3,000 persons at the match,” said an official of the FBF. The Confederation of African Football has appointed officials from Morocco to superintend the game, with Rédouane Jiyed, a 42 –year old who became an international referee in 2009 and currently one of the highest -rated referees in Africa, dictating the tune. He will be assisted by Lahsen Azgaou (assistant referee 1), Mostafa Akarkad (assistant referee 2) and Samir Guezzaz (fourth official) – all Moroccans. The match commissioner is Yameogo David and Ghanaian Julius Ben Emunah is the security officer.

Aribo Plays Down Comparison with Okocha

Glasgow Rangers midfielder, Joe Aribo has played down comparisons between himself and Super Eagles hero Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, saying his shoes were too big to fill. Since starring on his international debut against Ukraine in September 2019, Aribo has made the number 10 jersey his own - same shirt number worn with pride by Okocha before he called time on his international career in 2006. Aribo has lavished praise

on the former Paris SaintGermain star, calling him a Super Eagles legend. In a media parley with jounalists at the Eko Hotels & Suites earlier this week, Aribo said: “Jay Jay Okocha is legendary, he is a legend. He is amazing. Even if I could fill his shoes in the slightest, I will be happy with that. “But I wouldn’t say I necessarily feel pressure. I know what the No. 10 shirt means

to the nation. “But I’ll just say that I just need to be the best that I can be and give the best; what I can do for the team to help the team. “But in terms of filling the shoes, I can’t fill Jay Jay’s shoes. He’s different level, honestly. He is a legend.” Aribo has started all the four matches played by the Super Eagles in the race for Cameroon but has yet to get on the scoresheet after netting twice in his first two games.

Gen. Adebayo S/West Tennis Masters Gets May 17 Date

he date for the commencement of the maiden edition of Major General Adeyinka Adebayo South-West Tennis Masters billed to hold in Ekiti State has been fixed. The tennis event which is sponsored by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and organised by Ekiti State Tennis Association is slated to serve-off from May 17 – 21, at the Ekiti State Tennis Centre, Trade Fair Complex, Ado Ekiti. According to the Chairman, Ekiti State Tennis Association, Yemi Owoseni, preparations towards the hosting of the five days tennis masters event have reached advanced stage. Owoseni, who also is the Vice-President, Confederation of Africa Tennis (CAT) Zone Two revealed that the tennis event was sponsored by Otunba Adebayo as part of his contributions to the development of the racket game in Ekiti and Nigeria at large. Furthermore, the Board Member, Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) stated that the Adebayo masters would be for senior tennis players across all the six states of the south-west of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Lagos and host state, Ekiti. He confirmed that the competition would further enhance the growth and development of senior players in the south-west in the comity of players in Nigeria and Africa too. “This tennis master is meant for players in the south-west states, and it will help them to examine their level and to prepare them ahead for other national tournaments before the year ends. “Our sponsor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, a former Governor of the state who also is the Minister for industry, trade and investment has greatly shown commitment as tennis advocate and lover’s of the game for years. His passion for the growth and development of the game are immeasurable.”

European World Cup Qualiﬁer Matches Live on GOtv Max International football continues this weekend as SuperSport continues to provide the best football viewing experience for GOtv Max customers. The road to Qatar for European nations continues this weekend on SuperSport, running from today to Wednesday.The top match today is the clash betweenNetherlandsandLatvia. The always-entertaining Neth-

erlands will back themselves to beat Latvia in Amsterdam, which will be showing live at 6pm on SS La Liga (channel 32). While Belgium will also have a tough game away to the CzechRepublicandcustomers can watch live at 8:45pm on SS Football (channel 31). Sunday, March 28 is headlined by Kosovo facing Sweden at 7:45pm live on SS Select 1 (channel 33) and earlier

Saudi Arabia Keen to Host Joshua-Fury’s Fight

Saudi Arabia is ‘absolutely keen’ to secure the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury fight with only a few weeks remaining to select a location, says promoter Eddie Hearn. The British rivals have signed contracts for an undisputed

world heavyweight title fight this year, but a three-week deadline has been set to finalise a venue and date for a summer showdown. Matchroom boss Hearn will travel to a number of potential sites next week, although he is

Niger’s Edo 2020 Contingent Receives COVID-19 Vaccines Laleye Dipo in Minna All the 120 athletes that will wear the Niger State colours at the National Sports Festival have received the COVID-19 Vaccines in Minna. The vaccines were administered on the athletes on Thursday under the supervision of the Director of Disease Control of the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Samuel Jiya. Jiya asked the athletes to

disregard any negative information they might have heard about the vaccine, insisting that it was safe and efficacious. Jiya also assured the athletes that the vaccine had no side effects and therefore asked the contingent to go ahead with their preparation for the National Sports Fiesta. The Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Emmanuel Umar said at the flag off of the vaccination that the exercise was

in fufilment of one of the requirements for states to present athletes for the festival. Umar who was represented at the flag off by the Permanent Secretary Mallam Yunusa Na Hauni asked the athletes to ensure they abide by other COVID-19 regulations for their safety. It was learnt that the state contingent to the festival will departMinnaforBeninonApril 2, this year.

in the day, Denmark will be playing against Moldova at 5pm on SS La Liga (channel 32). The qualifiers continue into Tuesday, March 30 and Wednesday, March 31, with headline matches including Gibraltar vs Netherlands at 7:45pm, showing on SS La Liga (channel 32), and Spain vs Kosovo at 7:45pm live on SS La Liga (channel 32).

(R)Tanzanian boxer, Mkalekwa Salehe Omari, and his trainer, Emmanuel Mlundwa, on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday. Mkalekwa is billed to ﬁght Nigeria’s Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde for the WBF International welterweight title at GOtv Boxing Night on 2 April

fully aware of the desire to host the fight in the Middle East, having promoted Joshua’s rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. “That sort of cuts out a lot of the timeframe in terms of going to all these various meetings. We’ve been through the process with them. They gave us their word on what they would deliver and they did that. It was a fantastic event. “When we did Anthony Joshua against Andy Ruiz rematch, that was really with themindsetwiththemofdoing the undisputed fight, so they are absolutely keen to secure this fight. “Obviously there are two versions of it, so June, July in the Middle East is very warm. Most people would prefer it to be a little bit later, but that’s not what’s on the table. We want two fights this year and the first one will be in the summer.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Maduka Okoye set to impress against Republic of Benin on Sunday

Maduka Okoye

Relishing New Lease of Life

In spite of not being popular among soccer-loving Nigerians as he was partly blamed for the lacklustre performance of the Super Eagles against Sierra Leone in the AFCON qualifier match at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin; Coach Gernot Rohr however insists Maduka Okoye is Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper and the Sparta Rotterdam’s man is set to continue as Nigeria’s No 1

oach Gernot Rohr has declared that Sparta Rotterdam’s Maduka Okoye is now Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, just days before the coach names his squad for the Super Eagles’ final two games of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign. “No. 1 is Maduka,” Rohr told ESPN. “These decisions, I take them with goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu because he is a specialist for goalkeeper training. “Myself and Alloy, we agreed that it’s actually Maduka. We have the experienced Daniel Akpeyi doing well with his club in South Africa. “We have the young Francis Uzoho coming back after injury, but he has to play also now not only on the bench. We have also Matthew Yakubu. There’s a good potential now because this position was a big problem for us so we have more now.” Rohr’s comments may provide official confirmation of Okoye’s current status but it is by no means the end of the journey, as Nigeria have been on a goalkeeping merry-go-round since Vincent Enyeama’s abrupt retirement in 2016. Uzoho was promoted to first choice by Rohr and was between the posts for Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup run, but a bad error against Seychelles during the 2019 AFCON qualifiers, which resulted in the Pirates scoring, led to him losing his place and temporarily demoted to the

under-23 side with Akpeyi recycled back up. Uzoho returned to good form, in time to feature in the 2019 AFCON third-place match, and he retained his place on the team until he suffered a serious injury during a friendly with Brazil in October 2019. He landed awkwardly and tore ankle ligaments, ruling him out for up to six months. Okoye, barely 20 at the time, and who was on his first trip with the Nigeria team, was called in as a replacement and did a steady job in a 1-1 draw against the Selecao. Rohr turned to Akpeyi for the start of the AFCON qualifiers but the keeper was injured playing for Kaizer Chiefs, and Okoye again stepped into the breach. Okoye was in goal as Nigeria surrendered a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 against Sierra Leone, but he did not take as much flak as would have been expected and redeemed himself in the return leg as Nigeria drew 0-0. “You cannot drop a player because you say he plays one bad game,” Rohr told ESPN of the pressure he had faced to drop the youngster for the second leg. “It is bad for his confidence.” Unconvinced by the personnel at Rohr’s disposal, former Nigeria’s goalkeeper and coach Ike Shorunmu urged the German to make a quick decision about his No.1 goalkeeper before the final rounds of AFCON qualifiers. The Super Eagles coach, meanwhile, is

also pushing back on the NFF decision to play the last of those qualifiers against Lesotho in Lagos. Rohr said early last week that the game would be played in Lagos, where they last played a decade ago, but he says his players prefer the venue in Uyo. The Super Eagles last played in Nigeria’s commercial capital in 2011, when they recorded a 2-1 friendly win over Sierra Leone; they have played their home games in Abuja, Asaba, Benin, Kaduna and Uyo. “The second game, we will do it in Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos,” Rohr said. “We know that this is a very special occasion with the pandemic, and we cannot have the usual venue in Uyo. “But my players they like Uyo because of the facilities, because of the stadium.” The Teslim Balogun Stadium, which has recently undergone a facelift, with the artificial turf replaced by grass, was the last place the Super Eagles played in Lagos. Reacting to the news that he is Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper, Okoye said: “I was very delighted and honoured because representing this beautiful country as the number one goalkeeper is something special. “I am happy that Gernot Rohr chose me and I am going to pay back with good performance.” Okoye was not in the good books

of Super Eagles fans after a schoolboy performance that saw him concede four goals on matchday three of the AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone, but he hopes to make amends and wants to prove he’s the right candidate to be the country’s number one. “The performance has to be good, the best has to be a clean sheet of course. I am going to work hard and prepare good for the matches.”

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR

THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR

THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Tim Akinola

Set to Impress Arteta With several of Arsena first team players on international duties, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has promoted Nigerian-born central midfielder Tim Akinola to first team training.The onus is now on the19 year old to cash-in on the situation and win the heart of the Spaniard before the arrival of the‘big boys’

Akinola

s many as 12 Arsenal first team players are currently on international duties with their respective nations, so to make up the numbers the Spanish football tactician invited some promising youth team players to train with the first team yesterday. Akinola transferred to Arsenal from Huddersfield Town last summer and has been compared to Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante. He was joined in the workout held at London Colney by another talented youngster of Nigerian descent in Folarin Balogun. Akinola rubbed shoulders with the likes of Héctor Bellerín, Rob Holding,

Gabriel, Willian, Alexandre Lacazette and Gabriel Martinelli during the training session supervised by Arteta. The Anglo-Nigerian has been a very key player for Arsenal in the Premier League 2, featuring in all their matches with the exception of the 3-3 draw with Manchester United in October and figured in all their games in the EFL Trophy. Akinola has often trained with the Arsenal first team but has yet to make a matchday squad for domestic competitions and he’s ineligible to represent the north London club in the Europa League. Akinola was Arsenal fifth permanent signing last summer having signed from Huddersfield Town

youngster Tim. The 19-year-old has joined the Gunners’ Under-23s side after being released by Championship club Huddersfield last month. The Gunners made the decision to sign the teenager because of the club’s desire to add “development players” to their ranks, to not only strengthen the club’s academy but to potentially one day blossom into a first-team player at the Emirate Stadium. The addition of Akinola is similar to that of George Lewis, who joined the club earlier this summer from Norwegian club Fram Larvik. But why would Arsenal, who agreed to sign Akinola without even taking him on trial, be so keen to sign a player

that has just been released by a club that was flirting with relegation in the Championship for the majority of the 2019/20 campaign? Akinola is a 19-year-old centralmidfielder that has just joined Arsenal following an exit from Huddersfield. The midfielder is eligible to represent both England and Nigeria at international level, meaning he will have the desire to impress in an Arsenal shirt with two separate chances of making the grade at international level. Unlike most footballers these day, Akinola, with respect, was a late starter. He didn’t manage to get his foot in the door at any club at academy level until the age of 16-years-old, joining League Two side Mansfield Town. Ahead of the 2018/19 season, Akinola made the switch to Lincoln City, who were seen as a club on an upward trajectory at that point, as they scooped the League Two title that season. His time with the Imps saw him join their local rivals Lincoln United on loan, testing himself in the eighth-tier of English football. He also featured for City in the FA Youth Cup, playing against West Bromwich Albion. In June 2019, Akinola was offered a trial at Huddersfield following their relegation from the Premier League and he jumped at the chance to test himself in the Championship. He was offered a one-year deal with the option to extend it. However, despite giving it everything he had got, he left the club at the end of the 2019/20 season because of the sheer level of competition within the Terriers’ academy. His departure from the West Yorkshire club means that Akinola, who has operated as a winger in the past, has been signed on a free by the Gunners, with the club not having to shell out any compensation. Nowadays in football, standing still means that you are going backwards. Clubs are always on the hunt for the next rising talent that could be a future star for them or potentially a gateway to a huge transfer fee, as they sign them cheap, develop them and then sell them on for a tidy profit. But with the Gunners having failed to agreed terms with youngster Nathan Tormey already this summer, they are going to be eager to keep their academy topped up with exciting talent. Though Akinola has not yet been able to make a name for himself at first-team level, getting the chance to do that at Arsenal, surrounded by a plethora of exciting young talents, could bring the very best out of him. After signing for Huddersfield a little over a year ago, Leigh Bromby, who is now the Terriers’ Head of Football Operations, outlined why the West Yorkshire club were so keen to get him on board, lavishing his attitude and work ethic with praise. “We’re delighted to be able to welcome Tim to Huddersfield Town today,” Bromby said.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27,2021

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Top Tips for Caring for Your Car’s Bodywork The most prominent element of your car is its bodywork. If you’re the type of person who takes pride in their car and wants to keep it looking its best, you’ll know that regular maintenance is key to keeping car bodywork in good condition for years to come. What’s more, taking care of your car means you’ll save money in the long run – it’s less likely to be sent to the repair shop, and it will keep more of its value when the time comes to sell it. In this article, we’re revealing our top tips when it comes to caring for your car’s bodywork. Choose the right conditions for cleaning Many people don’t realise that there are good and bad times to clean your car, but in fact it’s essential to make sure you don’t do it in conditions that are too hot. So, wait for your car to cool down rather than cleaning it straight after a long journey, and resist the temptation to get out and do it on a hot summer’s day. Heat can reduce the eͿectiveness of the chemicals in your cleaning products, potentially leaving streaks – at worst you risk damaging your car’s bodywork and, at best, you won’t really be cleaning it at all.

Mini Cooper-SE Electric

Mini Models Fitted with New Operating System

ith the new edition of the models in the small car premium segment, connectivity and driving pleasure form the perfect combination for the typical MINI

feeling. Centre instrument with 8.8-inch touch display as standard, individually configurable Live Widgets, “Lounge” and “Sport” modes for the centre and multifunctional instrument display, integration of Amazon Alexa, MINI App with extended functions: Perfectly networked, always online, seamlessly integrated and always ready for typical MINI driving pleasure. This is how urban premium mobility presents itself in the digital age. Alongside the fresh, strikingly purist design and new equipment features, the extensively enhanced operating system with its additional digital services is a major highlight of the new editions of the MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MINI Convertible. Now more than ever, the unmistakable MINI feeling can be seamlessly integrated into the digital lifestyle. The refined premium ambience in the interior of the MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MIN Convertible also includes a redesigned centre instrument. An

8.8-inch touch display in black panel design is now standard. The control units for the audio system and the touch-sensitive favourite buttons are integrated flush into the high-quality Piano Black high-gloss surface. The light signal of the LED decor ring surrounding the centre instrument can correspond to the operation of the air conditioning, among other things. If the heat output is increased, the display moves to the red area; if the desired temperature is reduced, the display again moves to the blue area. In conjunction with the Ambient Light option, the LED decor ring features a distinctive laser engraving. The current advances in the field of digitalisation are also symbolised by the multifunctional instrument display on the steering column, which is part of the Connected Media option. The 5.0-inch colour display, which also uses black panel technology, shows all relevant driving information. In the MINI Cooper SE (fuel consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km; electricity consumption combined: 17.6 - 15.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 16.1 - 14.9 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km) it also serves as a display for the charging status while connected to the power supply. The latest generation of the operating system in the MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MINI Convertible ensures that driving pleasure is accompanied by a

completely new user experience. Menu selection on the touch display of the centre instrument becomes even more intuitive with a significantly modernised layout. For the first time, Live Widgets are available for this purpose, which can be selected by a swipe. The desired function is then enlarged in the centre of the display. This means that operation in the MINI is even more closely aligned with the user behaviour familiar from smartphones and other digital devices. The content of the Live Widgets and the order in which they are arranged can be configured individually. The standard configuration shows one widget each for the menu items Media, Communication, Navigation, Vehicle Settings, the MINI Connected Apps and Messages. Depending on the function, the current status - for example, the route currently being taken on the navigation map or the last audio programme selected - is always displayed on the corresponding graphic. In addition, the driver can now, for the first time, adapt the colour world of the displays on the centre - and the multifunctional instrument to his or her driving style and individual mood. Two modes are available for the graphic displays. In “Lounge” mode, a relaxing colour world between turquoise and petrol is called up.

Coscharis Motors Announces Easter Special Oﬀer

oscharis Motors Plc has announced exclusive offers for its range of auto products for the entire period of Easter. These offers range from favourable pricing, giveaways, complementary insurance, registration and services. In his words, the General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde, “existing customers and new customers now have the opportunity to drive away either the Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, Ford or Renault variants with ad-on during this Easter period. This is another way of appreciating our numerous loyal customers who have been consistent with their patronage over the years to enjoy this special offerings to celebrate the Easter festive season. Also, as a way of cultivating new customers, we are equally extending this package to accommodate all our hot prospects alike to own any of our iconic brands with ease.” Price offers ranges from 5% upwards across the brands, every Renault (Kwid & Koleos) purchase comes with a free Abro generator while Jaguar Land Rover offers a complementary 5 years warranty and 5 years free service including special pricing for the Jaguar E Pace. It is important to note that these offers are only valid while stocks last. Major price slashes are offered for the Ford Escape, BMW

Jaguar X4, 4 and 3 series amongst others. According to Babarinde, the value for money that the Coscharis brand brings to the market at this point is the product mix that gives the opportunity to customers to own different products within the group for a lesser amount like getting an Abro generator with a vehicle purchase.

Coscharis Motors is the sole franchisee of Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, Ford and Renault brands in Nigeria and boasts of a wide dealership - sales and service network across the country with a well-trained and effective team. It currently stocks these brands across all the geo-political zones in Nigeria.

How to wash your car properly Regularly washing your car is one of the easiest things you can do to keep it looking great and mitigate the need for touch ups – many car-lovers will clean their vehicle once a week. Washing by hand is worth the eͿort as it is gentler on your car, as long as you use mild cleaning products and a brush, sponge or cloth that’s clean and soft. If you prefer to go to the car wash, just make sure that you use one that’s clean and well-maintained, and if they use brushes, check that they are in good condition. How waxing can improve your car’s exterior Waxing your car once or twice a year will help keep it in top condition. Wax keeps your car’s body nice and shiny and gives it a coat that will help protect the paint from the elements. Waxing will also help cover minor scratches and dents that would otherwise open your car up to rust damage, which could prove costly to correct in the future. The process is an easy one which should only take about half an hour, and you’ll appreciate the results! While you’re at it, you could apply some tyre shine to your wheels to get the rubber looking brand new once more. Don’t let your paint corrode As well as being unsightly and ruining the overall appearance of your car, bird droppings and other animal faeces are corrosive and can signiÀcantly impair your paintwork. Honeydew, the faeces of aphids, is equally as damaging, burning itself into paint if subject to direct sunlight. The longer you leave such excretions on your car, the more likely they are to do irreparable damage, so make sure you wash your car as soon as possible on noticing them. Rust-proof your car If you live either near the sea, in an area of high humidity, or your car is exposed to salt and grit on the roads in winter, it will be susceptible to rust. The dangerous thing about rust is that it can gradually build up, even in the smallest of nooks and crannies, without becoming noticeable until it is too late to do anything about it. This can damage your car’s bodywork or, in more serious cases, your engine – which is usually very di΀cult and expensive to repair. A simple application of a rust-proof agent on your car and its underchassis will protect your car and save you money down the road. Touch up small dents and chips The paint on your car’s bodywork not only serves to make it look more appealing, but also to protect it from rust, so whenever a chip in the paint occurs your car becomes vulnerable to corrosion. Painting over any small dents, scratches and chips in your vehicle’s paintwork will help to protect it from the detrimental eͿects of rust. The best option is to go to a garage and have a professional paint over the damage in order to achieve a seamless Ànish. However, for those looking to save money, you could buy some paint that is the closest possible colour match to your car, then sand down and paint over the damage yourself. Even an amateur job would be better than leaving it to rust, which would prove more costly to rectify in the future. Overall, consistently caring for your car will beneÀt you massively in the long run, saving you money and retaining the car’s value over time. (Source: Munster Tyres)

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27,2021

AUTO WORLD

Newton Jibunoh Partners CFAO Motors as Suzuki Brand Ambassador

ewton Jibunoh, regarded in Nigeria as a crusader on desert encroachment, was recently endorsed as the Suzuki brand ambassador in Nigeria. Interestingly, this is not the first time the “The Desert Warrior” and founder, Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE) was chosen as Suzuki brand ambassador. The Octogenarian has also remained as the Suzuki brand ambassador over the past 10 years ago. Details of the deal between Newton Jibunoh and CFAO, franchise owners of Suzuki brand in Nigeria indicate that, the duration of the project will elapse by this period next year. Responding to questions from automotive journalists in Lagos shortly after the deal about his new role was announced, the one-time chairman of Costain West Africa plc and recipient of many awards over the years said that, his affectionate relationship and emotional attachment with Suzuki spans over 30 years. “I still drive Suzuki cars so I don’t think I ever stopped being a brand ambassador. I truly believe in the brand and have personally experienced its value. However, I must say that it is a good thing to be able to officially stand for them in this capacity. I certainly feel honoured about the recognition and encouraged by their commitment to providing quality cars and aftersales service,” he stated. Dr. Jibunoh also told journalists that his new role was an opportunity to share his desert stories with Suzuki and the many things that can be done for the environment with this platform. On some of the most difficult challenges facing him as Suzuki brand ambassador over the years, he had this to say, “Well, for one, I am trying to convince

Jibunoh... Suzuki Brand Ambassador Suzuki that they have the brand most suitable for the environment i.e nature (laughs). Very little so far. Maybe ask me this question in a year. At over 80, he shared the testimonials that has sustained till date. In his submission, ‘’the secret to my agility is my relationship with nature. Nature cares for those that care

back for it. I take long walks to appreciate its beauty; I try to eat only organic food and also, I listen to my body and understand it.” Sharing his perspective of Nigeria’s automotive industry, he opined that Nigeria needs more cars that can be adaptable to our environment particularly due to the exceptionally rough terrain, dotted with potholes and

flood-prone areas. This is where Suzuki comes in, and he can attest to the vehicles being durable and suitable for the average Nigerian road. “If it could withstand the desert terrain with little to no issues, our potholes and floods is nothing to it. More brands need to replicate this,” said the ‘Desert Man.’ He also expressed concern over the high cost of vehicles which are beyond the reach of the middle class in the society, “There is also a need for cars to become more affordable in the country. I recently read that just about 2 percent of the population could afford to buy a new car. Jibunoh lamented that a lot of our cars are old and badly maintained, adding that, this was bad for the environment. He expressed dismay that, there was little that could be done without the right policies in place and political to implement them. ‘’I am however encouraged that Suzuki has established partnerships with leading Nigerian banks to provide suitable financing offers.” In a chat with newsmen on what informed the decision to sign Newton Jibunoh as brand ambassador for Suzuki, Aissatou Diouf, General Manager, CFAO Motors (Suzuki) disclose that, the Suzuki franchise was excited by Jibunoh’s exploits following his crossing the desert three times with Suzuki vehicles. He also has a few in his fleet and we believe he will be a credible ambassador because he trusts the products and can testify about them,” she added. Responding to the model of Suzuki vehicles chosen in this latest war against desertification project, the CFAO Motors (Suzuki) General Manager under whose tutelage that the Japanese brand is witnessing continued penetration said, the partnership will promote the brand, the full range of cars with a spotlight on the Vitara SUV since that is what he used to cross the desert.

BMW Expands Premium Segment with ALPINA B8 Gran Coupé Following the success of the BMW ALPINA B7 Sedan and XB7 Sports Activity Vehicle, ALPINA is expanding its offering in the premium segment with the new BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupé. It combines the highest levels of performance, dynamics and comfort in a bold and beautiful design. The new ALPINA B8 Gran Coupé is truly an exclusive automobile that appeals to all your senses. The 2022 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupé arrives in U.S. dealers in Late Spring 2021 and will have an MSRP of $139,900 plus $995 Destination. Power to spare: The 4.4-liter V8 engine with bi-turbo charging produces an impressive 612 hp. The maximum torque of 590 lb.-ft is available from just 2,000 rpm for power delivery at all times. Explosive driving performance: From a standing start, the BMW ALPINA B8 accelerates to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and reaches ¼ mile in just 11.5 seconds. The maximum speed is 201 mph. Tailored V8 sound: The specially developed ALPINA sport exhaust system is a stainless-steel wonder. Providing both visual and auditory delight, it is designed to reduce backpressure, and features

the bold, natural sound of a powerful V8 engine. The driver can influence the sound by switching between COMFORT and SPORT mode, which controls the active exhaust flaps. Fascinating dynamics, superior driving experience: The BMW ALPINA B8’s chassis and suspension set-up is harmoniously balanced, combining superior long-distance travel comfort with precise handling characteristics. The adaptive dampers provide for a wide range of driving experiences, ranging from COMFORT+ to SPORT+. Precision design: The B8 Gran Coupé’s appearance is distinguished by elegant lines that masterfully emphasize the vehicle’s flowing silhouette. The athletic character is further emphasized by the ALPINA aerodynamic components. The ALPINA CLASSIC 21-inch forged wheels with their minimalistic 20 spoke design are an unmistakable, exclusive ALPINA identifier. Look, touch, and feel: The interior design reflects the luxurious comfort of the BMW ALPINA B8 in every detail. High-quality materials, an extensive range of standard equipment and exclusive ALPINA details contribute to an exquisite interior.

The new BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupé

Beware of Drowsy Driving Have you ever driven fatigued? Or have you been caught sleep- driving or falling asleep behind the wheels? I need you to sincerely answer these questions as falling asleep on the wheels is becoming a great concern to authorities. If you don’t know, driving drowsy is impaired driving. Driving drowsy is as dangerous as driving and phoning or driving under the influence. On several occasions, we have rescued drivers who crashed because they slept off the steering while on motion. There are cases where the crash occurred at night and cases where it was normal day time driving. Also pronounced are crashes involving night life crooners who, like multitasking freaks boast of their capacities and abilities to drive even after taking a bottle too many. This write up is not about drink- driving but about drivers who drive fatigued or drowsy. I remember vividly the case of a friend of mine who almost lost his life along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja road some years ago. According to his story, he left Enugu after attending a social function and stopped over a pharmacist to get cough syrup which he took before embarking on the journey. After a few hours of driving, he dozed off and lost control. He was lucky that the vehicle didn’t veer too far away from the highway because he was driving at what we call common sense speed. He was also lucky that the damage on the car was minor and that there were no injuries sustained. Some others have not been that lucky. Some have ended up with serious life threatening injuries while some lost their life in the process. Available records rarely reveal the state of the driver before the crash; whether he was fatigued or not.

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

In some other climes there exist some appropriate structures and technology to capture this, if not all. Allow me again to share this material which reveals that drowsy driving is impaired driving. According to the National Sleep Foundation in the United States of America, about half of adult drivers admit to consistently getting behind the wheel while feeling drowsy. About twenty percent admit falling asleep behind the wheel at some point in the past year while more than forty percent admit that this has happened at least once in their driving careers. These startling figures show how prevalent drowsy driving is. What drivers may not realize is how much drowsy driving puts themselves and other road users at risk. In fact, an estimated 5,000 people died in 2015 in crashes involving drowsy driving, according to a report in the United States of America. Now that the Federal Road Safety Corps has set up Station Offices across the country, I am confident that our record in this direction will henceforth get better. I pray that victims will be bold

to say the truth instead of concealing the reasons behind the crash. Driving while drowsy, like I stated earlier is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. I am sure that some drinking freaks would carpet me for this, especially the real drinkers. Before they drag me to the slaughter slab, I need them to know that a drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to sustain attention all worsen the drowsier the driver is. The report further states that driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08percent which is the U.S. legal limit while Nigeria’s is 0.5gms or 0.05percent of blood alcohol concentration(BAC). As a driver, you should know that you are three times more likely to be in a car crash if you are fatigued. This is why our National Road Traffic Regulations,2012 recommends a fifteen minutes’ rest after four hours of driving. I know that some drivers comply with this rule. The irony however, is that instead of truly resting for fifteen minutes, they indulge in the habit that worsens the state of drowsiness. It is common to see these drivers while resting, order for a bottle or two of alcoholic beverages to ‘clear their sight or vision’ The strange thing about driving fatigued is that a driver might not even know when he or she is fatigued because signs of fatigue are hard to identify. Some people may also experience micro sleep – short, involuntary periods of inattention. In the 4 or 5 seconds a driver experiences micro-sleep, at highway speed, the vehicle will travel the length of a football field. I told you that our records are being fine-tuned to enable us to properly capture these

incidents. Despite the difficulty in determining whether a driver was drowsy as at the time of a crash, the case in the United States of America will shock you. Their data reveals that there is prevalence of drowsy driving crashes. The available data reveals that every year, there are about one hundred thousand reported crashes involving drowsy driving. These crashes result in more than 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries. The real number, the report however notes, may be much higher. However, it is difficult to determine whether a driver was drowsy at the time of a crash in some cases. Meanwhile, a study conducted by the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that 320,000 drowsy driving crashes occur annually. This figure is more than three times the reported number. The same study found that 109,000 of those drowsy driving crashes resulted in an injury and about 6,400 were fatal. The researchers suggest the prevalence of drowsy driving fatalities is more than 350percent greater than reported. Beyond the human toll caused by drowsy driving, there is also is the economic one. They estimate that fatigue-related crashes resulting in injury or death cost the American society about $109 billion annually, not including property damage. I couldn’t have the figure for our clime although globally, it is said that countries lose about three percent of their annual Gross Domestic Product through crashes. What then are the signs and symptoms of drowsy driving? The following are signs and symptoms of drowsy driving. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine frequent yawning or difficulty keeping your eyes open is one of the signs while nodding off or having trouble keeping your head up is another.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ MARCH 27, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

A Breath of New Life at OOUTH

Femi Ezekiel

week after he took over the mantle of leadership as the fifth democratically elected Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun paid an unscheduled visit to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, and had expressed shock at what he described as “the deplorable condition” of the state-owned health institution. As it was then, when the current administration came on board on May 29, 2019, the institution seemed to have become a shadow of its self and almost a death trap. The sorry state of the decrepit structures, obsolete and non-functional equipment, and offensive odour emitting from the mortuary, due to lack of maintenance, spoke volumes about the several years of neglect it suffered. Lack of funding, inadequate training and poor remunerations for the medical personnel also accounted largely for the sharp decline. The unsavoury development, to a large extent, adversely affected the morale of the personnel who had relapsed into a slough of despondency, culminating in brain-drain of capable hands abroad in search of greener pastures.Apart from the poor pay, the quality of life of the medical workers and of their family members was nothing to write home about. The bulk of the blame could be laid at the doorstep of the previous administration which had paid lip service to the welfare of the staff and for not being able to fill vacant positions, on account of increass ing wage bill and absence of subventions. Though staff wages were paid regularly, it was regrettable that the poor funding of the institution was identified as the major problem, because the capital budget that should have been released to upgrade the facilities was not forthcoming. The entire rot was caused by a systemic failure. While taking cognisance of the dream of the founding fathers of the institution towards providing excellent healthcare to the people, with strong emphasis on emergency services with modern equipp ment,Abiodun, when he visited the OOUTH, Sagamu, on Sunday, June 9, 2019, had expressed disappointment and displeasure over its deplorable state. He said, the hospital was unfit to churn out qualified and compee tent medical personnel, considering the institution’s poor condition and that it required urgent attention.According to him, “This new administration attaches high importance to the health sector and we cannot fold our arms, while the only teaching hospital in the state continues to degenerate. “I don’t see how this place can produce good doctors; we shall go back to the drawing board. This place is sub-standard. This hospital is in a depressing state. We shall improve the facilities and work on the personnel. I am putting up a team that will swing into action as soon as I get the final report from the Chief Medical Director (CMD)

of the institution and we shall restore the lost glory of this hospital.” During the inauguration of the committee, the governor charged members to assess the operational modalities of the hospital and to suggest ways on how to improve the standard, in line with acceptt able universal standard for medical training, research and tertiary healthcare services.Also, he charged the committee to determine the state of facilities of the various units and departments and make recommendations to the state on the steps necessary to ensure sustainable operations in the institution and determine quick wins and palliative actions to stem further degeneration of the institution and facilities. Other terms included reviewing all Third Party arrangements in the institution, including the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) agreement and other services, providing arrangements and determine their level of compliance at the time of that engagement and with the efficacy, but more especially suitability for the intent of the state government; reviewing and recommending programmes and strategies to ensure that the operations of the hospital is self-sustaining and financially independent; as well as reviews that will be critical to the long-term sustainability of the image and productivity of the institution. Thus, it could be recalled that his visit to the 35-year-old instituu tion was informed by his earlier meeting with the health managee ment authority, following a report that he got about the deplorable condition of the hospital, being the only teaching hospital owned by the state government. However, the rest is now history, as the hospital is wearing a new look. The initialAdministrative nine-man committee, chaired by Dr Yemi Onabowale, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Reddington Hospital, Lagos, had a mandate to look into both the remote and immediate causes of the challenges facing the hospital and, in line with its interim recommendations, had submitted its report.And without delay, the governor had swiftly approved the immediate recruitment of well over 220 medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, nutritionists/dieticians, among others, to fill up all vacant positions. During a visit to ascertain the level of decay of the facilities at the hospital, it was discovered that wall at the entrance of the Daniel Akintonde Modular Theatre, which was inaugurated on Septemm ber 15, 1995, had caved in and was almost wide enough for reptiles to pass through. The brain CT scan, echo cardiography machine, MRI, mobile x-ray machines, peak flow meter, spirometry, dialysis machines, C-arm for orthopaedic cases, operating tables, among others were all dysfunctional. By and large, in the last one year, the current administration has changed the face of the hitherto sorry state of the institution. With the full implementation of the recommendations of the Onabowale’s committee, it was gathered that between September

and December 2020, the management of the institution got an app proval of the state government, through a newspaper advertisement, for the recruitment of 80 medical doctors, 50 nurses, 50 health att tendants, 12 consultants, 10 laboratory scientists, two physiotherapists, two dietitians/nutritionists, a score of clerical officers, accountants, messengers and other administrative officers to breathe life into the newly refurbished and equipped hospital. Similarly, the management is empowered to fill in vacant positions in the event that any of the medical staff leaves or resigns his or her appointment. Aside a donated eye centre and a stand-alone prostrate cancer care centre, being constructed by a business mogul, ChiefAdebutu Kensington and by Rotary Club District 911, respectively, the governn ment has not shirked its responsibilities in the provision of structural projects to enhance an efficient and effective healthcare service delivery. The first project undertaken was the painting of the hospital’s exterior walls in a bid to give the institution a facelift. The isolation ward has also received a boost, having been rebuilt to modern standard from a four-bed room to 18-bed room, including two-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU). There are four private rooms, six-bed room for male ward and another six-bed room for female ward have been built to add up to the existing ones. It is no longer news that two ventilators, four anaesthesia machines, a mobile x-ray, a dialysis machine and 28 modern-bed paediatrics have been procured for effective and efficient service delivery. The Ogun State Ministry of Health, on its part, is also not left out in the assigned task. It has embarked on the renovation of the dialysis units, the repair and servicing of the refrigerators and the expansion of the theatre rooms. Notwithstanding, the recent approval for the commencement of the refurbishing of the institution is a good step in the right direction. The expected turnaround of the hospital would include the refurbishing and renovation of the accident and emergency wards and replacement of beds and, as well, the painting of the in-and-out patient wards. While receiving the Chairman of the Governing Board of the instituu tion, Dr Kunle Hassan, in his Okemosan,Abeokuta office, a fortnight ago,Abiodun noted that the administration is committed towards digitizing the hospital’s records, so as to ensure that data capturing and management is made easy. He further charged the Governing Board to ensure that their report translated into a visible difference that could be segmented into immediate term objectives, visible immediate and visible medium term goals. According to him, “I have reassured the Board members, that they have the full support of this administration, so that they can achieve their set objectives. I can see that the board is determined to become more efficient and effective. It means that they would ensure that the hospital derives value from every kobo spent in that hospital,” the governor said. ––Ezekiel wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Cybersafe Foundation Unveils Programme to Empower Girls Olaoluwakitan Babatunde CyberSafe Foundation, Nigeria’s leading Non-Governmental organization focused on improving cyber safety particularly amongst the vulnerable, has recently announced the launch of a fellowship programme, CyberGirls. A statement from the foundation said that CyberGirls, a 1-year fellowship program was initiated to equip girls between the ages of 15 and 21 with globally sought-after cybersecurity skills, positioning them to start a career in cybersecurity and seize work opportunities within Nigeria and across the world. During the one-year fellowship, beneficiaries fi will be exposed to training in digital literacy, cybersecurity fundamentals, soft skills and career specifi ific paths in cybersecurity which will include Networking, Cyber and IT Security Audit, Incident

Analysis/Response, Penetration/Vulnerability Testing, Security Intelligence, Web Application Testing and Cloud security. CyberGirls fellows will also enjoy hands-on training experience, mentorship from female cybersecurity professionals, as well as internship opportunities and entry level job placements during the last 3 months of the fellowship. Confi n dence Staveley, Founder/Executive Director of Cyy berSafe Foundation, urges Nigerians in the public and private sectors as well as other Non- Governmental Organizations to collaborate and provide in-kind and in-cash support needed to ensure these girls have all they need to achieve the task ahead. She also invites prospective employers to support this initiative and signup as job placement partners for the purpose of providd ing paid internship or job placements for CyberGirls Fellows upon graduation from the fellowship.

“We are calling on individuals and organizations across all secc tors to partner with us on this great initiative that aims at improvv ing the socio-economic well-being of girls living in underserved communities in Nigeria. Investing in these girls and empowering them with globally sought-after cybersecurity skills will lift them and their families from poverty, contribute to combating cyberr crime, address gender disparity and skills gaps in cybersecurity, and fight youth unemployment/underemployment. “To enable us to actualize this project, your in-kind support and partnership will go a long way in changing the lives of our beneficiaries fi and their families for years to come.” Staveley explained The pilot cohort is set to commence training in May 2021 and will feature a total of 120 girls as beneficiaries; fi with 20 girls per state to join the fellowship in Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi and Oyo state.

t 5*++"/*::" *4-".*$ .07&.&/5 4 -&"%&34)*1 5644-& #0*-4 07&3 t Continued from Page 5 Onhispart,SheikhNiasssaidhehadcome to formally introduce himself as the new leader to the government and people of Nigeria. He prayed for peace, unity and the greatness of Nigeria. Presidency: SecessionAgitators are Sponsored Bullies, Charlatans Meanwhile,thePresidencyyesterdayhit back at secession agitators, declaring that nobodycouldbringdownthegovernment of President Muhammadu Buhari. SeniorSpecialAssistanttothePresident onMediaandPublicity,GarbaShehu,who spoke on a television interview, described the secession agitators as “charlatans” sponsored to bully the President thinking he would cower or panic. He maintained that the Buhari regime would not be kicked out of power by any group through blackmail. The Presidential spokesman stressed thattheBuhariregimewasdemocratically elected.It,therefore,advisedpower-grabbers towaitfortwomoreyearstotakeoverpower

in 2023 through the ballot boxes. Shehu said: “I want to assure Nigerians that the administration of President Muu hammadu Buhari is addressing multiple challenges that are facing the country, especially in dealing with security, and yet wearestillmakingprogressinagriculture, economy, anti-corruption, which are the keypoliciesthatbroughtthepartyandthe government to office. “It is sad for the country that opposition isexploitingsomeofthesethings.Itisquite unfortunate and I want to assure that the president remains focused in preserving the security and unity of this country. “It is an established fact that all nations of the world face problems and what is expected of all well-meaning members of the society is that they should team up with the government so that together we will all fight criminality and insurgency and all that. “Weacceptthatdissentisallowed,thisis ademocracyandpeoplehavearighttotell truthtogovernmentbutwemustbecareful

indoingthat.Nobodycanbringdownthe government because this is a government elected democratically. “Government in a democracy come throughperiodicelectionsandifwehavea governmentinofficeaswehave,sponsored by political parties to win the elections, it is tellingyouthatthatconfidenceofthepublic is still there. “People with strong ambitions, wait till four years, in fact, in our case, two more yearstogotoelectionandPresidentBuhari will not be a candidate in that election.” Growingdisaffection,dissatisfactionand insecurity in the country had made some persons declare their support for Yoruba Nation and Biafra Republic. Yorubarightsactivist,SundayAdeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho; as well as the Chairman of socio-political group, the NigerianIndigenousNationalitiesAlliance forSelf-Determination,ProfBanjiAkintoye, andotherproponentsofself-determination had last week declared their allegiance for the Yoruba Nation.

A former militant in the Niger Delta region, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, had also recentlyannouncedhimselfastheleaderof thenewBiafradefactoCustomaryGovernn ment in the South-East. Baba-Ahmed: Presidency Has Run out of Ideas Spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who also spoke on the television programme, however, said nobody was interested in bringing down the Buhari government. HechastisedthePresidencyforlabelling criticsoftheBuhariregimeasenemiesand accusing them of trying to bring down the government. Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians want to live in a safe and secure country and that the President must protect the lives and propertiesofthecitizens,addingthatBuhari mustlistentothegrievancesofsecessionists. Baba-Ahmed said the manner Shehu spoke depressed him and also think the presidency has run out of ideas. The NEF spokesman added that Nigee

rians want an end to the kidnappings, not excuses.“Hearinghimspeakinthismanner, I’mmoredepressedthanIwaswhenIcame intothisstudio.Thisishowthespokesperson of the president will respond; just telling peoplearrestsarebeingmade?Wedon’tsee anybodybeingarrested.Iftheyarearrested, why are they not being prosecuted? Yes, he’s right, banditry and kidnapping has become an industry,” he said. “Thisthinghasgrownintoabigindustry rightunderthenoseofthepresident.There’s nowayyoucandeflectattentionfromthis. Howdoyouexplainthegrownsophisticaa tion of the criminals in this country? “Youcanonlydothatbyacknowledging the failure of the government to secure its citizens. Listening to Garba, to be honest, I just think that the presidency has run out of ideas. “When they’re confronted with a very seriouschallenge,theygoaroundlookingfor allsortsofdiversionsandexcuses.Nigerians don’t want to hear any of this. We want a stop to the kidnappings.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27,2021

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

Colgate Preaches Oral Hygiene Practice on World Oral Health Day

L-R: Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Tolulope Adedeji; Creative Entrepreneur, Obi Asika; Veteran Nollywood Actor, Nkem Owoh; and Marketing Manager, Hero, Margaret Igabali, at The Hero’s Walk Premiere h in Lagos… recently

Trophy Unveils Tallest Beer Bottle in Lagos International Brewery Áagship brand, Trophy has unveiled the tallest beer bottle to the delight of it customers. The bottle was unveiled at Ikeja City mall in Lagos amid fun and fanfare. According to the organisation, the beer bottle stood at a height of 14 metres (45.9FT) and 3.8 metres (12.5 FT) in diameter. Marketing Director of International Breweries Plc, Tolulope Adedeji, described the period in which the bottle was unveiled

as a momentous time in history. He said, “Today, we are unveiling Nigeria’s tallest beer bottle to commemorate our number one position in Nigeria, and considering that this feat would not have been possible without the support and patronage of our loyal consumers, it is also an opportunity for us to acknowledge and celebrate them through our unique waa gbayi experience. “As the Áagship product of International

Breweries Plc, a proud part of AB InBev (the world’s largest brewers with more than 400 beer brands), Trophy has consistently sets the pace when it comes to recognising and rewarding consumers, going one-step further to tag them “Honourable”. According to Marketing Manager of Trophy, Bamise Oyegbami, the brand is unique is many ways and represents the qualities of hard work, ambition, integrity and camaraderie.

IIM Africa Holds 28th Conference, Inducts Ilesanmi, Others The Institute of Information Management (IIM) Africa held its 28th Annual Conference and Induction Ceremony on Saturday, March 20 in Lagos as new Fellows and members joined its fold. Welcoming everyone to the event, Ambassador (Dr.) Oyedokun Oyewole, the President and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Institute said, “First and foremost, we must remind ourselves that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a human tragedy. Almost 110 million people have been sickened by the virus, over 2.4 million have died, and millions of livelihoods have been destroyed.” Oyewole added that much now depends on the outcome of the race between the changing virus and the vaccines to end its spread as well as the ability of policies to provide effective support until that happens. In his words, “Data and Information outlooks are an essential component of our organisations’ work. Comprehensive, accurate and fact-based analysis is crucial in supporting policy-makers

in taking informed decisions, especially in the current circumstances.” Presenting the annual scorecard of the Institute, the President and Chairman of the Executive Council said in the last one year, the Institute has engaged in collaboration with different entities in enhancing the frontiers of data and information management in the society. According to Oyewole, “Prominent among such include the signing of an MoU with the NiNAS and collaboration with the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR). Year 2020 also witnessed the execution of the IIM National Digital Transformation Awareness Campaign.” He explained that the Institute initiated the National Digital Transformation Awareness Campaign which was conducted at different Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria as part of the drive towards promoting excellence, that is. standards, competence and certification in data and information management in the society. “The initiative was a follow-up to the directive

issued by the Head of Service of the Federation in June 2020 directing MDAs to begin automation and digitisation of files and records,” Oyewole said at the event that had Dr Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, former Minister of Communications as the Special Guest of Honour and Mr Bharat Soni, Group CISO/DPO, Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria as the Keynote Speaker/Special Guest. He added that the 2021 annual conference with the theme: “Identity Management and Data Protection Regulation: Risk, Responsibility and Compliance in ‘Circles of Data Governance” was timely as it came at a time when Nigeria’s digital identity goal is being reinforced by the World Bank, which is funding the Nigeria Digital Identity for Development Project with about $115 million. Oyewole said the $115 million is part of a portfolio of six projects in all, totalling $430 million, aimed at empowering the country’s citizens, especially marginalised groups, to allow them access welfare-enhancing services.

Power Oil Takes Health Campaign to Campuses Vegetable oil brand, Power Oil has extended its Àtness advocacy campaign to schools in order to spread the message of healthy living to the youth population. The exercise themed, “Power Oil – No More Excuses, Let’s Walk” was implemented in ten universities across Nigeria. At the programme, student were led on an early morning aerobic exercise by certiÀed Àtness trainers, followed by a 30-minute fun walk spiced up with interesting dance moves, after which they returned for more exciting engagement activities with the brand. Thereafter, the students were oͿered an opportunity to participate in Àtness focused games, workout session to burn calories and were rewarded based on the number of calories they were able to burn on the spot. Free medical check-ups were also made available.

Speaking, Brand Manager of Power Oil, Miss. Prerna Pathre stated that the the programme was strategically designed to promote a healthy lifestyle as well as remind Nigerian youths of the beneÀts of a daily Àtness routine. She added that the initiative aimed to encourage Nigerians to walk for at least 30 minutes every day for them to keep Àt and remain healthy. She said,”This is the Àrst-time that we are taking the Àtness project to the Nigerian university campuses and we are in awe at the level of turn out and participation by the students. This demonstrates that our message for attitude change towards Àtness in Nigeria is generating an impact. “Power Oil strongly believes that irrespective of your age group, good health should be uncompromisable which is why at every of the brand activity, medical doctors are always

available to enlighten on the dangers associated with the consumption of unbranded cooking oil”. The campus tour created an exciting way for the brand to cater for health of the students in a fun, relaxing and rewarding manner, while also educating them on the importance of sustaining a good heart health right from young age. The tour is planned to run for 5 weeks from 2nd week in March till 2nd week in April 2021. The activation started oͿ at the main campus of the Federal University of Technology Akure, University of Benin, University of Abuja and University of Calabar in the Àrst week. More campuses to be visited in coming weeks included: University of Nigeria, Nnsuka, University of Port-Harcourt, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, University of Ibadan and University of Lagos.

Toothpaste brand, Colgate has urged all to cultivate healthy oral practice to prevent dental cavities and other oral diseases. The firm while marking this year’s World Oral Health Day, WOHD, also restated its commitment to promoting campaign and activities that will educate people on why and how to keep the oral health. In marking the day, Colgate partnered with Nigerian Association of Dental Students Association(NADS) and the Nigerian Medical Students Association(NMSA) in reaching out to persons in rural communities across 31 states. At each location, the firm along with partner associations engaged community dwellers with sensitization walk as they combed densely populated areas around activation points including markets and residentials. Members of the community were enlightened on how to prevent dental cavities and the importance of ensuring a good oral hygiene practice.They were later checked at the Dental Checkup stand by licensed and certified dentist. In Abuja, the team visited Paiko community in Gwagwalada, engaging families, market women, children and conducted household calls to preach the message of adopting a good oral care habit in line with the theme of 2021 WOHD, “Be Proud of your Mouth”. Chief Executive Officer of Colgate Palmolive Tolaram, Mr. Girish Sharma, noted that this year’s WOHD campaign was apt in that it holds the potential to transform the lives of many across the nation. He stated that the company’s partnership with NADS and NMSA further strengthened the impact of the exercise, in that it facilitated the possibility of simultaneously combing through the nooks and crannies of over 44 communities across 31 states. He added, “The target population reach for this exercise is over 18,000 for both adult and children, this is in line with Colgate’s 2021 goal of touching more than 2million people through its Free Dental checkup camps present in 9 states across Nigeria.

UNICAL to Honour Innoson Chairman, Chukwuma with Doctorate Degree Today Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, the founder and Chairman of Africa’s Àrst indigenous auto manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), Nnewi, will today be conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Calabar (UNICAL). The foremost entrepreneur, who is also the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, will receive an honorary doctorate degree in Business Management, honoris causa. The ceremony scheduled to hold at the university’s Abraham Ordia stadium, will be one of the highpoints of this year’s (34th)` convocation for the award of diplomas, Àrst degrees and higher degrees. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, disclosed this in Calabar at a news conference where she described Chief Chukwuma as an entrepreneur of high repute who would be honoured in recognition of his outstanding contributions to national development. Prof. Obi disclosed that Chief Chukwuma would be honoured alongside another industrialist, Dr. Kamoru Ibitonye “We shall be honouring two distinguished Nigerian industrialists: Chukwuma and Ibitonye. They both will be conferred with Honorary Doctorate Causa of Business Management. “We are honouring them for their contributions to national development as employers of labour,” she said. An astute investor, Chukwuma has at diͿerent times been honoured locally and abroad by various institutions, chambers of commerce, professional bodies and media organisations, for his remarkable strides in the industrial sector. Always coming up for commendation was his ability to transit from a motorcycle parts trader to the assembler of a range of competitively priced motorcycles that became so aͿordable they chased imported second-hand ^tokunbo`bikes out of the Nigeria market. It was this feat in the motorcycle industry that inspired Innoson’s bold venture into the manufacturing of bus and pick-up models, passenger cars, SUVs and other types of vehicles in Nnewi, culminating in the commissioning of the IVM plant by the then President Goodluck Jonathan, in 2010. The UNICAL Vice Chancellor further said that 4,955 graduands would be convoking during the 34th convocation which featured a lecture yesterday. According to her, 22 of the graduands have Àrst class degree; 1073, second class upper degrees, while 2,763 will graduated with second class lower degrees and 547 with third class degrees. Prof. Obi listed other categories of graduands as those that had Diplomas, Post Graduate Diplomas, Master’s degrees and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Chief Innocent Chukwuma degrees.

˜ ˾ MARCH 27, 2021

JOE/FAJ

THEFRONTLINES

ApapaGridlock::Sanwaolu,WhatHasChanged?

JOSEPH USHIGIALE

ecently when Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwaolu declared triumphantly that he and his team have put in place new measures to end the perennial Apapa traffi ffic jam that is costing the economy millions of dollars daily, I was quite skeptical at the cheery news. It was not because I doubted his sincerity of purpose, no that was out of the question because he has no reason to play to the gallery with such an issue that would bring him huge applause from near and far. It will equally usher in huge relief to business owners, transporters and workers and home owners in Apapa and who have been at the receiving end of the grueling traffic snarls for over two decades now. My skepticism was borne out of pity for the governor who apparently was not quite aware of the deep rooted corruption inherent in the Apapa traffic gridlock and the resolve by those fueling it never to let go or at best not go down without a fight. The governor acknowledged this much when he said “We have taken some troublesome people that are benefiting from the gridlock out of the way. Whatever they were earning illegally has been taken away from them. We know they will want to make an attempt to fight back. We will not stop at anything to ensure that anybody that tries to retract the progress or wants to take us back to gridlock in Apapa will be fought against. We will bring out their names and shame them”. Sanwaolu’s latest efforts is not the first in this direction. This can be seen from the countless number of task forces inauguu rated right from the past administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo up to the present administration where it appears things have moved from bad to worst. Apapa has never had it so bad. My doubts were confirmed especially last Thursday when while commuting into Apapa the journey suddenly came a complete halt. I left home at 9 am driving through Funso Williams Avenue and turning right through the ramp as I was descending to Ijora Badia, I sighted a pile of trucks right ahead of me. Then the ordeal began. The struggle for right of way comm menced on just one lane because the other lane had already been taken over by trucks that were permanently parked there. At that time, you could see some drivers and motor boys or conductors either having their bathes under the trucks, some chewing stick, others drinking tea and all sorts of activities going on all at the same time all indicating that they spent the night there. Meanwhile, as you crawl through the ramp to join the main road leading to Apapa ports, the ramp keeps rocking periodically with shivers running down your spine as you keep imagining what could happen if the ramp collapses. These

Sanwo-OIu roads in Apapa with the loads they bear are a disaster waiting to happen if something urgent is not done to stop the cabal that is creating this traffic snarls to line their pockets. In my precious report, I had indicated that this is a well organised racket undertaken by all the security agencies with men and women in the task force. Today, they have devised ways of making their collections using some fronts in mufti who immediately approach and oncoming truck from the driver’s side, collect the money and gives a sign for them to allow the truck that has paid to move on. There are primarily five checkpoints used for bribery coll lections. The first one is mounted by Ijora Badia close to some bonded warehouses. The next one is immediately you join the main route from Lagos heading to the point immediately after there the main one by Lily Pond Warehouse. This is the most notorious checkpoint that causes the mother of all traffic snarls. After this checkpoint, all the trucks are unleashed to the next intersection at the ramp leading to Malu road. From this point, the road is block completely right up to Airways where there is yet another checkpoint for extortion, after that there one again by UBA branch and yet another at Eleganza roundabout before the port itself. Is it a loss battle, not at all. Indeed something can be done to beat these official criminals at their game. Recall that following the withdrawal of the Presidential Task Force on port congestion, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, set up a Special Traffic Management Team to resolve the traffic gridlock in and around the Apapa corridor.

My Point: Matters Miscellaneous

ive weeks ago, in this column, we somehow diarised our thoughts and engagements on social media platforms, after our New Year resolution to “frequently engage a more voluble and responsive audience of friends, colleagues, ‘followers’, and others.” We have since upped our interventions in a number of posts that articulates our thoughts on imporr tant matters. This second outing of ‘My Point’ warehouses sundry hot-button topics which provoked diverse reactions. Here we go... “News: Nigerians and the media must stop addressing bandits as criminals, but should learn to address them with nice words - Sheik Gumi on Politics Today, Channels TV My Point: Hello, Sheik... here’s the meaning of ‘bandit’, just in case...: “a robber or outlaw belonging to a gang and typically operating in an isolated or lawless area.” So, the fellows you’ve been cavorting with, and negotiating or preaching to, aren’t nice folks... They shouldn’t be addressed with nice words...but hot bullets. He who lives by the sword, profits fi from pain, blood and sorrow, shall doubtless meet same or worse comeuppance. Meanwhile...are you on the way to Zamfara, as we speak? Or is it Niger...? I have headache, sef... Nigeeeeria! “Why would Dangote build a brand new refi efinery (in Lagos) within fi five years, and a whole Nigeria cannot build two, or simply refurbish four available refineries fi in over 20 years? And later we’ll start crying about local monopoly... floating #EndDangoteOil protests. Who swore for us? [And then we came up with renovating the one in Port Harcourt with $1.5b... nagode!) “Apparently, the bandits are in tandem with Boko Haram... they sack schools so that the pursuit of education will be suicidal for the Northern youth! No book...no progress. Check the pattern very well... apart from the fact that the big dirty multi-billion business abductions have now become. And they say Bandits are freedom fighters, who really are gentle misunderstood former criminals... Too many so-called leaders masquerading as illiterate jesters...were it not a deadly situation. “News: Shoot anyone with Ak-47 in the bushes, Buhari tells security agents My Point: It’s great that you have woken to face the danger that stares at us every minute of the past fi five years... Better late by three years than never. But to give an order to “shoot anyone

carrying AK-47” inside our forests is ‘somehow’ (scratching my head). We know our security people - “na go dem hear... dem no dey hear come”, as we say on the streets. Most times, they deploy enforcement with complete absence of restraint or reasonable force. Have we made assurances doubly sure that the innocent herdsman (not the evil forest kidnapper) swaddling his AK-47, ‘dashed’ him by his sponsor, has been well informed that what he thought was a weapon against rustlers is now his mobile death sentence? Can we differentiate between the ignorant herder and the hardened kidnapper-herder... If anyone is seen with an AK-47 (and we assume, any other forms of munitions), shouldn’t they be given the opportunity to disarm or surrender? To merely shoot (to kill?) suspected criminals without ascertaining if lives of our security people are endangered, or the suspects are unwilling to engage, is another level of carnage - state sanctioned murder. Every idiot deserves a redeeming opportunity - apart from sworn enemy combatants like Boko Haram insurgents, who have chosen to wage war against their country. fight crime... there’s a Methinks, we shouldn’t use crime to fi place called ICC...the Hague ‘villa’ down the road! “On the same night that two Nigerians won Grammy awards (well one individual, the other a collective), what insensate Channels TV (News @ 10) gave us was the same fare of killings, kidnappings and all the dreary horrible stuff, as usual. The news of the hour eventually came at nearly 50 minutes after the news started... as part of the Entertainment News! On a Sunday for that matter. Hogwash! Backward people! I hope other stations showed more sense, and balanced judgement. Thank you my friend, Muyiwa Akintunde, for pointing this out. Why are we strung up on bad news, and jaundiced over any good stuff? Is the unusual not part of the news element? Next excuse, please... Opposite People! Congratulations, Burna Boy...and WhizKid. “I’ve been out of circulation for some time, so I’ve missed some news; but these extracts (below) gave me great pleasure while scrolling down my news stuff. Never thought I’d read such from a Nigerian high offi fficial: ‘Dear Nigerians, you are by now very aware of the news trending that the federal govt has increased the price of petrol to N212.6 per liter... Irrespective of the source of that information, I want to assure you that it is

jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com 08023422660 (sms only)

Among other things, the Electronic Truck call-up system, Eto, which was designed and launched by NPA for the management of truck movement and access to and from the Lagos ports and to end the gridlock in and around the ports, formally took off recently. During the implementation of the new system, all trucks doo ing business at the ports will be required to park at the approved truck parks until they are called up into the port through the Eto app. So how come the whole road was at a standstill? If some bad eggs have been removed as the governor had indicated, where are these new bad eggs coming from? It appears the government failed to factor in a key element which has led to the abuse by all the previous task forces and given room for racketeering. That missing key element is surveillance and monitoring the task force. How do you know the trucks are in designated parking lots, how do you monitor a vehicle that has been called up and how do you know the system is not being abused for their selfish gains by the same people appointed to drive the system? Are all the trucks that block the entry to Apapa daily on call up? If they are not, who then is calling them up and what measure is in place to punish such offenders both the drivers and task force officials? The government and NPA and other stakeholders must return to the drawing board and fashion new ways of closing that gap. The sure way out is to acquire and deploy drones with the capacity of monitoring the movement of trucks from the parking lots to the port of entries; monitor every single daily activities of the task force and also the traffic situation in real time. For instance, with a drone, you can know at the control centre where there is traffic build up at any particular point and query whoever is many that area. You can intercept prowling trucks that are not called up and are looking to breach the system including providing surveillance on unscrupulous task force officials who create bottlenecks and block the road to create gridlock for them to extort money from trucks. So far it is not a bad effort after all, in the first few days when the system was inaugurated, commuting was seamless. It shows that they system is working and all stakeholders and people should support to make it work. In words of Sanwaolu, “Let us have a system that our citizens will be proud of. We will stop at nothing to sustain the progress achieved. Our team will be working round the clock to keep the system working. This is one of our modest efforts to deliver what we promised in solving traffic and transportation chall lenges. We will not relent in doing anything required to ensure traffic improvement in Apapa.”

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDEE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

completely untrue... In conclusion, I want to sincerely apologise to all Nigerians for any distress and inconvenience, the unfortunate information might have caused. Thank you, Timipre Sylva’. If this is true (you never know with the Fake News industry), then a hearty thank you to Timipre, and his colleagues, for restating our humanity...in such simple matters as courtesies and prompt clarity. Excellent intervention. “News: Military will soon crush bandits, kidnappers in North West - Air Force Chief My Point: Bros, don’t give us gist...we don’t want “we go, we go”. Just do it and tell us later. O ya, go and crush them. Thank you. “This popular terrorism amongst Yoruba’s so-called “freedom fighters” should stop...before they lose their way irretrievably. What is funky in abusing and threatening your elders and traditional rulers because they don’t get your point? Is this how you want to rule when you get your Oduduwa Republic? Governance by youthful harassment and terrorism? Consensus by force of brutish might, not logic? Woes and pestilence for opposing views? Abeg stop this nonsense before you climb the tree beyond the leaves... Apologies won’t cut it, anymore. “News: APC plans to be in power for another 32 years - Buni My Point: Politicians are so poor students of history! They never learn. Was it not PDP chair, Vincent Ogbulafor who boasted in 2014 that his party, confi nfident of dusting the battle-weary GMB again at the 2015 polls, would rule for another 60 years? Six months after, they were picking their tongues on the floor, after a dramatic and unimaginable drubbing at the polls. Now, as if in echo chamber, another party chair (though interim), has begun huffi ffing and pufffing about ruling for decades (at least, eight terms), when he cannot guarantee seeing tomorrow! Is genuine solicitation for power that predictable and certain? Or this verbal diarrhoea is peculiar to Nigerian politicians? And they really don’t mean what they say - just puff and purr?”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ, 2021

SPORTS XTRA

Only a Win against Benin can Redeem Nigeria’s Image, Says Ndidi Wilfred Ndidi has said that the two draws that the Super Eagles played against Sierra Leone last November should serve as a reminder that that they cannot afford to be complacent when they battle the Republic of Benin today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Leicester City midfielder escaped the wrath of the fans and the media after the game against Sierra Leone because he was not available for selection as he was recovering from injury. It is common knowledge that Ndidi is certain to start against the Squirrels tomorrow in what

would be his first appearance for the national team since going the distance vs Lesotho on matchday two. In an interview with Channels Television, Ndidi said: “From the previous games, it wasn’t our best of games so it’s something that we have learnt

so much of it so we know what we have to do in this game, so I think it is one of those games that we have to actually give our everything. “Because of the expectation after not doing so well in the last games, it’s this kind of game that we have to redeem our image.

“We are really looking forward to the game and we will try and do our best and see what comes out of it”. Meanwhile, defender William Troost-Ekong is confident Nigeria can qualify for the African Cup of Nations finals so he can then return to Watford and concentrate on the task of securing automatic promotion. The defender is in the squad for games against Benin today and Lesotho on Tuesday, with the Super Eagles needing just one point to qualify from Group Land reach the showpiece event in Cameron next year. “We are top of the table and need one point to qualify as group winners,” said TroostEkong. “I’m sure we are going to do it. I’ve got lots of confidence in our team. We have a very good team and I’m looking forward to playing. I’m really

looking forward to the games and coming back having qualified for Nigeria. It’s massive for us.” Troost-Ekong will win his 40th cap if he is selected by Gernot Rohr and he hopes the games will be more straight forward than caps number 38 and 39. In their previous two fixtures, Nigeria raced into a four-goal lead after just 29 minutes against Sierra Leone only to blow it and draw the game. They then, in a complete reversal of fortunes, played out a goalless draw against the same opposition two weeks later. “Those games were a massive talking point,” said Troost-Ekong. “Drawing 4-4 after being 4-0 up is something unheard of and one of the strangest experiences of my career. I look at it as another experience in the bag.”

Ajayi, Aina Upbeat on Premiership Survival Wilfred Ndid

Squirrel’s Star Tests Positive for COVID-19 ahead of Eagles’ Clash The Fédération Béninoise de Football and coach Michel Dussuyer have been dealt a bad blow ahead of this evening’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Nigeria after it was confirmed that one of the 24 players invited for the fixture has tested positive for coronavirus. The French football tactician has handed a late call-up to Dragons FC de l’Ouémé’s center back Jean Ogouchi to replace the

player, whose identity is being kept under wraps. Dussuyer confirmed the news at the end of training at the Charles de Gaulle stadium in Porto-Novo on Thursday. Providing a fitness update on his squad, the Frenchman told BJ Foot : “My group is feeling good. We always remain vigilant with the Covid because we had a case in the workforce that was put in isolation

right away. “Otherwise the rest of the troop is fine. We did the tests this morning and we are awaiting the results this evening. The atmosphere is good, the work is good.” The Super Eagles players and officials had their mandatory COVID-19 tests done at the point of entry in Porto-Novo yesterday.

Awoniyi Backs Super Eagles to Pummel Benin Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi is putting his money on the Super Eagles to thrash Republic of Benin in today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Stade Charles de Gaulle. The 2013 U17 World Cup winner is backing Nigeria for success because of the talents at the disposal of manager Gernot Rohr. Awoniyi was in contention to be called up for this month’s games but became unavailable for selection after he picked up an injury whilst playing for his Bundesliga

club Union Berlin last month. Asked if Nigeria can win the upcoming games against Benin and Lesotho, Awoniyi answered : “I’ve always said it that with the talents we have in Nigeria, the players we have, the sky is just the starting point. “Personally I believe that we can achieve anything even winning the World Cup, everything is achievable if we are organized and well planned.

“For sure there will be a lot of goals in the game and we will win the game, it won’t be easy because no game is easy. “They will also come with force and everything but I believe we will win. It’s a game that we will win by a big margin, three to four goals in both games and I believe Nigeria will have the upper hand”. In 13 previous appearances against the Squirrels, three-time African champions Nigeria have scored three goals or more in only four matches.

Nigerian Football Needs a Business Master Plan, Says Dare

The Minister of Youth and Sports De- are legion, but should not deter us from by the effect of Covid-19, world football velopment, Sunday Dare, has affirmed our mission and vision of getting it right. governing body FIFA’s revenue projection “Despite economic stagnation created remains at $6.44 billion. that Nigerian football needs a business MasterPlaninordertocompete favourably with others in the world. Speaking on Friday at Ilaji Hotel Sports Resort , Akanran, Ibadan at the Football Business Forum, the Minister, stated “It is not a coincidence that stakeholders are gathered at the Ilaji Sports Resort to discuss a critical issue in Nigeria’s football odyssey. “When i visited Ilaji Sports Resort few weeks ago, I was enthralled by the magnitude of investment an individual has put into sports development and decided that the Ministry should hold the event here due to inherent lessons to be taken away about private public L- R PS FMYSD Nebolisa Anako, Chairpetson Women Football League Aisha Falode, Minister partnership. The problems militating of Youth and sports Chief Sunday Dare, Former DG, NSC, Malam Alhassan Yakmut at the against the development of our football Football stakeholders Business Forum at Ilaji Hotels and sports Resort on Friday

Nigeria defenders Semi Ajayi and Ola Aina are teaming up for the Super Eagles for the Cup of Nations qualifiers - but in the Premier League, they are relegation rivals at West Brom and Fulham. And with 10 games remaining in the season, the drama is increasing at the foot of the table. The Baggies, who have won just three wins all season, find themselves 10 points adrift of 17th place. “It’s not easy. We are desperate right now and we need points as soon as possible,” Ajayi told BBC Sport Africa. “I’d say everyone’s written us off but we definitely haven’t really written ourselves off.” Portsmouth and West Ham went on to secure Premier League survival from similar positions in 2006 and 2007 respectively, and Ajayi is hopeful 19th-placed West Brom can haul themselves out of trouble. “We are still fighting, we still haven’t given up,” he said. “We still have belief, we still have hope and it’s just about taking one game at a time. “Giving our maximum and we’ll see where that takes us. Hopefully that will keep us in the premier league but we definitely haven’t given up.” Fulham, with two points below Newcastle and three off Brighton, are the other promoted side in a battle to save their Premier League skin. The Cottagers appeared doomed early in the season but a recent revival gave them the opportunity to move out of the relegation zone for the first time since December. However, the 17th-placed side suffered home loss against Leeds in the last match before the break - their third defeat in four games.

Iheanacho Battle Kane, Mahrez for EPL Player of the Month Five goals in three top-flight appearances have earned Kelechi Iheanacho a place in the eight-man shortlist for the English Premier League Player of the Month for March 2021. The Nigeria international was productive offensively this month, scoring 62.5 percent of the goals netted by Leicester City in the Premier League and helping the King Power Stadium outfit register two wins and one draw. Iheanacho is up against Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (West Ham United), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Illan Meslier (Leeds United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United) and Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove) for the monthly accolade. The Foxes number 14 started the month with a crucial equaliser as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley and he followed that up by scoring another equaliser at Brighton, before netting his first Premier League hat-trick in a 5-0 rout of Sheffield United. Iheanacho will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jay-Jay Okocha, Peter Odemwingie and Odion Ighalo who have won the Premier League Player of the Month awards in the past. The votes from the public will be combined with those of the 20 club captains and a panel of football experts to decide the winner, who will be revealed next week. The Taye Academy product is currently on international duty with the Super Eagles before Leicester City’s next Premier League game against his former club Manchester City on April 3, 2021.

Saturday, March 27, 2021

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Hakeem Baba-Ahmed to Buhari “If I have an opportunity to speak with the president, I will say: ‘Sir, please wake up and smell the coﬀee, this country is falling apart. It is in very serious danger; it is going down under your watch. You swore in 2015 and again in 2019 that you will protect citizens, the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Sorry, sir, you are not doing that” – Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, chiding President Muhammadu Buhari’s style of government.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

President Buhari and His Prodigal Men

ellow Nigerians, here I go again with my lamentations over the reckless mismanagement of our very scarce resources by the Buhari administration. Many of my readers often ask me why I have continued to waste my precious time and energy criticising and advising a President and a leadership that is so patently impervious to qualitative leadership standards, logical reasoning and modern ways of governance. My usual response is simple and straightforward. When tomorrow comes, I won’t be surprised if President Muhammadu Buhari comes out, like his predecessors, to offer a cock and bull tale of how he was misled by his advisers, or that he was never aware that the situation was that critically bad, and such other semantics and rigmarole. In other words, I do not want to give him an easy escape route when he finally bows out of power, and the best I can do is to let the whole world read my selfless and energy-sapping epistles every Saturday. That way, at least some, if not all, of these personalities, namely Buhari, members of his immediate and extended families, kitchen cabinet and others must have stumbled on my patriotic interventions a few times, if not most of the times, and hopefully feel the need and necessity to do the needful. And if they do not, as the Government approaches its twilight, then we can hold them to account for frittering away opportunities and resources in the face of myriads of reasonable, patriotic admonition from people like me. As the Yoruba will say, “Eni a wi fun, Olorun Oba je o gbo” (That person we talk to and advice, we pray to God that he should listen and accept)! My reason and purpose are that I truly wish and want to give President Buhari the benefit of the doubt; that he may not truly be aware and cognisant of the happenings and occurrences around him for various reasons, such as old age, dementia, educational background, general obstinacy and raw ethnic and other jingoistic sentiments. There is fire on the mountain, and the roof is on fire and burning with bright, incandescent rage, but our President does not seem to see this and therefore continues to behave like someone who does not know, or simply does not care. There are also some unfortunate suggestions that most members of his team have no access to him, and that those that do meet with him, on the few privileged occasions that he deigns to favour them with his presence, can hardly have a decent conversation with him because his mind is brittle, febrile and elsewhere. In any event, even these “lucky” ones are no good, because they are too timorous, timid, always too scared and pathetically docile to paint the true picture of ugly events in Buhari’s Nigeria. When I had the privilege of sitting with the President in 2015 and engaging him in discussions briefly, soon after he attained power, I must confess that our meeting went quite well. The President seemed confident and assured. He was jovial but serious about what he believed needed to happen to turn Nigeria around from the drift and the shambolic charade that had been the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. I left the meeting thinking that maybe we got it right after all. However, not long after, and even in those early days, there were already some significant indications that Nigeria was heading in the wrong direction. I will neither bore you nor bother you about

Buhari

that. The two most important reasons Buhari was voted back to power soon became his weakest points. If we complained pre-2015, that the PDP government was profligate, it would be difficult to describe the APC government in words which would be more charitable than that. In this season of global pandemic and the ravages it has caused to economies worldwide, when all reasonable governments are expected to tighten their belts and manage resources very frugally, the APC apparatchiks have been on a binge, spending money as if it is going out of vogue. And what is worse is they’ve been spending it on the wrongest of things. Nothing best sums up the recklessness of the present Federal Government than the latest notion of wanting to spend $1.5billion on refurbishing the comatose Port Harcourt refinery, a refinery that has been on life support for so long, which has been allegedly undergoing periodic, but regular turn around maintenance at very huge costs to no avail. What makes the idea so sickening is the manner the government operatives are jumping over themselves to justify the scandalously imprudent outlandish spending at a time there are much better things to spend the money on, even if we have it. I have carefully listened to their jejune arguments and I remain totally unconvinced and unimpressed, to say the least. What I see are very desperate people who are hellbent on just wastefully dissipating that money. It seems President Buhari may still be living in the past when one Naira was equal to a dollar. It is possible that he therefore thinks that the Trillions Nigeria now budgets annually equates to trillions of dollars in which case $1.5billion dollars would be a mere drop in the ocean. However, firstly, we need to help him understand the value of such amount today in the face of the foolhardy, irresponsible continued devaluation of the Naira, and emasculation of the economy. $1.5 billion at the runaway parallel market rate, which Mr Emefiele now incessantly scoffs at because it has become eggs and tomatoes on his face, is practically three quarters of a trillion Naira. It is simply put, a significant proportion of our national budget. What that princely sum can do at home with local goods for export which would wean us from our dependence on crude oil and its exportation is best left

to the imagination. Ask Mr Segun Awolowo of the National Export Promotion Council, who has embarked on a national crusade of capacity building for non-oil exports and zero tolerance for dependency on crude oil, and he will demonstrate to you that the vistas and opportunities are legion. $1.5 billion would revamp our Universities and Teaching hospitals and improve and enhance education and health, two critical, but neglected sectors of the economy of any nation that strives to thrive. We can look further afield and what it can produce in more seriously ambitious climes. One example should suffice. If you hand the handsome sum of $1.5billion to the ruler of Dubai today, he will build a second Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The direct income from tourists flocking to such a novel wonder of the world, and the indirect income from the boon to the tourist industry would more than surpass the investment in such a brilliant venture, and naturally dwarf any income that you would expect from a refinery even producing at its optimum. In essence, it is this substantial sum that our dear beloved country’s current leadership is about to squander on a dead horse, a moribund refinery which, if it ever resurrects, may neither work fully nor bear dividends! What is worse is that the Buhari government is talking about refurbishing the refinery for this huge sum when only eighty percent of that amount about $1.2 billion would build a new bigger and technologically advanced and superior refinery. It just beggars belief and defies logic and belief that any rational government can come up with such a hare-brained scheme. But then, this is what we have come to expect of this Buhari led administration. When the top is dour and soulless, it permeates the entire structure, cascades down to very lowest levels, and nothing of benefit or interest can come out of it. It is strange how this government can fail to get its priorities right considering that there are a few shining lights of their professions within the government. Perhaps it is true what they say that when an intelligent person mixes with dullards, it is only natural for him to get dull and dim-witted too. The Yoruba will say “ti ewe ba pe l’ara ose, a di ose” – when the leaf has entangled with and covered the soap for so long, that leaf too will become soapy! Nobody seems to dare speak up or say anything lest at that point in time, Mr President becomes aware of his surroundings and glares at the offending parasite. After all, you never can tell what piques the interest of President Muhammadu Buhari. The cabinet just sits at the Federal Executive Council meetings every Wednesday to award and approve all manner of contracts at costs never heard of in the world. I often joke with friends that even if one lacks some brains these days, one can easily purchase them in the marketplace. It shouldn’t be difficult to go on Google and find out how much similar projects cost elsewhere, that is if it is even necessary at all to embark on such white elephant projects, as this government has a penchant for doing. It is no longer a secret that the Nigerian government is terribly overpopulated by prodigal men and women who have no respect for money and lack the capacity to manage people and resources. I reiterate my avowed conviction that the government of Nigeria should never have any business in running any business

(please, permit the seeming tautology). All the government needs to do is create an enabling environment for business to survive and thrive by the provision of basic infrastructure and policies that will achieve this. When Government takes on roles that it is not well suited for, chaos and bedlam ensue, and unscrupulous people will always take advantage. There are many of them in Nigeria, partly because those in control do not know what they are doing and so, they engage in doing what they know best, which is participating in grand larceny and the plundering of the Nigerian State. It is sad and unfortunate that President Buhari, whose reputation as the last saint standing was one of the reasons Nigerians supported him in 2015, couldn’t stop his men and women in their tracks but instead is sitting pretty with arms akimbo, watching helplessly as Nigeria is literally and figuratively being bled to death by these incredible guys. I am almost at the end of my missive today. It saddens me that once again, we are faced with another calamitous venture by government. Fortunately, it is not too late to avert this disaster. There are different ways of dealing with the problem of the refineries, especially since bigger, better and technically superior private ones are springing up around Nigeria, with the added benefit that they will be much better managed and will not be a drain on the nation’s scarce resources. So, in reality, rather than repair the refineries, they should be sold off as scrap because that is now what they are, no more, no less. My biggest worry remains the style of the presidential monarchy we presently practice. We have a President who rarely speaks to his people, but an Emperor who waits for everyone to come pay homage at the Aso Rock Villa despite the embarrassing spate of monumental insecurity everywhere today. President Joe Biden is officially older than President Muhammadu Buhari. While Biden speaks out daily and presents his pet projects and dreams, and moves around reassuring Americans of a better tomorrow, Buhari has no time to speak or even go out to supervise projects. Even his mouthpieces rarely do so nowadays, and when they do it is either to congratulate people or offer condolences to those bereaved, or savagely attack their imaginary enemies. Sadly, national and humanitarian disasters are brushed aside, even in this limited space, probably because these supressed and repressed spokespersons have had their brains addled by whatever is in the air and being imbibed in the heady edifice and terrain of the Aso Rock Villa. Perhaps, if the President was more engaging and capable of being engaged, he would have had a first-hand knowledge or idea about the huge problems and challenges bedevilling Nigeria. Due to his total absence in the public domain, his men and women are at liberty to use his name any way and anyhow they deem fit. While we are obviously saddled with an absentee President, Nigerians feel short changed that they similarly seem to have little or no access or engagement with their knowledgeable and astute Vice President, the Law Professor, Yemi Osinbajo. All they are forced to live with are endless rumours of a Fuji House of commotion in the precincts and corridors of government. The more you look the less you see! Nigeria deserves better than this! God save Nigeria!!

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