BusinessDay 03 Nov 2019

Apapa: What next after Presidential Task Team?

…As buck-passing, finger-pointing frustrate efforts CHUKA UROKO

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ll too soon, Apapa is back to the trenches, pointing to the simple fact that in that premier port city, which is arguably a major cash cow for the government, joy has very slender and fragile skin.

Only yesterday, the whole by Kayode Opeifa, a former commissioner for transworld celebrated a Presiden- port in Lagos State, to deal with the gridlock in Apatial Task Team set up by the pa that was becoming a national embarrassment.

Federal Government and led Continues on page 39

Adams Oshiomhole (l), national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a warm handshake with Godwin Obaseki Edo state Governor (r), while Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) watches, at the 1st convocation lecture of Edo University, Iyamho, delivered by the CBN governor at the weekend.

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Vol 1, No. 287 N300

Minimum wage: Battle shifts South should be ready for epic struggle ?? Rising taxes, charges to get back power in 2023 - Akintoye making Nigerians poorer between states and labour P. 13

P.16

21 pP. 41.

inside

How socio-economic pressure is pushing Nigerians to the brink

p. 18

‘I am not limited by being a woman; I go for what I want in all the right and legitimate ways’

L-R: Dudun Peterside, board member, ART X Lagos; Atedo Peterside, chairman, ART X Lagos; Yemi Osinbajo, vice president of Nigeria; Tokini Peterside, founder/director, ART X Lagos, and Herbert Wigwe, CEO, Access Bank, at the opening of the Art Fair on Friday in Lagos.

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Cheap import, bad road, gridlock killing our business – Paint manufacturer cries out AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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embers of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) have continued to cry out over the negative effect of cheap imports, bad roads and gridlocks on their businesses in Lagos as well as other parts of the country.

Businesses operating along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, for instance, appear to be facing hard Continues on page 7

Now that President Buhari’s

‘Next Level’ has begun He must urgently sign Electoral Act – Galadima Must take people-friendly decisions – NUP chair He needs to adopt Chinese development model – UniAbuja don ‘Tackling security challenges must be his priority’ See full story on page 2

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Sunday 03 November 2019

Cover Now that Buhari’s ‘Next Level’ has begun

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Innocent Odoh and iniobong iwok

ffectively, President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term started on Wednesday, October 30, 2019. Although he was declared winner of the Presidential election of February 23 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Buhari’s position was hanging in the balance as the victory was a subject of litigation. Even after the Presidential Election Tribunal upheld his victory, the decision of the main challenger, Atiku Abubakar, to go to the Supreme Court, meant that it was not eureka for Buhari. But it could be said that the President won the election last Wednesday after the apex court ruled that INEC was right to declare him winner.

Popular opinion is that Nigeria has not fared well in the last five years; it is now incumbent on the President to truly and positively take the country to the Next Level as promised. This, observers say, is the real burden the ruling has placed on President Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The economic fortunes of Nigerians have deteriorated so fast in the last five years. According to the World Poverty Clock and the Brookings Institute, Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world with nearly 100 million of its citizens living below the poverty line.

Nigeria’s inflation figures remain at double digits of 11.24percent, a very harsh reality for the hapless masses. Unemployment has jumped to 23percent from 18percent in the last five years. The gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is barely 1.9percent annually for a country whose population grows at 3.4percent per annum.

Foreign Direct Investment has plummeted as well as capital inflow by at least 50percent. Naira, the nation’s currency has lost almost 80percent of its value in the last five years, which has severe consequences on the disposable income of the masses. Successive federal budgets have suffered poor implementation as the government has gone into a borrowing binge to service budgets deficits.

These developments have deleterious effects in the hapless Nigerian citizens, who had placed much hope on the Buhari administration and APC government.

Critics have alleged that the current administration has slept on guard all through five years, calling on the President to make haste and redeem his electoral promises.

Before the Supreme Court verdict last Wednesday, some politicians and other interest groups had claimed that the litigation was slowing down the speed of the administration and was also a huge distraction. Hence, they urged the main opposition to accept defeat and let the sleeping dog lie.

Shortly after the ministerial list of President Buhari became public, attracting negative comments on account of some names that ap-

peared therein, it was touted that the list was a temporary one, and that the real list would be released after the President must have scaled all the legal hurdles.

Now that the election has been won and lost, the expectation is that Nigerians should begin to reap the gains of going to the poll.

Speaking with BDSUNDAY on the expectations of Nigerians, Alphonsus Mgbede, a chartered accountant, said that the country had drifted sharply in the last five years and urged government to halt its further drift.

“I think what has happened in the last five years has been mere politicking. Governance has eluded the country. There has been a high dose of propaganda. Everything about Nigeria is in the negative.

Now that the legal tussle is over, the Buhari administration, if indeed it is serious about governance, should begin to undo all the negative things it has done. Only this can enable the President regain the confidence of Nigerians he has lost, and I suggest that he has to do it as urgently as possible,” Mgbede said.

On the likely impact of the Supreme Court verdict in relation to the Next Level agenda on the lives of the average Nigerian facing enormous economic hardship and other threats such as growing insecurity, crime and unemployment, Buba Galadima, a prominent politician and social commentator, advised Nigerians not to place any hope on Buhari, saying, “There is no plan in the next level, except hardship for Nigerians.” He asked Nigerians to brace up or their right will be trampled upon by the Buhari government.

He also alleged that President Buhari is not going to quit power in 2023, stressing that his men are already planning a six-year single term for him. “This is not for the good of Nigerians but only to benefit those in power, since there is not going to be any election. I challenge Buhari to sign the Electoral Act once he comes back from his holiday in London, which he said was perfect and only needs the next government to sign. He is now the next government, he should be bound by his words if he is man of integrity,” Galadima said.

He also lampooned the judiciary for affirming Buhari’s victory, stressing that the court decisions allegedly will continue to haunt the judiciary, continue to haunt the Buhari government and will continue to haunt whosoever has a hand in truncating democracy and setting the hand of the clock back.

“What the judiciary has done was to take back Nigeria back to the Stone Age. I don’t believe that the judiciary really looked at what the future of this country would be. Having now said that you don’t need to conduct election, but you can announce results and once you are strong, you will prevail, that is what the judiciary has said.

“The judiciary has also affirmed that you don’t need to go to school; all you need to do is to swear an affidavit that you hold a PhD in

R-L: Rauf Olaniyan, deputy governor of Oyo State; Seyi Makinde, governor; Dotun Oyelade, executive chairman, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), and Wasiu Olatunbosun, commissioner for information, culture and tourism, during the commissioning of Satellite Audio Network Facility of BCOS.

PHOTO: Oyo State Government.

whatever discipline you want and it should not be inquired into and you should be entitled to any job. I think we Nigerians should be crying for now rather than jostling for 2023 because there will be no 2023 because they have now affirmed that Buhari can continue as President for life,” he said.

Katch Ononuju, a public affairs analyst, asked Nigerians to perish the thought of any positive thing happening under the Buhari Government as his government is filled with people with the wrong mindset about Nigeria.

“Buhari did not come to govern Nigeria; Buhari is an angry Fulani irredentist, who is reacting in the same way as the Sunnis of Iraq.

The Sunnis of Iraq are reacting due to the loss of previously held advantages that were available under the previous arraignment under Saddam Hussaein, where the Baath Party was led by the minority Sunnis who, though are minority, dominated and lorded it over the minority Shiites population.

“In Nigeria, democracy came and that was what made the Fulani lose the total control they had all over Nigeria- advantages gained through the colonial period and under the military dictatorship but could be sustained under democracy. This is the reason Buhari does not yet have a plan; he is simply reacting to those consequences of democracy.

“Buhari is angry that market competition has removed all those strengths from his people and that is why you see him react this way. So, every single action that Buhari takes you can interpret it in terms of the reaction towards the consequences of democracy,” Ononuju said.

He accused Buhari of moving to seize control of the judiciary, judging by the Supreme Court decision. “What he has done has now exposed the Supreme Court as being conquered and that is the important thing about contesting everything in court, that is the good thing about what the PDP has to

expose the institutions that have been damaged by state capture.

The state capture of the judiciary means the judiciary dies and what you get is what you saw. So, nothing is going to change,” he said.

He also accused President Buhari of selective closure of borders in the South while the borders in north are open. He charged Nigerians to retrieve their country from Buhari through a concerted national effort as he alleged that “Buhari does not believe in Nigeria”.

Another politician and the National Chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), Perry Opara advised that Nigerians should move forward because there is nothing anybody can do about Supreme Court ruling. “The supreme court of Nigeria is the last hope of every Nigerian both common man and politician. Since they have taken the decision we should abide by their decision and respect their decision. I am aware that they said they will give reasons for their decision; I am also aware that members of the Supreme Court are perhaps the most qualified members of the jury in Nigeria,” he said.

He also admonished President Buhari to be very proactive, so that issues of the suffering, insecurity, and unity of the country should be in the front burner to enable Nigerians, who elected him have dividend of democracy.

“Most decisions of government should be people-friendly decisions not minding what the sentiments may be. Any decisions that is seen to be draconian, any decision that is seen not to be people –friendly, Nigerians would not want it. I would want to advise that the best way to say thank you to Nigerians is to come up with policies that will take Nigerians to the next level,” Opara added.

Also contributing from the intellectual angle, Nafizi Abdullahi Garba, a professor from the Department of Economics, University of Abuja, called for the adoption of the Chinese Model of development that is all encompassing,

all-embracing and all inclusive, that incorporates every aspect of the social, economic political life of the country.

He urged for a serious reform in the leadership recruitment, adding that development can only be possible when Nigeria reforms the Electoral Act to ensure that every member of a political party contributes certain amount to fund that party and to put a threshold, a maximum amount that anybody can provide as funding for the political party and link the political party register to the BVN. He also advised that any political party that wants to contest election must do direct primary instead of the indirect primary that is subject to manipulation.

He also called for the inclusion of academics and intellectuals in decision making process of the country, stressing that “Every aspect of the economy, politics and social life should be subjected to thorough intellectual analysis and evaluation.’’

Garba also harped on issue of inculcating nationalism, self-discipline and patriotism at all levels of government.

Leke Ogunbanke, lawyer and activist, urged President Buhari to immediately prioritise tackling worsening security challenges bedeviling the country as it was crucial for any meaningful development.

“You would notice that it is the same security chiefs that were there with him when he assumed office in 2015 that are still in office. These people have lost touch with what to do. Personally, I have lost hope in them; most of them are overwhelmed with the security challenges facing Nigeria; they have no clue,” Ogunbanke said.

According to him, “Security should be Buhari’s focus for now, because you can’t achieve anything without it. People are afraid to travel; we are in December now; Buhari should bring in new people with fresh ideas on how to tackle the security problems in Nigeria.”

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News

FCTA, FRSC partner on sustainable traffic management in Abuja ...Illegal parks to be closed; ban on Okada, Keke to be enforced

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JAMES KWEN, Abuja

he Federal Capit a l Te r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has worked out strategies to improve road traffic management in the Territory.

FCTA and FRSC have put in place modalities for an effective collaboration, especially in the enforcement of all extant road traffic rules and regulations.

Muhammad Bello, FCT Minister disclosed this at an interactive session with top officials of the FRSC when he paid a courtesy visit to the Corps Headquarters in Abuja.

Bello said the FCT has grown beyond the expectations of the founding fathers, hence the need for collaborations with relevant stakeholders to keep the nation’s capital effectively functional.

As part of measures aimed at maintaining an effective and functional traffic system and to stem the rising incidence of kidnap-

ping, armed robbery and “one chance” operations within the city, the Minister directed that all illegal car parks be closed, adding that terms and conditions guiding their operations will henceforth be enforced for the operation of those licensed to operate.

He said: “The closure is very important because, based on intelligence and based on actual arrests made, they have been avenues where a lot of criminalities are taking place including drug abuse, planning for kidnapping, sale of stolen properties and so many other things. So, they will be closed down”.

Bello emphasised the need to sanitise traffic operations within the FCT and to rid the entire road networks within the Phase One and parts of Phase Two of the city of traffic gridlock and the unlawful activities of tricycle and motorcycle operators.

According to the Minister, “There will be strict enforcement of the ban on the operations of tricycles and motorcycles in all the major roads within the phase 1 of the city.

“Tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, will no longer be allowed to operate on the entire stretch of the Ahmadu Bello Way, up to its Apo end, as well as the Shehu Shagari Expressway “The ban on tricycles will be extended to the entire ring road and all the arterial roads intothecity.Thisalsoincludes parts of Asokoro, as well as Life Camp. They will now only be allowed to operate in estates and would no longer beallowedtomovefromone estate to the other”.

He also warned courier companies to ensure that their dispatch motorcycles that operate within the city center are on genuine assignments and only during official working hours and that riders at all times wear their helmets.

Th e Mi n i s t e r c o m mended solutions for traffic management problems proffered by the FRSC, saying that the FCTA will extend its full support to it, inclusive of funding. He however stressed on the need for sustainability of various efforts towards road traffic management.

Bello expressed delight

Kano: Jibrin confident of victory at rerun, faults Appeal Court’s ruling JAMES KWEN, Abuja

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he immediate past Member of the House of Representatives for Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin is confident of victory at the rerun election ordered by the Appeal Court sitting in Kaduna.

The Court of Appeal in Kaduna had nullified the election of Jibrin, a former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, and ordered fresh election in the constituency.

The judgment, which was delivered by Adejoje Adepoju, followed an observation by the court that the final result contained in Form EC (8)E as submitted for the constituency was mutilated.

The Kano State Election Petition Tribunal had in December dismissed a petition by Jibrin’s contender, Aliyu Datti of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Reacting to the Appeal Court verdict, the former Director-General of Campaign Organisations that produced Yakubu Dogara

and Femi Gbajabiamila as speakers of the House, said his constituents have always stood with him and they would do same and even more whenever the rerun holds.

“As a good Muslim, one who has unflinching belief in the will of Allah, I know full well that all events are within the scope of The Almighty, and this is no exception.

“I remain unshaken in my belief that the people of Kiru/Bebeji who have consistently and repeatedly been freely giving me their mandate will not hesitate in doing so again.

“As we go back for the rerun, I urge my supporters and well-wishers to remain calm. No election is a door-die affair,” he said.

Jibrin however, faulted the Appeal Court ruling as it runs contrary to other precedents of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, hence the prayers before the Court was to nullify the results of the 23rd February, 2019, election in 13 polling units and not the nullification of the entire election.

According to him, of

the 13 Polling Units challenged, only one witness, who was not listed on the petitioner’s list of witnesses, and who deposed to being both a member of the All progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party member at the same time, gave evidence in respect of all the said 13 polling units.

The lawmaker alleged that the witness neither personally saw nor directly encounter events in the polling units he purported to give evidence about and his team pointed this out in their representations to the Judges and the Tribunal agreed that the petition was without merit.

“The petitioners appealed to the Court of Appeal, and by a decision delivered, the petitioner’s appeal was allowed.

Strangely, even though the petitioner’s sole relief as it related to a rerun election before the Tribunal and Court of Appeal was for a nullification of the aforesaid 13 polling units, the Court of Appeal, on its own volition nullified the entire election of 23rd February, 2019”, Jibrin added.

that the proposed FRSC Radio station will soon be operational as this, he said, will go a long way in the enlightenment and advocacy campaign needed to get the support of residents for traffic programmes and policies.

In his presentation, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, who described the FCT as one of the international gateways

to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the host of foreign Missions and international personalities, said his organization was always ready to enforce traffic regulations and ensure sanity on FCT roads.

Boboye further disclosed that the proposed collaboration with the FCTA will give special attention to the issues of unpainted taxis, lane indis-

cipline, vehicle overload as well as the operations of motorcycles and tricycles on the expressway.

He stated that other issues to be looked into include the abuse of sirens and non-usage of pedestrian bridges, adding that a database of the number of taxis, motor cycles and other vehicles that are operating within the FCT would soon be developed.

L-R: Emmanuel Aluyor, vice-chancellor, Edo University Iyamoh; Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State and distinguished visitor; Aderemi Makanjuola, awardee and chairman, Caverton Offshore Support Group, his wife, Yoyinsola Makanjuola, and Isoken Ogboro, registrar, at the installation of Makanjuola as the Ist Chancellor of Edo University, Iyamho and Conferment of Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa), during the First Convocation of Edo University Iyamho, Edo State at the weekend.

Sahara Group leads charge against climate change, launches recycling hub in Ijora OBINNA EMELIKE

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ahara Group, a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate, is stepping up action against climate change with the launch of a permanent recycling hub in Ijora, an indigenous community in Lagos.

The group launched the hub on Thursday at the community under its Green Life initiative, which aims at attaining and championing sustainable development goals targeted at fostering sustainable environments and promoting holistic wellness both inside and outside of Sahara.

Speaking at the launch, Pearl Uzokwe, director, governance and sustainability, Sahara Group, noted that the Green Life Initiative, which was launched on June 27, 2019, is aimed at promoting a cleaner, healthier and safer environment and in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, which tasks people to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact in a variety of ways.

She explained that the Green Life Initiative was one of the many Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability initiatives, which Sahara Group has undertaken

for the 22 years it has been in business, impacting over 2 million beneficiaries directly and indirectly.

On the choice of Ijora for the launch of the recycling hub, she explained that the group has an office in Ijora.

“We discovered that there is a very big issue with the environment in Ijora. So, we are bringing a recycling hub that will ensue that as the community takes care of the environment, and we are introducing benefits to it”, she said.

Explaining further on the benefits of the waste recycling hub, she said that members of the community would be paid for bringing their wastes to the recycling

hub, especially plastics, which block drainages and pose health hazards.

However, Sahara Group is partnering the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to ensure sustainability of the initiative in Ijora.

Also speaking at the event, Ibrahim Odugbemi, executive director at LAWMA and representative of Muyiwa Gbadegesin, MD of LAWMA, noted that though it is the first time the waste manager is partnering with Sahara Group and other stakeholders in Ijora, the initiative is a welcome development and in line with the supportive role government desires from the private sector for development across the state.

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Sunday 03 November 2019

News Kaduna female lawmaker pushes for bill against sex-for-grade Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna

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orried by the intense cases of Sex-forGrade in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, a member of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Comfort Amwe has reiterated her commitment towards sponsoring a bill for possible punitive measure against the scourge.

Amwe, who is the deputy minority leader, said the recurring incidence of Sex-forGrade was a wakeup call, hence, the need for proactive steps to address the issue.

She stated this during her courtesy call on the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academics, Kaduna State University.

In an interview with newsmen, she said: “There is need to investigate the issues around the subject matter and those lecturers engaging in this kind of habit to clean the University of something like that”.

She also called on KASU, Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Ministry of Women Affairs and Education Ministry and Ministry of Justice to hold a joint public hearing on the issue.

“I would be discussing this phenomenon with my mem-

bers with a view to finding a lasting solution by a way of passing a law in addition to whatever the tertiary institutions are doing in the state to guarantee the safety of our children, especially our daughters,” she said.

She said the synergy between the stakeholders to address the scourge would go a long way to show that Kaduna State does not tolerate sexual harassment in any form.

“We must step into this, so that girls can have a conducive environment to study.

We entrust this girls into their hands and they will be our future mothers. So, if they are being molested, nothing good will come out of them,

the lawmaker said.

In his response, the DVC, KASU, Abdullahi Musa Ashafa, a professor, said the Sex-for-Grade is a sad development, saying that the scourge is already tarnishing the image of both lecturers and the tertiary institutions in the country.

“Kaduna State University has risen to the occasion.

We have established a committee with broader terms of reference to investigate possible occurrence of this kind of heinous act which might be buried without our knowledge. And any lecturer found wanting will be dealt with according to the law establishing the university,” Ashafa said.

When asked if any lecturer has ever been found wanting in the school, he said: “We have never received any report of any issue related to sex-for-grade, but we are investigating.

“I want to use this medium to call on our lecturers that if there is any one of them guilty of this offence, the earlier the better they stop it and relocate and find a safe haven in institutions that might accept such attitude.

“Whatever it is, a student is here searching for knowledge, and certificate is issued based on character and learning. For whatever reason, it is stupid to me that a lecturer who is mature and seen it all, will say his daughter or

student attracted him, I think it is an irresponsible kind of behaviour. All these students are trust on us; handed over to us by their parents, and I don’t think a responsible father would get attracted to them,” he said.

“People talk of dressing, but we also have a dressing code in the university; you can see notice board around for yourself. One important thing that this administration has taken into cognisance is that no lecturer henceforth will be promoted, when it comes to promotion without the input of the students.

This is very important because the students must have to vouch on your integrity,” Ashafa said.

Rigorous policy implementation, capacity building earn Sundry Foods ITF award

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undry Foods Limited (SFL), a Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based food services company, has been awarded the 2018 Best Contributing Employer in Human Resource Development for Port Harcourt Zone by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

The ITF Port Harcourt Area Manager, Emmanuel Isiwu, who presented the award at a brief ceremony recently in Port-Harcourt, commended the food services specialist for its commitment in capacity building and development of its staff across all departments and cadres.

Isiwu said that SFL won the award after a rigorous but satisfactory evaluation of its policy implementation on capacity building and development of its staff conducted by the ITF.

ITF, he said, is a specialist agency of government that promotes and encourages the acquisition of industrial and commercial skills required for national and economic development, even as he congratulated the management of SFL for winning the award and urge them not to relent in their efforts to build a reputable organisation in the country.

The Executive Director of SFL, Nnamdi Opara, who received the award on behalf of the organisation’s team, expressed appreciation for the honour done the food services specialist

by ITF. He said that the recognition came to the management as a surprise because unknown to them the activities of the company, especially as it relates to capacity building and development of employees

was being appreciated by such an important agency of government.

Opara, who said that training and re-training of the organisation’s employees, remained a deliberate policy of SFL noted that they were aimed at ensuring maintenance of high standards and effective response to the rapid dynamics in service delivery across the world.

The SFL director reiterated his organisation’s commitment to creating a conducive environment in which employees can learn better, apply innovative ideas, and acquire new competencies, skills, behaviours, as well as attitude to work and however, admonished government agencies to take a cue from ITF and collaborate with the private sector to foster positive change.

Skill-based education needed to reduce high rate of unemployment – Financial advisor

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kin Oladeji-JohnBrown, international financial advisor and CEO of Futures and Bonds, has advocated for skill-based education to reduce the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria.

Oladeji-JohnBrown, who is also the president of Dora Foundation, stated this while unveiling the foundation’s forthcoming entrepreneurial conference for youths slated for Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

He expressed the view that many young graduates in Nigeria are jobless because they had degrees without critical skills.

He disclosed that his nongovernmental organisation (NGO) would begin a series of training designed to turn young graduates into em-

Akin Oladeji-JohnBrown

ployers of labour.

He recalled that Yemi Kale, head of the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (BoS), disclosed that the nation’s unemployment rate has risen to 23.1 percent as at December 2018 from 18.1 percent in 2017.

According to him, “Kale

in a report added that over 11million youths were jobless.”

He appealed to the public and private sectors to make efforts to solve the problem.

Dora’s Foundation program m e, Ol adej i -JohnBrown stated is part of the efforts to save the nation from the terrible consequence of unemployment of the youth population.

He said that the theme of the conference is ‘Developing Entrepreneurial Mindset of a Game Changer.’

Expected to speak at the conference are the Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University and his Bowen University counterpart.

Over 500 young graduates, according to Oladeji-JohnBrown are expected to participate in the conference.

L-R: Odu’a Investment Company Directors: Seni Adio, company secretary; Abiola Ajayi, Segun Ojo, Olusola Akinwumi, chairman, Odu’a Group; Adewale Raji, GMD/CEO; Tajudeen Ola Bello and Dele Okeya at the 37th Annual General Meeting of Odu’a Investment Company Limited at the company’s headquarters, Cocoa House, recently.

Odu’a investment profit soars by 22% in 2018 …Pays N292m dividend to six owner states REMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan

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he Odua Investment Company Limited has earned the sum of N849m as profit before tax for 2018 financial year ended December 2018.

This is an increase of 22 percent increase in profit from N698million in 2007 to N849million in 2018.

The conglomerate is owned by Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos states Olusola Akinwunmi, the group chairman, in his address at the 37th annual general meeting of the company stated that the board approved the payment of cash dividend of N292million to shareholders.

According to him, the total sum of N1.208billion has been paid to the shareholders in the last five years, stressing that the group had resolved to make the investment the engine room for the economic development of the region.

Akinwunmi reiterated that the positive result was as a result of the concerted effort by both board and management to reposition

the organisation.

He assured shareholders, including Lagos state attending the AGM of the company for the first time of the company’s commitment to strict adherence to highest standards of corporate governance and ethical leadership.

On his part, the group managing director, Adewale Raji said that improvement in its financial results were driven by disciplinary operational performance and focused efforts to transform its business models to one in which all constituent units are operating and contributing as a proper going concern that is responsible and discharging to the expectation of shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Raji said further that measures have been taken to improve the company’s business process, adding that an enterprise risk management framework has been adopted to insulate the group’s businesses against environmental and technological threats.

The GMD further said the company would continue to forge ahead in assimi-

lating more private sector principles in organisational structure, benchmarks and performance measurements and develop more business models that leverage on the socio-economic competitiveness and comparative advantages of all southwestern states.

The Odu’a boss who also spoke on the developments within the group which includes emphasis on organic growth of two subsidiary firms,Wemabod Estates Limited and Glanvill Enthoven Insurance Brokers and Pension consultants, noted the companies are already taking shape.

He mentioned also the 124-household medium density and mixed luxury Westlink Iconic Villa, Alakia, Ibadan, a joint venture development with Iconic City (UK) Ltd which is billed for completion in the next 30 months.

The conglomerate is likewise looking into concluding on “project rebirth” to reposition its hospitality business-Lafia, Premier and Lagos Airport Hotels to bring major transformation and make them world class hotels.

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BDSUNDAY 7

News

Bayelsa guber: Dickson says PDP has structure to win Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

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overnor Henry Seriake Dickson has assured the people of Sagbama Local Government Area that only the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has the structure to emerge victorious in the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Dickson led the PDP governorship campaign for the second time on Thursday in his local government area,

urging the people not to be deceived by promises made by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it lacks the structure to win the election.

Although the governor was absent when the party and its flag bearer, Douye Diri campaigned in Brass, Ogbia and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas, he promised to lead the remaining campaigns.

Th e P D P c a m p a i g n stopped at Ebedebiri in Constituency 1, Sagbama in Constituency 2 and Agbere in Constituency 3 as speaker

Dickson

Cheap import, bad road, gridlock killing our business – Paint manufacturer cries out Continued from page 1 times following incessant gridlocks occasioned by endless road rehabilitation in that corridor.

Lamenting the havoc being wreaked on his business located in Mowe axis of the expressway, Sehinde Johnson, chief executive officer of Infinity Paints Limited, said: “Government should look at the issue of gridlock because if you put a vehicle on the road, it takes up to 4-5 hours to move from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to your destination, which should not have taken up to 30 minutes. I can tell you frankly that if a study is carried out on our manufacturers in that belt, it would be difficult to find manufacturers that are making use of 40 percent of its capacity.”

“Look at the impact of the gridlock on that axis on the market and when you operate in a competitive market, how many buyers would want to take the trouble of coming to your factory when they can easily get somebody that within a space of 30 minutes, they would be there? Of course, we know that it would not be forever, but this project has lasted for more than two years as it is now and most of the manufacturing companies in that belt have been groaning under revenue losses, and you know that there are some of the costs that are fixed,” he said.

According to him, “Nobody is going to ask you a question of how you are coping or if you are utilising your full capacity. You just have to pay your tax, pay your bills and others. These are the realities and how long can an industry survive in that kind of climate?

Government is doing great by constructing the road, but on the other hand, one would have expected that

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alternative routes should have been created if we put into consideration, the economic price because production has gone so low.

A lot of companies have sacked their employees.

Markets have also gone low and they are not running at optimal capacity. These are some of the challenges but we trust that the road would be done in a short while so that we can have relief after so much pain.”

Johnson, whose business started ten years ago, also noted that: “As it is today, the real sector is in comatose because the enabling environment is begging for answers. If you look at the other neigbouring countries in the West Africa sub-region, some Nigerian companies have moved out to those countries because the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria is still very poor. Then, the infrastructure development is still in comatose. These are the realities.

“If you go to Ghana, Benin Republic, you will see a lot of Nigerian companies.

These countries give companies tax relief and other incentives to attract investors into their countries. Nigeria should not be left out.

We should look at our real sector by re-engineering our policies to encourage more investors. All of us cannot be politicians but if you look at the large population of our youths that are unemployed and the multi-

Sehinde Johnson, chief executive officer of Infinity Paints Limited

after speaker rallied the people to vote the PDP as it has offered so much to the Ijaw people.

Dickson alleged that the APC has nothing to offer the people and was only prepared to rig its way to victory and enjoined the people to vote for the PDP and also defend their votes.

Douye Diri, the PDP governorship candidate, assured that he would consolidate on the gains of the Dickson administration if he emerged governor and urged the people for massive support to win the election.

plier effect in the economy as well as the security issues in this country, I think we have had enough and if we don’t deal with it today, it will affect our tomorrow because the more our youths are idle, the more they involve in crime.”

On the negative impact of cheap import on local manufacturing, he said: “The industry generally is facing a lot of challenges.

When you look at the paint sub-sector in the country, it is a turn-over of about $250 million (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars) annually. Unfortunately, we don’t have a protectionist policy for the indigenous manufacturers. The trend over time is that you see an influx of foreign paints into the country, in the market place. Not only that, it is as good as dumping from India, China, from all over the place. They just bring in paints and flood the market; that makes it even more difficult to now say, this is the size or percentage of the market that you share; because most of the players in the industry merely trade; some of them don’t even have traceable offices and addresses. So, it is not helping the local manufacturers.

“The Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has been in the vanguard of government raising duties on imported paints as a way of protecting the local players. Because, when you now reduce manufacturing to a situation whereby it is even more profitable and better for them to trade; local manufacturers might even want to close shop and begin to import and you can imagine the multiplier effect of that on the labour market. How many people can a trader employ compared to a full-fledged manufacturing company that has all strata of workforce in their employ?”

Other speakers including the Director-General of the campaign, Nimibofa Ayawei, members representing the three constituencies in the House of Assembly, students and youth groups also called for massive support for Diri.

In a related development, the state chapter of Hope Democratic Party has gone to court to stop the November 16 governorship election, saying a case it instituted in 2016 over the omission of its candidate from the ballot paper for the 2015 governorship election was yet to be discharged.

FG creates cartography, GIS Dept to fasttrack socio-economic development Innocent Odoh, Abuja

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he Federal Government of has created the Department of Cartography and Geographic Information System (C & GIS) in the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF) for mass production of useful maps and Geo-Spatial data to fast-track national reconstruction and socio-economic development.

The Acting Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGoF), Taiwo S. Adeniran disclosed this on occasion of the 41st International Conference/ Workshop and Annual General Meeting of Nigerian Cartographic Association (NCA) held at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, a

statement issued by Michael Abu, Head of Press and Public Relations, said.

The Acting SGoF, who was represented at the event by the Director of Cartography, Emmanuel C. Nwakanma said: “To give credence to the importance attached to the Cartography/Mapping profession in Nigeria, the Federal Government through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has created a Cartography and GIS Department in the OSGoF. He informed the conference that the Director of the new department is a member of the NCA. He said the best mapped countries are the most developed in the world and vice versa. “The world cannot boast of where it is today without the enormous contributions of

Cartographers / Map Makers. It is indeed difficult to imagine how life would have been without Maps and Geo Information products. Proper planning and development is easier and faster by referring to maps. Consequently, the best mapped countries of the world are the most developed and vice versa,” he said.

Hecommendedthetheme of the conference: ‘Digital Cartography and Geospatial Intelligence for National Security, Planning and Development’ describing the theme as apt, in view of the various challenges such as corruption, insecurity, environmental degradation, economic downturn, infrastructure deficit and unemployment, among others confronting the country.

Insecurity: Ishaku says local hunters’ operation yielding good results Nathaniel Gbaoron, Jalingo

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overnor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has said that the ongoing onslaught against banditry in some parts of the state was yielding good results.

Ishaku disclosed this at the Galla Night organised by the state government for both Federal and states security administrators who held a meeting in Jalingo.

The governor, who was represented by Anthony Jellason, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), also commended the military and other security agencies for their efforts in containing the bandits. He however, noted that the local hunters were not having the legal mandate to carry out such an operation.

He said that the level of kidnappings and other crimes

became worrisome to all and sundry, leading to the acceptance of local hunters for the job.

The governor expressed the determination of the state government in supporting any initiative aimed at addressing the security challenges in the state.

Ishaku commended the Federal Government for its support in tackling insecurity in the state.

“Let me acknowledge the efforts of our local hunters in engaging the bandits in fierce battle. Their opera-

Ishaku

tion is yielding results and very soon, the menace will be brought under control.

Though, the local hunters do not have the legal authority to carry out such operation, that doesn’t mean that other security agencies did not do their best but in situations of despair, one is likely to subscribe to every suggestion available.

“On our part, we are in support of every initiative that will bring an end to this security challenges,” Ishaku said.In her remarks, Amina Shamaki, permanent secretary, Special Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said that the Federal Government would support the state in ensuring that the security challenges were brought under control.

Shamaki commended both Taraba and Benue governments in their efforts to resolve the lingering Tiv/ Jukun crisis in Taraba State.

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News

NUJ urges Buhari to reconstruct Lokoja-GereguItobe road, alleviate commuters’ suffering VICTORIA NNAKAIKE, Lokoja

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h ri s Is i g u z o, the national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency carry out reconstruction work on Lokoja-Geregu-Itobe Road in Kogi State to alleviate the suffering of commuters from South-South and South Eastern states who daily use the road to connect Abuja the federal capital.

Isiguzo bemoaned the state of deplorable roads across the country and the worsening insecurity to lives and property, saying a government that cannot provide basic necessities of her citizenry cannot be called a government, adding that Geregu–Itobe portion of the Lokoja-Anyigba Expressway is so critical to the people of the South-South and Eastern states and advise the Federal Government to urgently attend to

the road to ameliorate their suffering.

The NUJ President made the call on Thursday at the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lokoja.

The NEC equally used the opportunity to ratify the suspension of some of the past officials of the union, Waheed Odusile, Petrus Obi; Chibota Edozien and Pat. Agbo for alleged anti-union activities, noting that the NEC being the organ of the association saddled with taking critical decisions on the union and to appraise issues of national interest, saying, the nation is undergoing trying times which needed quick solution to the problems.

On the welfare of journalists, Isiguzo said journalists like any other professionals deserve adequate remuneration, as he advised media organisations to pay commensurate and prompt salaries and emolument to their staff.

He disclosed that plans were underway to propose a bill to the National Assembly to ensure enhanced pay pack-

ages of journalists, warning governments at all levels not to harass, intimidate and incarcerate journalists in the course of performing their duties.

“Journalists like other professionals deserve the best in terms of remuneration and best practices in work places. We are asking the media outfits to treat journalists with dignity by paying adequate attention to their welfare. We equally challenge governments not to treat journalists as criminals in the course of doing their duties,” he said.

Isiguzo equally commended the Kogi government for giving NUJ the opportunity to hold the NEC meeting in the state, saying, his interaction with the state has changed his perception and called for more synergy in order to project the proper situation of things in the state to the outside world.

He noted that Kogi State has set a standard in modern governance as it has populated her top appointment with young and vibrant youths.

Ready for business

L-R: Were Odusote, Lagos State commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources; Fernando Madiera CFO, Enyo Retail and Supply Limited; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor; Abayomi Awobokun, CEO, Enyo Retail and Supply Limited, and Folashade Jaji, secretary to the Lagos State government (SSG), during a courtesy call on the governor by the management team of Enyo Retail, at Lagos House, Alausa.

Ogah promises partnership with Ikpeazu to develop Abia UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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chechukwu Ogah, minister of state for Mines and Steel Development, has expressed his willingness to work together with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in the development of Abia State.

Ogah made the pledge known when he paid a courtesy visit to Abia State Governor at the Government House, Umuahia.

According to him, “Politics is over and now is time for governance. I am a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Abia State at the Federal Executive Council. I have the mandate to always state out issues that will help to develop this state for the interest of our state.

We should all work together as a team for us to develop, for the interest of the people and state.”

“If there are areas that the

Federal Government needs to come in to help, the state government should contact me. I believe I have the capacity to reach out to the federal so that the interest of the state should be protected,” he said.

He pointed out that there were so much that he and the governor could do together to attract to the state what was due to it, adding that his visit is to, among other things, share ideas with the state chief executive on how to move Abia forward. The minister, who stated that he was in the state to represent the President at the burial of late John Aguiyi Ironsi, son of J.T.U.Aguiyi Ironsi, former head of state, disclosed that he had necessary contacts at the federal level on how to ensure that Abia benefits from the federal government.

The minister assured that the Federal Government would help in tackling illegal mining activities and erosion menace in the state and called

for more collaboration to achieve that.

Ikpeazu congratulated Ogah on his appointment and for deeming it fit to pay him a visit. He explained that there were a lot they could achieve for the state from the centre. The Abia State governor however, decried illegal mining activities going on in the state and attributed the development to the issuance of mining licence by the Federal Government without recourse to the state.

He equally lamented the devastating menace of erosion in the state, disclosing that about 25percent of land belonging to the state had been eaten up by erosion.

He disclosed that through the intervention of the NEWMAP, three critical erosion sites in the state had been reclaimed, adding that the Isuikwuato erosion menace required urgent attention of the Federal Government.

Abayomi Awobokun, CEO, Enyo Retail and Supply Limited (l), presenting a souvenir to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor (r), during the visit.

Low productivity: Abia to embark on aggressive public service reforms UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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orried by the epileptic service delivery and the attendant low productivity in the Abia State Public Service, government has said that it was embarking on aggressive Civil/Public Service Reforms to better the service and enhance productivity.

Onyii Wamah, Abia head of service (HoS), who disclosed in Umuahia during

the 2020 Budget proposal defence, said that plans were in top gear to commence the training and retraining of the state’s public servants as well as reactivate the bi-monthly public service lecture for optimum results.

Wamah hinted that government would, among other things in 2020, improve on the working environment through massive infrastructure development, installation of modern gadgets/facilities in the Government skill acquisi-

tion, proficiency and computer schools for better performance.

The HoS further said that the Central Records Database for staff Records and Pension Statistics would be computerised to eliminate all manner of falsification of documents and frauds among serving and retired public servants.

He further revealed plans to review and update obsolete service documents and also establish Health Insurance Scheme for workers.

Abayomi Awobokun, CEO, Enyo Retail and Supply Limited (l), receiving a souvenir from Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor, during the visit.

Sunday 03 November 2019

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Sunday 03 November 2019

News

National Theatre debunks claims of purported takeover by the CBN MICHAEL ANI

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he Governing Board of National Theatre has refuted claims of an alleged takeover of the theatre by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a memo seen by BDSUNDAY and signed by Agbo Ita, the board’s secretary, the board said there is no iota of truth that the National Theatre has been handed over to the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Lagos State Government by its bonafide owner, the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The board described as rumour, fabrication and falsehood what has been trending about the matter in prints, electronic and social media.

Recall that Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, had earlier this month said the apex bank in collaboration with

the Bankers’ Committee, requested for approvals from the Federal and Lagos State government to take over the National Theatre, in what he says “the edifice is too important to the nation to be allowed to go to waste”.

Emefiele, along with the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy

Governor Lagos, Obafemi Hamzat; the Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs, Herbert Wigwe and other top government officials in the state, who paid an assessment visit to the National Theatre in Lagos, noted that in two years’ time under the watch of the bank, it would be so transformed that it could be able

Abia Rep wants separate account for ecological fund UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

to rival the best convention centres in the world.

Emefiele later announced that the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee had received approval from President Muhammadu Buhari and the Lagos State government to take over the National Theatre and transform it into a creative industry park as part of their Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI).

According to the board, neither it nor its management received prior notice regarding the visit to the theatre by the CBN governor or the Lagos State government hence, the need for its members to discuss the likely implication the unscheduled visit would have on the theatre.

“We call on all stakeholders in the creative and entertainment sector and workers to remain calm as the status quo ante remains and nothing has changed,” Ita said in the note on behalf of the board.

New NDDC management raise alarm, say property vandalised Waves the flag of accountability, transparency Ignatius Chukwu

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he baton changed hands last week and the new Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has raised alarm saying some property of the Commission were being vandalised. They have vowed to bring the culprits to book.

The Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA), Ibanga Bassey Etang, made this disclosure in Port Harcourt

while briefing newsmen.

This is as he pledged during an inspection of one of the Commission’s facilities in NDDC in Port Harcourt that new NDDC would operate by accountability and transparency.

Etang said the new management was notified that some facilities belonging to the NDDC were vandalised, declaring that culprits would be handed over to the security agencies. He warned that those with intentions to illegally remove the commission’s properties should

desist or be prepared to face the law.

Etang expressed regret over the condition of the former Managing Director’s guest house, adding: “We are here for the inspection of facilities. We have so many facilities and we have discovered something here that requires attention and that is why we are here with security personnel as well.

You can see the property has been vandalised and a lot of the items have been taken away.”

He added: “We also want

to send a message that anybody or group of persons who have organised themselves to cart away NDDC property should stop and the ones that have been taken must be returned because the commission will stop at nothing to ensure that those properties are returned.”

He pledged to embrace accountability and transparency in its processes to ensure that the Commission effectively discharges its mandate of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region.

NCPC is making effort to modify pilgrimage - Kwaghe

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sther Kwaghe, the director in charge of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, has said that the Commission was making effort to modify pilgrimage by making it more spiritual and developmental.

She disclosed this in Gombe during her sensitisation visit to the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manasseh Daniel Jatau in his office in Gombe.

She explained that part of the new developments the Commission wants to introduce in Christian Pilgrimage would include technological and skill acquisitions as well as agricultural expositions.

The NCPC boss intimated her host that Gombe State had continued to be “one of our key players in pilgrimage development over the years”.

She commended the government of Gombe State for their consistency in the

sponsorship of Christians to the Holy Land.

She therefore, solicited for more sponsorship of Christians to the Holy Land, adding that she had already tasked stakeholders in the state to ensure they complement the

good effort of the government.

Kwaghe further informed the deputy governor that the 2019 general pilgrimage was around the corner and that the two major religions in Nigeria- Christianity and

Esther Kwaghe, director in charge of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), with Manassah Daniel Jatau, deputy governor of Gombe, during a sensitisation visit of NCPC to the state.

Islam know the importance of pilgrimage.

She explained that pilgrimage to Israel helps Christians to renew their faith and at the same time makes the Bible alive. The Director in Charge further informed the No.2 citizen of Gombe State that the state contingent to Israel had never recorded any single case of abscondment which she attributed to the homegrown discipline instilled by the government.

The NCPC boss further commended the government of Gombe State for the infrastructural development initiated in the state within a short period of time.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mannasseh Daniel Jatau affirmed that the government of Gombe State believes in pilgrimage for both Christians and Muslims.

N

keiru Onyejeocha, member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency and the Deputy Whip in the Lower chamber of the National Assembly, has called for the separation of ecological fund from federal allocations accruing to states.

Onyejeocha, who made the call during a media chat with select journalists at her Isuochi country home, Abia State, said the action had become necessary to avoid misappropriation or abuse of the fund by governors.

She regretted that all the ecological fund released by the Federal Government to states every month were lumped together in the federal allocations, yet state governors rarely tackle ecological problems in their states.

The four-term legislator frowned at the attitude of governors in managing ecological funds, which according to her should be strictly deployed to addressing ecological challenges in various states.

“I think the best practice will be to separate ecological

fund from federal allocations and not lumping it together with other items in FAAC, “ she said.

Onyejeocha disclosed that the National Assembly would be glad to give a legislative backing to any executive bill for the separation of ecological fund from federal allocations to states.

The Abia Federal lawmaker, who decried erosion menace in her constituency, said she had contacted the Ecological Office for intervention.

According to her, personnel from the office had visited the constituency for on-thespot assessment of gully erosion sites in the area.

She said various erosion sites in the constituency had been captured in the data base of the office and were undergoing the process of design preparatory to award of contract for tackling them.

Onyejeocha, who also revealed that she had drawn the attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other relevant federal agencies to the menace, appealed to her constituents to be patient, assuring that intervention works would soon come their way.

Outbreak: Lagos records 117 cases of gastroenteritis in five LGAS ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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kin Abayomi, commissioner for Health in Lagos State, has said that reviewing the situation report of cases of the gastroenteritis recorded in the state, 117 cases of the disease have been seen at health facilities in five local government areas.

The affected local government areas were Lagos Island, Ajeromi, Apapa, Mushin and Ikeja. However, out of the 117 cases reported, 109 have been treated and discharged.

According to the press statement seen by BDSUNDAY, Abayomi has called on residents to maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times as part of the measures to prevent the outbreak of epidemics, especially the spread of gastroenteritis also known as vomiting and diarrhoea which have been reported in the state.

“Following the report of these cases, Rapid Response Teams at the affected LGAs led by the Medical Officers of Health were activated, stool specimen were collected for laboratory test to confirm the micro-organism causing the vomiting and diarrhoea while surveillance have also been scaled up in communities within the affected LGAs to stop the spread of the infection. The results of laboratory tests

will be published once the source pathogen is identified,” he said.

Abayomi explained that the increase in number of cases of gastroenteritis is not unconnected with persistent rain with flooding of some LGAs in the state.

“Gastroenteritis is caused by micro-organisms like those causing typhoid fever, cholera and certain viruses” he said, adding that it can be contacted by eating or drinking contaminated foods such as uncooked seafood.

The commissioner further explained that patients with gastroenteritis present with severe acute watery diarrhoea and profuse vomiting, noting that those infected with micro-organisms causing the disease shows signs and symptoms within 12 hours to one week after ingesting contaminated food or water.

“The disease affects both children and adult and can kill within hours if untreated”.

He therefore, also advised health workers to ensure that they take universal safety precautions when dealing with patients stressing that they must practice good hand washing techniques and report any alarming increase in cases gastroenteritis-vomiting and diarrhoea to the Medical Officer of Health in their local government or the Directorate of Disease Control through these lines 08023169485 and 08023608195.

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PhotoSplash

L-R: Robert Taiwo, managing director, Phillips Consulting; Oba Otudeko, chairman, Honeywell Group; Babajide Sanwoolu, governor of Lagos State; Prince Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun State; Foluso Phillips, chairman, Nigeria-South African Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) during the October edition of the NSACC Breakfast Meeting discussing- Lagos and Ogun, partnering for the Future in Lagos.

L-R: Funke Michaels, marketing expert, Mason Fellow- Harvard, Ms. Modupe Ladipo - CEO Prosperar development consulting, Ms. Ife Dursosinmi-Etti, founder AGS Tribe, Ms. Yemi Keri - CEO Heckerbella and co-founder rising Tide Africa, Ms. Thelma Ekiyor - MD, SME.NG and co-founder She Works Here and Prof. Abiola Awosika - Dean, She Works Here

L-R: Joshua Ogbimi, CEO, Beckley Consulting Ltd; Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo, MD/CEO, Royal Oaks Event Centre; Naomi Ofili, centre manager and Olayiwola Rufus, managing consultant, Beckley Consulting Ltd during Royal Oaks Event Centre celebration of Customer Service week in Lekki, Lagos.

Adam Nuru (r), managing director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and winner of ‘’CEO of the Year’’ Award, and Kayode Adigun, divisional head, service management and technology of the bank, during the Finnovex West Africa Awards 2019 where FCMB also won the ‘’Excellence in Customer Experience Enhancement’’ Award in Lagos

Cross section of Executives Members of Great Mind Initiative[GMI]A non profit making Organization cutting the 2nd years Anniversary Cake held at Ajao Road off Adeniyi Jones Ikeja Lagos.

L-R: Mercy Ojo, former chairperson, Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB); Tinuke Leye Isola, chairperson, APWB; Uche Olowu, president/chairman of council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; Funke Ladimeji, head, technology and operations, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, and Seye Awojobi, registrar/chief executive, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, at the Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB) 2019 corporate forum and annual dinner in Lagos.

L-R: Jirinsola Ladipo-Okubanjo, recycling manager, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA ); Ibrahim Odumbon, executive director, LAWMA; Pearl Uzokwe, director, government and sustainability, Sahara Group Limited, Uzoamaka Egbujo, medical director, Due Healthcare and Raheem Ariyo, baale of Tokosi , Ijora, at the Ijora GreenLife activation, an initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability by Sahara Group in Lagos.

Pic by Pius Okeosisi

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker, House of Representatives, (m); Clement Nwankwo, executive director, Policy and Legal Advocacy ( PLAC), ( 2nd l); Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, house leader, (2nd r); Peter Akpatason, deputy leader (1st l ), and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, deputy whip, (r), during a courtesy visit to the Speaker by the PLAC at the National Assembly in Abuja

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Sunday 03 November 2019

Feature

Exciting moment in Abuja as winners in Glo ‘My Own Don Beta’ promo share experiences

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Olabisi Deji-Folutile

ould there be a better time to be a Glo subscriber than now? For Jabiru Abdulkarim and others who won big at the ongoing consumer reward scheme tagged ‘Recharge and Win big’, also known as ‘My own don beta promo,’ in Abuja a few days ago, the answer is in the negative.

The reason is obvious. The reward scheme for subscribers of the national telecommunications operator, Globacom, has turned out to be means of answered prayers and a way of removing shame going by the words of Abdulkarim. The man from Niger State, who won a tricycle, otherwise known as Keke Napep, at the Abuja event, said the gift was not only an answered prayer, but God’s way of covering his shame. “With this gift, God has made a way of making money for me to cover my shame,’’ he had said.

Abdulkarim was one of the winners that thronged the popular Wuse market in Abuja, the venue of the promo prize presentation ceremony. He and others took away prizes such as tricycles, industrial sewing machines, power generators and grinding machines.

Beaming with excitement, Abdulkarim said: “I came all the way from Niger State to collect the Keke which I won. I will use the Keke Napep to make money to feed my family. I appreciate the Glo network for this programme.

God bless Glo.” Abdulkarim captures the essence of ‘My Own Don Beta’ promo. Rather than dishing out money to subscribers, Globacom decided to give them trade-establishment tools that could help them set up their own businesses. The promo is a people-oriented empowerment project aimed at having direct impact on subscribers’ life situations. A major reason for giving subscribers empowerment packages is to transform thousands of lives thereby enabling them to become self-employed and ultimately affect the lives of those around them. Hence, prizes were carefully selected to empower winners to create wealth and become employers of labour.

Glo subscribers in all parts of the country have a chance of emerging winners at the prizepresentation events slated for Lagos, Abuja , Port Harcourt, Benin, Ibadan, Kano, Jos, Enugu and Onitsha.

Engineer Barnabas Amgba,

Winners of tricycles in Globacom’s My Own Don Beta promo, L-R: Aliu Mohammed, Jabiru Abdulkarim, Sunday Agbenyi and Solomon Hassan, at the Abuja Zonal prize presentation to winners of the promo held at Wuse Market, Abuja, recently.

another winner from Abuja , testified to the transparency of the process. He won a generator.

According to him, it was his first opportunity of winning a promo prize in his life.

He said: “I was full of joy when I got a call from a lady in Globacom who called from Lagos to tell me that I won a generator in the Glo promo, ‘My Own Don Beta.’ I am indeed excited. What I want to say about this promo is its transparent process.

“I only knew that the promo was going on but I didn’t know anyone in Glo and out of the blues, I just got a call that I won a generator. This is the first time I will win a prize in any promo.

Thank you, Glo. I’ve also been enjoying Glo service in my area, the service is good.”

While Amgba knew about the promo, for Hassan Solomon Tajudeen, a fashion designer based in Gwagwalada, also in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, winning the prize was a pleasant surprise.

“I did not expect it at all,’’ he said excitedly, adding, “It was my wife who informed me about the promo.’’

A lover of Glo line, he explained that he had two of the leading network’s lines. “I was so excited when they called me that I had won. I love Glo as I even use two Glo lines. Glo, I thank you very much,’’ he added.

Having won a promo prize, he promised to recruit more subscribers for Glo, noting, “When I get back, I will tell everybody about Glo. If you do not have a Glo line, go and get one now. My Own Don Beta o!”

Dinda Salami was at home on Monday when he received calls

that he had won a grinding machine and that he should come to Lagos to collect his prize. He couldn’t, however, go to Lagos, because he resides in Bauchi State. “I was at home on Monday when Glo called and told me that I won a grinding machine and that I should come to Lagos, but I told them that I was not from Lagos. They then told me to go to Glo office in Bauchi and I went there and was told to wait for some time that they would call me. By the next day, they called me and told me to come to Abuja and here I am in Abuja,’’ he said.

Since the story appeared too good to be true, he noted that some people warned him that he could be a victim of fraudsters.

“When I came in the morning, I saw the prizes and everything happening and I was surprised.’’

Now, Salami is keeping the grinding machine for his fiancée, who, according to him, made him buy the cards in the first instance.

“She will make use of it. I will advise Glo to keep it up. I use only Glo and I have been using my number for long and I have reaped the benefit of the line today.”

Odah Sunday was in shock. To him, winning a tricycle is still like a dream. Sunday from Mararaba, Abuja, declared, “In fact, I am short of words.”

When he first received the call that he just won a Keke Napep, he thought the call was from fraudsters until the Glo Customer Care asked for his details. “I thought it was 419 stuff but at a point, Glo customer service called and said I should give my details,’’ he said, adding, “I dropped my details and today,

it became a reality that I actually won Keke. I had recharged two hundred naira many times and I am very happy that I won. I feel so excited and very happy.’’

It took the intervention of Patience Ozokwor, the Nollywood icon popularly known as Mama G, before Solomon Hassan, a tailor from Gwagwalada, Abuja, could believe that he actually won a Keke Napep in the Glo ‘My Own don Beta’ promo. He had received many calls from Glo Customers Care that day, but he could not pick them because he was very busy. By the time he did, he was told that he won a Keke Napep.

“I did not believe until they gave the phone to Mama G who asked me if I did not believe I won. I told her that I believe and I was told to come to the Glo office. I am very excited and don’t know what to say,’’ he enthused about the promo.

Hassan said he now has a new stream of income as he plans to use the keke Napep for business, noting, “I am a tailor and now I have won a Keke, courtesy of Glo. That is extra business which will bring in more money for my family.”

As far as Precious Emmanuel is concerned, Glo remains the best telecommunication firm in Nigeria. A proud owner of a generator, courtesy of the ‘My Own Don Beta Promo,’ she said: “I am very happy to win a generator.

Glo is just the best and I am very delighted to be a Glo subscriber.

This is too good. I don’t know what to say anymore. Right now, I am a proud owner of a generator and I will be using it personally.’’

Emmanuel from Abuja was particularly excited about her prize because she wasn’t expecting it, so it came to her as a real pleasant surprise. “I didn’t expect to win a generator; I was very surprised when I got a call from Glo,” she explained.

Laura Onwugbenu came all the way from Benin to collect her prize in Abuja. Going by her accounts, anybody could be a winner. She didn’t even know that a promo was going on. She just loaded N200 and won herself a generator.

According to her, the Glo Customer Care got in touch with her last week Friday and asked her to come to Abuja, because she had won a generator. “I did not know a promo was going on. I just loaded N200 and was called that I won a generator. I came all the way from Benin to collect my prize.’’ The journey, however, was worth it as in her words, “the generator is not a small one.”

Aliyu Mohammed from Nasarawa State is just happy and grateful. To reciprocate the good gesture from Glo, he said he would be one of its agents in his state.

“I feel fine. I was very happy when I was called. I am very grateful and by the grace of God I will be one of their agents in my state,” he said.

Commenting on the promo, another Prize winner, Ayegbajeje, who won a generator, had nothing but praise and appreciation to both God and Glo. He said Glo is a choice network as he advised everyone to stay with it.

“I really thank God and thank Glo. It is a network that you just have to stay with. My brother bought the Glo line when he came home from abroad three weeks ago. So, I am grateful to Glo. I am here to collect my prize, a generator. On this ‘My Own Don Beta’ promo, three Gbosas to Glo,” he said.

Some of the guests at the occasion included Patience Ozokwor (Mama G) and Samuel Perry, alias “Brodashaggy.” They both engaged the crowd and gave out free recharge cards to the fastest fingers in the crowd.

‘My Own Don Beta’ win big promo allows Glo’s new and existing prepaid and post-paid subscribers to participate in the offer that started on October 3, this year. Prepaid subscribers are expected to recharge with a total of N200 in a day either in one recharge or cumulative recharges to qualify to win. The more subscribers recharge, the more entries they get to the draw and the greater their chances of winning.

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Feature Minimum wage: Battle shifts between states and labour

I

JOSHUA BASSEY f there was a doubt regarding labour’s position with respect to the payment of the national minimum wage of N30,000, and the agreed consequential salary adjustment by state governments, that doubt was diffused at the recently concluded national leadership retreat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Enugu.

What became clear from discussions at the retreat was that labour knew ahead of time that state governments would prove a hard nut to crack. It was, therefore, not a surprise that chairmen of the NLC state councils and their executives were part of the retreat.

State councils of the NLC and other labour centres, including Trade Union Congress (TUC) play a critical role in the mobilisation of affiliate unions and civil society allies of labour for participation in strikes.

For the leadership of the NLC, the retreat was not only to encourage workers to adapt to new skills thrown up by technological advancement, in order to stay relevant at work places, it was also to build capacities of labour leaders and state councils to organise and negotiate.

It couldn’t, therefore, have come as a shock to labour that state governors, last week, restated their unwillingness to stick with the agreement reached between the Federal Government and labour on the new wage. For the NLC, it was a retreat to arm the state councils ahead of next week’s commencement of negotiation with state governments.

“State councils of the NLC are hereby directed to offer leadership and work harmoniously with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council (JNPSNC) and all unions to ensure effective implementation

of the new national minimum wage and the consequential salary adjustment that must be reached through a process of collective bargaining,” said Ayuba Wabba, president of the NLC. Asides the N30,000 minimum to be paid to the least of the worker in the public service, both parties also agreed on 23.2 percentage increase for workers at grade level 07; 20 percent for those at grade level 08; 19 percent for workers at grade level 09; 16 percent for those at levels 10 to 14; and 14 percent for workers at grade levels 15 to 17.

But state the governors are not comfortable with this. To them, this is not binding on them. According to Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti and chairman of Nigerian Government Forum (NGF), the crux of this

disagreement is the ability of states to pay.

“As far as we are concerned, the best that the governors can do will be to stick to what states will agree to. The federal executive council does not determine what happens in the states. Each state has an executive council which is the highest decision-making organ in the state.

“As far as we are concerned, the states were part of the tripartite discussion and agreed to the N30,000 minimum wage.

States also know there will be consequential adjustments, but that will be determined by what happens on the state by state basis because there are different numbers of workers at states.

There are different issues at the state level. Every state has its own trade unions and joint negotiations committee and they

will undertake discussions with their state governments,” Fayemi said.

Recent statistics from the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) showed that most of the Nigerian 36 states are living in a borrowed time due to huge debts.

According to FRC report, the states have a combined debt in excess of N2.39 trillion as at 2017, a 53.31 percent deficit.

The FRC’s report had further revealed that

by December 2017, the states spent about N359.32 billion or17.12 percent of their combined statutory revenues to service debts. All except four- Anambra, Katsina, Sokoto and Yobe States- had debts exceeding their revenues by 100 percent.

In its 2017 Annual States Viability Index, the Economic Confidential also rated 17 states in Nigeria as technical insolvent as their internally generated revenues (IGRs) were far below 10 percent of their receipts from the federation account.

But reacting to the governors’ position, Emmanuel Ugboaja, a lawyer and general secretary of the NLC warned the state governments against playing to the gallery.

According to Ugboaja, no state could discard the fact that a minimum wage of N30,000 would be at the centre of every negotiation.

“Everybody will negotiate differently based on the state economy but what is sacrosanct is the minimum wage of N30,000 and how that will be adjusted across the board is the function of collective bargaining between the workforce and government,” he said.

Similarly, Musa Lawal, the secretary general of the TUC, said that the state governments were represented in the committee that agreed to minimum wage, and therefore cannot refuse to pay.

“They cannot come around to deny it. They will be courting the anger of the organised labour movement,” Lawal, a lawyer, said.

Customs boss flies into PH to inspect N1.1bn seized goods …Says ‘Nigerians have to learn to consume local products, farmers are enjoying’ Ignatius Chukwu, Sam Esogwa & Gladys Nweke

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he Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs, Hamid Ali, flew into Port Harcourt at the week to inspect huge seizures worth over N1.1billion meant for export and others imported where he urged Nigerians to learn to embrace Nigerian products.

Ali said the partial border closure by the Federal Government is helping to transform the economy of the country by facilitating more patronage of locally manufactured goods.

According to him, the ongoing policy is in the best interest of Nigerians who are now being protected from consuming harmful foods that would have been smuggled into the country if not for the partial border closure.

Ali spoke when he visited the Port Harcourt Ports to see the containers of pangolin scales, tomato paste, and mackerel fish seized by the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command of the Nigerian Customs.

Commending the Command for making the seizures, the Customs CG said the feat was a sign that

security is improving at the nation’s ports, adding that with the partial border close, farmers are now enjoying more patronage while more room is being created for expansion of local businesses.

He said: “It is becoming clearer for those who had some doubts about the rationale to partially close the land borders that, indeed, we have a lot to gain. Security is improving; farmers are enjoying more patronage and are able to engage more hands to expand.

“Seizures of harmful things like these only show how we are being better protected from consuming wholesome edibles”.

He said the 1530kg Pangolin Scales falsely declared as Shales - a raw material for analysis - for export and captured on SGD No. E296 of 01/10/2019 with Air Way Bill No. 172-9474-8124 by Divine Help International Limited (the declarant) on behalf of Optimal Logistics Limited (the exporter) seized by Port Harcourt Area 1 Customs Command, has a black market value of N826million while the 10 ft container-load of tomato paste and 2ft container of canned mackerel fish falsely declared to be carrying agricultural sprayers have a total duty paid value of

N96.6million.

The CG disclosed this in Onne that the contraband goods include roofing tiles, expired baby wipes, vegetable oil, expired rice, scrapped metals, etc.

Ali said a total of 87 containers with Duty Paid Value of N1.1billion has been size in Onne port from 1st January 2019 to date, while Rivers port has recorded seizure of 12 containers with a duty paid value of N96m.

The Customs boss stated that all the seizures are in line with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004, Sections 46 and 161. “I urge officers of this Command to keep up the good job and to our media friends, please support us by continuously informing and educating the public about the necessity of what we do,” the CG added.

The breakdown of the seizures is as follows; 20 container of tomatoes with a total DPV of N272,261,026.69; 10 containers of vegetable Oil worth the sum of N58,380,528.00; 34 containers of roofing tiles amounted to the sum of N505,687,096.00; 11 containers of expired rice totaling the sum of N102,352,800.00.

Others are, one container of machetes with a total DPV of

N36,347,786.00; nine containers of expired vegetable oil and jam worth the sum of N117,614,232.00; one container of expired baby wipes with a total DPV of N9,041,714.00; one container of scrap metal amounting to the sum of N6,043,780.00.

The Port Harcourt Area 1 Command effected seizures of 1530kg Pangolin Scales falsely declared as Shale (raw material for analysis) for export and captured on SGD No. E296 of 01/10/2019 with Air Way Bill No. 172-9474-8124 by Divine Help International Limited (the declarant) on behalf of Optimal Logistics Limited (the exporter).

After a tip off and careful examination, the items were found to contain 32 packages of Pangolin Scales concealed in two wooden pallets. This contravenes Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which prohibits trading in Pangolin scales and other endangered plants and animals.

Ali assured that the Nigeria Customs Service, as a responsible agency, will not disappoint on its mandate of enforcing compliance by maintaining zero tolerance to smuggling activities,

irrespective of whoever is involved and under whatever circumstance.

He said: “When Nigeria Customs Service assumed the leadership role of the ongoing partial border closure, we were not mindful of the possibility of desperate smugglers attempting to divert their prohibited items through the seaports. Unknown to them NCS resolve is total and all encompassing across all land, air and sea ports.

“Security is improving; farmers are enjoying more patronage and are able to engage more hands to expand.

Seizures of harmful things like these, only shows how we are being better protected from consuming unwholesome edibles.

“The on-going partial closure of land borders across four geo political zones in the country has led to increased desperation by smugglers who are now diverting their activities to our seaports.

“Let me reiterate our concern and determination to do all it takes to protect the well being and safety of all citizens and residents by preventing the devastating effect of these hazardous importation and smuggled items.

They endanger our lives as Nigerians hence will not be allowed to find their ways into the markets.”

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Publisher/CEO

Tribute to Mobolaji Johnson (1936-2019)

editor Zebulon Agomuo

scribed as a great loss to Lagos state and indeed the country as a whole.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu described the deceased as a dedicated Lagosian with massive contributions to the development of Lagos State in particular and the nation as a whole.

The departed illustrious son of Lagos was a constant source of support and inspiration to subsequent governors of Lagos State, especially from 1999 till date. He was always willing to offer his wise counsels and experience whenever the need arises. Even while it was obvious that his health could not really support such rigorous endeavour, Johnson was a regular feature at every major Lagos State government ground breaking events since 1999. Such was his unbelievable commitment to the cause of Lagos State, and that is the exact reason why he would be sorely missed.

What is, however, soothing is that Mobolaji Johnson passed away at the ripe age of 83, having served God and humanity in various capacities and fields. A great administrator and rare humanist, Johnson touched and transformed several lives through his life of selfless service and industry. He was a symbol of decency, humility and integrity.

His life epitomised the virtues of honesty, fairness and justice.

As the First Military Governor of Lagos State, he discharged his mandate equitably with remarkable dignity. His indelible record of service remains intact. The “Centre of Excellence” that we proudly proclaim today is a product of his vision for Lagos State when he conceived several landmark programmes and projects for the newly created state.

Even in death, the story of the

Frank Aigbogun

DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude FINANCE MANAGER Emeka Ifeanyi MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (South East, South South) Patrick Ijegbai COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

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

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

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

T

he harsh reality of death as the predictable end of every mortal was succinctly driven home by Williams Shakespeare in one of his enduring works, Julius Caeser, in the following words: “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come”.

Death is certainly an integral part of human existence. Either by spiritual insight or medical diagnosis some know ahead of time about the imminence of their death. But for others, deaths come so suddenly, tragically and at times so painfully.

This same death, which Shakespeare describes as a necessary evil, finally caught up with Brigadier General Mobolaji Johnson (Rtd) on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at the age of 83. Mobolaji Johnson, the first Military Governor of Lagos State (1967-1966), reportedly died on that fateful day after a brief illness.

His death has since been de-

Imo Itsueli Mohammed Hayatudeen Afolabi Oladele Vincent Maduka Opeyemi Agbaje Amina Oyagbola Bolanle Onagoruwa Fola Laoye Chuka Mordi Mezuo Nwuneli Charles Anudu Tunji Adegbesan Eyo Ekpo Wiebe Boer Paul Arinze Boye Olusanya Ayo Gbeleyi

development of Lagos to a model megacity cannot be told without a mention of this unassuming and worthy leader. Some of the impactful projects he executed as governor are still visible and have definitely outlived the man who did them.

In the realisation that Lagos State is the most populous and leading state in the federation, Mobolaji Johnson was determined to turn the state into the pride of the nation.

The policy thrust of his administration was shaped by his faith in the creative capabilities and unbounded energies of the people, especially the masses. Thus, his early days in office clearly showed him as a man who brought resourcefulness, experience and dynamism to the task of solving problems that linger and hinder the progress of the people of the state.

Mobolaji Johnson was first appointed as the Administrator of the Federal Territory of Lagos on January 15, 1966 and later as Military Governor at the creation of the state on May 27, 1967. He recorded considerable achievements during his tenure. His regime witnessed an increase in revenue of the state from N36.7m to N99.7m. The increase was largely due to the revenue allocation formula that had just been introduced and increased revenue from crude oil, which was partly distributed to the State Governments.

Under his leadership, the state government generated the larger proportion of its revenue from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

According to the government then, the IGR was known as, “sources under the control of the Lagos State Government”.

It was the Mobolaji Johnson administration that began the con-

struction of Ikorodu and Mushin General Hospitals. It also modernized the General Hospital, Lagos, by building the new mortuary block, physical medicine department, sewage treatment plant and installation of a standby generator. The administration also commissioned the nurses hostel, doctors flat at Marina, Isolo and Harvey Road Health Centres.

Also built by the administration was the maternity annex at Onikan Health Centre and additional ward at Igbobi Orthopedic Hospital. It equally opened five new Government Colleges in each of the five divisions of the state.

The Johnson administration also introduced the harmonized teachers’ salaries and conditions of service to enhance the status of the profession and commenced the implementation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE).

The administration equally completed projects under the Lagos Water Supply phase1 Expansion Programme and designed the Owo Water Works as an alternative to Iju Water Works, to serve Ojo and environs. Other strides of the administration are: Construction of the Victoria Island Sewage Scheme for Ikoyi, Lagos Island etc.; introduction of the regulations for motorcyclists to wear crash helmets; introduction of Traffic Courts; establishment of Agricultural Extension Works Stations; construction and commissioning of the Government Printing Press at Isheri road in Ikeja; and so on.

Note: the rest of this article continues in the online edition of Business Day @https://businessday.ng

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15 Inside Lagos

LASG urges precaution as 117 residents down over epidemic outbreak …intensifies surveillance activities Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

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agos State government has alerted the citizens to maintain high standard personal and environmental hygiene as part of measures to prevent the outbreak of epidemics especially the spread of gastroenteritis also known as vomiting and diarrhea already reported in the state.

Commissioner for health, Akin Abayomi who stated this while reviewing the situation report of cases of the gastroenteritis recorded in the state after the weekly biosecurity update meeting on Friday, said that 117 cases of the disease had been seen at health facilities in five local government area.

“Following the report of these cases, rapid response teams at the affected local governments led by the medical officers were activated, stool specimen were collected for laboratory test to confirm the micro-organism causing

Site of the building collapse on Glover Court, Ikoyi on Friday

the vomiting and diarrhea while surveillance have also been scaled up in communities within the affected councils to stop the spread of the infection.”

The results of laboratory tests, he said, would be published once the source pathogen was identified”, he said.

He listed the local government areas where the cases have been reported

to include Lagos Island, Ajeromi, Apapa, Mushin and Ikeja, adding that out of the 117 cases reported, 109 have been treated and discharged.

Abayomi noted that the increased cases of the disease may be as a result of persistent rainfall and flooding being experienced in the state.

He said the government through the rapid response

teams was providing the affected communities and the public information on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation to halt the spread of the infection.

The commissioner explained that gastroenteritis is caused by micro-organisms like those causing typhoid fever, cholera and certain viruses, adding that it can be contacted by eat-

Vendors, exhibitors hopeful as Lagos trade fair begins

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he 2019 Lagos International Trade Fair opened on Friday, with food vendors and exhibitors expectant of a boom in sales.

Food vendors and exhibitors who spoke on their expectations during the one-week fair ongoing at the Tafawa Balewa Square, expressed the hope to a better deal.

One of them, Agnes Emodofu, said: “I feel this year’s fair will be better because I didn’t gain last year.

I am optimistic that the

sales will be more and there would also be increased awareness for people to turn up,” said Emodofu , a food vendor.

She said that even though there had been radio and television jingles, more could still be done to increase interest in the fair. Emodofu said she was, however, unhappy she had yet to have power supply at the venue.

Nwanyi Ijeoma, another food vendor, also looked forward to a good outing, but prayed the environment would become more condu-

cive as the days go by.

“We were promised electricity but till this minute there is no light; asides no electricity, there is also inadequate sanitary facilities for people to use. “I hope as the fair progresses, all these basics would be put into place,’’ she said.

Hope Akan, the marketing manager of Nycil Baby Products, said he hoped to make good sales in spite of low purchasing power of people.

He said that though there was a slow start with regard

ing or drinking contaminated foods such as uncooked seafood or shellfish from estuarine waters.

He further explained that lack of access to safe water and food supplies, attending large gatherings of people including ceremonies such as weddings or funerals and contact with persons who died of gastroenteritis are other pre-disposing factors to contacting the infection.

“Patients with gastroenteritis present with severe acute watery diarrhea and profuse vomiting.

Those infected with micro-organisms causing the disease shows signs and symptoms within 12 hours to one week after ingesting contaminated food or water. The disease affects both children and adult and can kill within hours if untreated”, Abayomi said.

He listed measures to be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the infection as including washing of hands with soaps and water frequently and boiling of water before drinking if the source of the water is

in doubt.

He also emphasised the need for citizens to wash fruits and vegetables before eating; cook food thoroughly; dispose waste material properly, avoid open and indiscriminate defecation and keep water containers clean.

“Citizens must ensure proper disposal of waste and ensure they avoid possible backflow connection between water and sewer system. It is important that citizens wash their hands with soap and running water, especially after defecation, before eating or food preparation and when they have been in contact with a sick person or touch any item or surface that may have been contaminated.”

Abayomi also advised health workers to take universal safety precautions when dealing with patients.

He also advised them to report any alarming increase in cases of vomiting and diarrhea to the medical officer in their local government or the directorate of disease.

Two-storey building collapses in Ikoyi

to access to some basic facilities, it could pick up later.

“We paid for light, but there is no light for now and we do not know the reason why it is so.

“However, this is the first day of the fair, so I feel they are still setting up some facility. I hope before the day runs out, there will be supply,’’ Akan said.

Conglomerates like the DSTV, PEPSI, were seen setting up their stands while young boys and girls were being briefed about how to market their goods. NAN

A

two-storey building under construction collapsed in Ikoyi on Friday.

The building collapsed at Glover Court, Ikoyi, where officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) went seen helping out trapped persons.

It was gathered that labourers working on the building were trapped but the specific number of people on site is unknown.

Director general of LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said the building collapsed around 4.10pm on Friday

at Glover Court, Ikoyi and injured person rescued from the building “It is a two-storey building under construction. Upon receiving the information, LASEMA immediately activated the Lagos emergency response plan for all first responders to move to the site of the collapsed building.

“Similarly, Lagosians within the vicinity of the incident were advised to stay calm and allow emergency responders to do their job,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

Collapse of buildings in Nigeria’s commercial city of Lagos is a recurring decimal.

Rotary offers free medical outreach in Amuwo-Odofin

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h e Ro t a r y Cl u b of Amuwo Odofin has commenced a three-day medical outreach for the treatment of cataract and pterygium for residents of the area.

The medical mission tagged, ‘Rotary Family Health Days,’ commenced on Friday in collaboration with Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac Town,

Lagos.

The president of the club, Francis Ogugua, said that the programme was aimed at providing basic and preventive healthcare services, drugs and free surgeries for people with cataract and pterygium.

Ogugua said that apart from referrals to experts, the outreach would create awareness for people to

know signs to look out for in order to prevent certain diseases.

“We are also checking for two conditions, cataract and pterygium, and the check will culminate to surgeries, which will be free of charge. “ Ma n y p e o p l e d o n ’ t know their health status and it is very important that they do; we have booths

where tests are being carried out for different diseases like malaria, blood sugar, high blood pressure and HIV,” he said.

The club’s special project chairman, Zakari Goni, said that no fewer than 300 people would benefit from the three-day programme.

“This project is aimed at screening people for malaria, HIV and other ailments.

What we do here is basically screening for diseases, then we refer them to hospitals where comprehensive tests will be done, if needed,” he said.

Daniel Ighakpe, a beneficiary of the medical outreach, commended the club for providing the medical services free of charge to the residents.

“In the past, I got a free

mosquito net that was very useful to me and last year, I got malaria drugs,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Agatha Aloziem, expressed joy for the opportunity to check her blood pressure level.

“When they checked my BP, it was a little high and that’s because I didn’t take my medication before coming,” she said.

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Sunday 03 November 2019

Politics

South should be ready for epic struggle to get back power in 2023 - Akintoye Banji Akintoye is a renowned historian, Second Republic federal lawmaker and was recently elected president of Yoruba World Congress. In this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, he warns that without a holistic electoral reform, Nigerians may not get the needed dividend of democracy. He also spoke on other issues in the polity. Excerpts:

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here were initial reports that you rejected the position after being elected; are you now the leader of the Yoruba nation?

I did not reject anything. What I did was to say that the people who elected me had agreed that from the type of work that I have been doing abroad, the political relationship I had built abroad and home, and my general acceptance as a non-partisan person, I was fit for the position. So, what the election means for me was an acceptance as leader of the Yoruba’s at home and abroad. For me, it is to garner the energy of the Yoruba nation in Nigeria and other nations.

to that?

Yes, it is true, some people in the North are bent on holding on to power in 2023; they are not saying or talking about 2023; they are even saying that power should remain in the North indefinitely. The South should be ready for epic struggle to get back power in 2023.

But it is presumed that if power returns to the South, it is the turn of the Igbos to produce the president; do you believe in that?

What I would say is that those people from the South; the Igbos, Ijaws, whatever group, whoever wants power to return to the South should better think of a strategy of bringing power to the South. It is only then that we can begin to talk if it is going to be in the west or east. But generally, the President tends to sideline the Igbos out of the leadership positions in the country; definitely it is not right. It is embarrassing that it is happening. He needs to look at it very carefully. You cannot sideline a section of Nigeria out of the leadership of the country.

So, does it mean you are the leader of the Yoruba Nation?

I am the President of the Yoruba World Congress; that is all.

Nigeria recently celebrated 59 years of independence; how would you assess the progress made?

I have been in all the positions; Nigeria has been retrogressing massively in all directions. There are no bases for comparing today and 1950’s. When we had the regional governments that were doing well; the whole of Nigeria was up with pride, no basis of comparing. In the 1970’s, when we in the Unity Party of Nigeria were putting together a country that was to be the giant of the African continent, we were glad that we were on our way to building the black man power. Today, everyone can say that it is a totally different country.

Does it mean there has not been progress, but we have been having elections and new leaders emerging?

Talking about elections; I would say that the only real election we had in this country was the presidential election of June 1993. Everyone, including observers from abroad agreed that it was a free and fair election. We Nigerians can be proud.

Any other election that you can reckon with and compare to what is happening now is the 1964 federal election. That was after independence, it was badly done that the President at that time, Nnamdi Azikiwe was forced to say that the way that election was badly rigged, it would be impossible for him to call anybody to form a government.

The result was that, three or four days we did not have a government. We have been having elections in that mode since then.

1993 election was the best and there is no one like that since then.

But we have had about 20 years of uninterrupted democracy?

We tell ourselves that we have democracy and our leaders say we have democracy; this is no democracy; the elections are manipulated. Candidates’ nominations in the primaries are often rigged. People who control the party allocate powers to choose the candidates. The lawful candidates become violent and sometimes they are supported by touts. Winning elections here, you have to come with lots of money to manipulate the nominations,

Banji Akintoye when the real election comes it would be the same thing. The godfathers have so much power to manipulate the election in the direction they want. Usually, it is not the votes of Nigerians but the power of those in power that would decide who wins election in Nigeria.

What should be done; do we need electoral reforms?

In the 1950’s we were succeeding wonderfully; even the North under Ahmadu Bello was doing wonderfully. The Eastern region was doing great, and the Western region under Awolowo was also doing

We tell ourselves that we have democracy and our leaders say we have democracy; this is no democracy; the elections are manipulated.

Candidates’ nominations in the primaries are often rigged

well. Nigerians could look to the future with hope and pride. We had a proper federation. Our leaders in a meeting with our colonial masters designed an arrangement that each region would have autonomy to manage its affairs, which was wonderful. The regions were doing well and the people even had representatives and hope. Immediately after independence, the people in control of the Federal Government controlled the regions; they suspended the structure and appointed an administrator.

The government proceeded to rig the election in the Western region; the soldiers took over, the only thing they knew was to centralise everything. But the implication was that they destroyed the federal system in the country, since then, we have never had any federal system in Nigeria again.

The 1999 Constitution, which one of the military dictators gave to Nigeria, is the worse constitution ever given to Nigerians.

It is the genesis of the disasters that have been befalling Nigeria today. When we talk about restructuring what we are asking for is a return to those years of the 1950s.

We are not necessarily asking that we should go back to the three regions; but that we should go back to the pattern of relationship between the Federal Government and the regions. Even though the regions and the states of today would be different but we should go back to that arrangement.

Power is expected to shift to the South in 2023, but recent comments by some leaders and groups in the North have been contrary. How do you react

Are you saying you are not happy with his appointments?

Buhari’s appointments have really gone a long way to divide the country. By concentrating his appointments in a section of the country, he has created anger, bitterness and hatred in the mind of a lot of people outside his own side of Nigeria.

He was elected to rule Nigeria, find the right persons across the country to govern Nigeria; he was not elected to appoint people from his own part of the country.

But by doing so he has divided the country very badly.

What steps would you take to unite the Yorubas; it is presumed that the Yorubas could are not be united?

The Yoruba are not divided; when people say that I don’t know what they mean among the ethnic nationalistic, we have always been one of the most united tribe.

They are very proud of their culture, they are very proud of their history and they are very proud of what they have achieved in the world. But in term of managing what they have achieved in Nigeria it is a Nigeria problem. Our objective is to build the best unity for the Yoruba nation and there ways to achieve that. There may be issues but the groups are seeking ways to achieving peace. There is divergent of opinion on that matter. We would face the problems that face the Yoruba nation squarely and see that they are resolved.

We are a nation of equitable people.

We can achieve result; but the way things have gone shows that we have lost our direction and success map, we must get it back. We are going to give serious look into our educational system; the large numbers of university graduates that lack jobs, we are going to be doing something so that that world would see and admire. We are putting a lot of programs; we assured that you the people would see them soon.

Sunday 03 November 2019

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BDSUNDAY 17

Politics

Supreme Court’s verdict on Buhari/Atiku case continues to elicit controversy

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Iniobong Iwok

President Muhammadu Buhari the party forward, saying this was not the time to engage in blame game.

“Our party must now come together to do a thorough soul searching. This is not the time to blame anyone. Let us shut our doors and look within and do an honest and sincere appraisal about the way forward,” he added.

Also speaking on the judgm e n t , Ti m i Fr a n k , p o l i t i c a l activist and former deputy national publicity Secretary of the APC, described the Supreme Court judgment as a show of shame by the judiciary.

In a statement to the media, Frank warned that the few beneficiaries who were hailing the outcome of the judgment should careful not to fall victim in the near future.

He stressed that Atiku will remain a true hero of democracy in Nigeria despite the ruling.

Frank further described the ruling as not only the worst but a daylight robbery in the history of Nigeria.

According to him, “It is an embarrassment and a total show of shame as other countries would l be laughing at our judiciary. It was a well scripted drama. The evil agenda was perfected before Buhari left the country in pretence.

“It was collaboration between the presidency and the Supreme Court. Most Nigerians were shock at the speed at which the panel dismissed the case because the judgment came as a surprise to them.

“Nigerians will recall that I exposed the handpicked names of the panel members two days before Justice Tanko Mohamned made it public. But surprisingly

Atiku Abubakar and shamelessly, the anti-democratic forces, despite the exposure still went ahead with the handpicked list. They have sold their consciences to the devil.

“The current apex court has taken the country far backward in the justice administration and it will take the mercy of God for all the actors in this sham to escape the hottest part of hell.

“This is a judgment that posterity will never forgive all those who sat on it and allowed themselves to be compromised. All those who allowed themselves

”

n the last few days, the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Supreme Court in the suit challenging his victory in last February’s presidential election, instituted by the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar has continued to dominate public discourse.

Atiku and the PDP had challenged the judgment of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which had affirmed the election of President Buhari who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal had unanimously ruled that Atiku and PDP failed to prove allegations of irregularities against President Buhari and his party over the February 23 elections.

The five-member panel of the tribunal held that Atiku and PDP failed to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, allegations of corruption and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against Buhari and the APC. Atiku and PDP had alleged that security agencies and agents of the APC committed acts of violence, vote-buying, manipulation of ballot papers, stuffing of ballot boxes, massive thumb-print of ballot papers, deflation and inflation of votes, among others in states such as Borno, Yobe, Niger, Katsina, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe and Kebbi However, the panel headed by Chief justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed last Wednesday dismissed the appeal for lack of merit, saying that the reasons for its decision would be made public in due course.

“The panel had read all the documents and exhibits filed in the case for two weeks and found the appeal to be lacking in merit,” Tanko said.

Perhaps, for many Nigerians, what is most surprising is not the outcome of the judgm e n t b y t h e n a t i o n ’s a p e x court, but the swiftness at which the judgment was delivered by the seven-man panel.

A former deputy national c h a i r m a n o f P D P, Ol a b o d e George, expressed deep shock over the Supreme Court verdict, saying that it was too swift and unprecedented.

“The decision of the Supreme Court is too swift, too fast and unprecedented. I am shellshocked. It is unbelievable. As a party man I am disappointed with the ruling. But that is the pronouncement of the highest court in the land,” he said.

He, however, called on the leaders and members of his party, PDP to come together to do a thorough soul searching to move

The decision of the Supreme Court is too swift, too fast and unprecedented. I am shell-shocked. It is unbelievable. As a party man I am disappointed with the ruling. But that is the pronouncement of the highest court in the land

to be used shall fully receive their reward. It will be on record that certain Justices had opportunity to right the wrong but decided otherwise.”

“It is not all about Atiku, he cannot go hungry. It is about the future of young Nigerians. If Nigerians will continue to seat back and refuse to fight for their rights, the obvious hunger, poverty, insecurity, unemployment, incompetence hands in government and all other problems facing the country will not voluntarily disappear,” Timi Frank warned.

However, this accusation and suspicious was waved aside by a Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jhon Bayeishea who spoke in an interview with BDSUNDAY, arguing that considering the limited time available to the Supreme Court Judges on the case, the judges had probably read the brief of Atiku’s lawyers and made their submission from there.

Bayeishea added that there was nothing new in the judgment, stressing that similar judgment had been given in the past.

According to him, “The Supreme Court has their reasons even in critical instances; it is just people that are taking it as if heaven would fall. For lawyers it is just like any other cases.

“The case is time bound; that is 60 days from the day the judgment was delivered by the Supreme Court, for them to give judgment.

“They did not have all the time; I mean for lawyers of both sides to argue their cases; what they probably did was to read the brief of Atiku’s and Buhari’s lawyers and after that they gave their

judgment.

“It is because it is a high profile political case that is why we are seeing all this noise. After reading the briefs, they must have deliberated among themselves and arrived at that judgment. It is a case of exigencies of the time.

“Even before the judgment there were talks that the case was being delayed and time was running out if it would not be heard. If the Supreme Court did not hear the case, we would have been saying something else. Let’s wait and see the reasons for the judgment,” he explained.

A former president of the NBA in Lagos State, Martin Igbochi, urged Nigerians to wait till the apex court gives reasons for their judgment before they could draw conclusion.

“They have given their judgment, and there have been talks on both sides of the parties, I mean they are still talking. But I think we should wait until they give their reasons for the judgment, after then we can effectively criticise them or not,” Igbochi said.

But a chieftain of the APC in Lagos State, Lanre Razak, however, applauded the judgment, describing the verdict as a welcome development.

“Nigerian judiciary has once again demonstrated that it is the last hope of common man the judgment is a good development for the country.

“Politicians and political elites should work hard to win election, they should not rely on wrong notion that the judiciary would give them victory, that’s the lesson of what happened today at the Supreme Court,” Rasak said.

18

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Sunday 03 November 2019

Focus How socio-economic pressure is pushing Nigerians to the brink

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AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

ew days back, videos of a certain woman with deformed arm, said to have been healed by four different pastors after performing same kind of miracle on her, trended on the social media platforms.

The videos showed four Nigerian pastors at different events perform a healing miracle on the same woman, whose name was given as Bose Ola. Her deformed and stunted arm grew to its normal size each time the pastors prayed for her.

One of the pastors, identified as Chris Okafor, who was said to be the founder of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, attributed the woman’s stunted arm to spiritual attack from her husband’s house.

Several social media reports described the said miracles as fake, and it was alleged that the woman collected N1million from each of the pastors that used her as object of miracle.

In what seems to be a contradiction, Bose Ola, who was said to have come from Ibarakpa in Oyo State, claimed in an interview with CKN News that she had a domestic accident two years ago that resulted in fractured arm.

Confirming that she had attended several and uncountable churches for healing, Ola said that she gets healing after attending those churches but the ailment relapses two days after the healing.

According to her, when healed, the pains on her arm disappears but that after two days, it returns, and this informs why she kept attending various churches seeking for permanent healing.

She was however, quoted as saying that after her encounter with Pastor Chris Okafor, the pains on her arms were not returned. The healing was permanent. “I am permanently healed now,” she claimed, although the CKN News noticed that the hand was still dangling from the upper joint.

The story of Bose Ola is one out of so many fake miracles happening in Nigeria today. This has strong link with the physical, spiritual, economic, and psychological problems faced by many citizens.

In Nigeria, as in many parts of Africa, for instance, people believe that misfortune comes from magical attacks, witches, wizards, or other demonic powers in their environments. The rising socio-economic problems manifested in unemployment, poverty, among others may have encouraged the desperation to seek solution from any source whatsoever.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with a population of over 190 million, is richly endowed with mineral resources, and is presently the ninth largest oil exporting country in the world.

Despite these huge resources, Nigeria is engulfed with socio-economic problems which have caused poverty and conflict in the country, thereby pushing the citizens into desperate situations.

Globally, Nigeria has remained one of the 10 poorest countries in the world. The country is still considered to be a poor country with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about

$374.3 billion.

This is the main reason for the rising economic hardship in Nigeria, which has been taking tolls on families since Nigerian economy slipped into recession in 2016 after recording 2.06 percent contraction in growth.

A school of thought has argued that the failure of governance has pushed the masses into resorting to alternatives they think capable of giving them succour from their excruciating pain.

Investigation by BDSUNDAY shows that unemployment is a big problem in Nigeria, and many people are frustrated with the widespread joblessness in the country.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the calculated unemployment rate in Nigeria was 23.1 percent, the underemployment rate was 20.1 percent, and the combined unemployment and underemployment rate was 43.3 percent as at the third quarter of 2018.

From 2016 till date, there has been serious negative economic impact on both businesses and the economy in general to the extent that many companies have repeatedly reduced staff strength and cut down salaries to manage raising cost of production.

Consequently, family responsibilities such as feeding, house rent, school fees and others have continued to pile up for bread winners amid shrinking income. This has been taking place in the face of salary cut, high inflation rates, and low purchasing power as well as other macroeconomic indices that impact negatively on peoples’ standard of living in Nigeria today.

With scarcity of resources and need to surmount pilling economic pressure, many

Nigerians are forced to seek miracles to get rich quick, cure diseases and resolve other distressing situations. They have been pushed to embrace the Karl Marx theory on Religion, when he stated that “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” Today, many Nigerians have resorted to religion as the only avenue to derive succour as successive governments have made life unbearable for them.

On daily basis, many seek solutions in wrong places- religious centres, native doctors, marabouts, looking for miracles and relief from their socio-economic pains, even when it becomes clear that some of such places are managed by fake clerics and dupes, whose intentions are to rip the people off.

Today, many Nigerians patronise such

With scarcity of resources and need to surmount pilling economic pressure, many Nigerians are forced to seek miracles to get rich quick, cure diseases and resolve other distressing situations

bizarre places looking for husbands, wives, solution to their poverty such that they spend days in prayer houses seeking miracles and visions for their insurmountable problems.

Fred Ani, a social media writer, said: “Nigeria is a country where motivational speakers disguise as ‘men of God’ to milk gullible miracleseekers and to enrich themselves.”

Adelowo Felix Adetunji, a senior lecturer in Comparative Religion and Mission, Babcock University, in his article on ‘Miracles in Nigeria: An evaluation of Unusual Occurrences,’ stated that West Africa has the highest concentration of spiritual churches focusing on miraculous manifestations.

According to him, “People can spend a whole day in churches seeking for miracles and visions for their insurmountable problems. However, most miracles can just be a street-side entertainment scene, drawing the unemployed, busybodies or the plain curious as well as the ignorant that are too weak to think and explain their daily problems in clear terms.”

“As West Africa shows the boom in spiritual churches and the juju-marabou mediums have seen the commercialisation of miracles, making it unsacred and undermining its divine nature,” Adetunji said.

“People appear in their thousands in churches and crusade grounds (both Christians and non-Christians), not seriously seeking after Christ or spiritual food, but for miracles. Healing miracles have actually become the ‘real thing’ or the most current issue in African Christianity today,” he observed.

To address this, Okwuagbala Uzochukwu Mike, a writer, who said that people engage in illegal and bad activities when they are frustrated with legitimate options, said instead of allowing persistent unemployment to continue, government should increase security in the country and hire youths as security agents.

According to him, lack of opportunity makes them indulge in criminal and desperate acts, and their actions make the whole nation look bad.

Kidnapping activity in Nigeria, he said, is growing fast like grasses on the river side that have water in abundance and that it has become business for many criminals in Nigeria.

“This has come to the extent of kidnapping travellers on highways for ransom,” he noted.

Today, graduates often times stay in their parents’ homes for long time, with mounting frustration and pessimism. This pushes such persons into becoming prey and eligible clients for the so-called fake pastors and other criminal gangs.

There is an urgent need for government and private individuals to work hand-in-hand to reduce unemployment rate in Nigeria. Encouraging acquisition of skills will go a long way in solving Nigeria’s unemployment challenge.

It has also become very imperative for government to tackle the infrastructure problems by providing proper funding and cracking down on the embezzlement of public funds earmarked for infrastructure.

Also, Nigeria needs stable power supply and better roads. Workers need to earn better wages, and those with good skills and strong ethics should be positively rewarded.

Sunday 03 November 2019

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BDSUNDAY 19

Interview

‘Why locally manufactured drugs are better than imported ones’ Nnadumije, Leoni Dumebi, a pharmacist and MD/CEO, Reagan Remedies Ltd and Eudora Pharmaceutical Industry Limited, in this interview with SABY ELEMBA, spoke on the advantage of locally manufactured drugs over imported ones, among other issues. Excerpts: Could you let us into the various drugs manufactured by Reagan Remedies Ltd? e are into manufacturing of drugs, distribution as well as retailing. We manufacture drugs like Reastomy tablets, Reasulf tabs, Re-menstrogen tabs Ashnil, RegalGgan tabs Avitor tabs. We also manufacture Bethasone-N, Genine Paracetamol, Re-Gestnine tabs, Mazoka tabs, Reacoten cream. Reacoten vaginal cream, Reacoten vaginal tabs and there are so many others in the pipe line.

Does Reagan Remedies Limited handle the other aspects of distribution and retailing as well?

Our sister companies are the ones handling these. We have Eudora Pharmacy. We have a Pharmacy at Everyday Supermarket in Owerri and at Sam Mbakwe Airport; we hope to go into importing but for now we do not import; we manufacture these drugs.

Some people say that drugs imported into the country are better and more effective than the ones manufactured locally here in Nigeria. What is the truth?

I will say it is a self-opinion.

There are some incident that will give rise to such opinion, but as for us, indigenous companies, we know that manufactured products in Nigeria, if not for the facts of packaging or finishing, the actives are always powerful.

If a product is imported from Abroad, there is a standard for the production, so as to work with the temperature of that country. Now, if you transport a product from oversees to Nigeria, it goes through a lot of temperature variance, sometimes, it loses its stability and then it becomes like a chalk in the system. But a product that is manufactured in Nigeria has been manufactured with factors surrounding the geographical climate; so, it will not go through such stability controls unlike the ones that are manufactured from abroad. So, I will rather say in my own opinion that drugs manufactured in Nigeria are far better, because we take into consideration the environment and the people that these products

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Nnadumije, Leoni Dumebi

are manufactured for. So, it helps in planning the factors surrounding the production, which is why I will say that products manufactured in Nigeria are okay.

Some manufacturers of your type say that the environment is hostile to production or manufacturing in the country; now can you share your own view with us?

Yes, I will agree with them, that manufacturing in Nigeria is not easy, especially we that are in the South East and SouthSouth regions of the country.

We have a lot of challenges with logistics, with manpower, electricity and in this part of the country, we do not have a lot of experts also. We always have to invite experts from other states that have more clusters. There are challenges that are peculiar to our company; we are located in the Eastern region and this affects our productivity. When we have some issues arising from production, for a company in Lagos it will take some 30 minutes for experts to come and handle that machine problems but for us it will take two days for these experts to take night bus or morning bus even flight just to come to look at something that would have been handled under

30minutes. For us, that amounts to delay and it can mar the production; sometimes it makes us to plan ahead in case of eventuality which is necessary. But the challenges now become more expensive because you have to take care of the logistics of these persons and then the diesel expenditure because of the power outage. The challenges against manufacturing are more in the South-East than in the western or northern part of the country.

And you will also understand that here in the East now, the natural gas is something that is just coming up; a lot of us use

a lot of fuel and diesel, but the natural gas is being consumed a lot more in the western part of the country. So, I feel that with time if the natural gas is made available to us for use, it will reduce the cost of production and help us so that our products can compete with those imported and those of our competitors also.

Some manufacturers complain about multiple taxations?

Do you also experience that?

Yes, here in the state, companies are worried but I think here in the South East it is better than in western states like Lagos. But I think each state has its own peculiar taxation problems, but we are also complying. The important thing is for the government to help the companies by building and embarking on road maintenance; put more Infrastructure in place; they should make the road assessable. The other day, our truck almost fell into a ditch because of bad roads.

Again, another challenge is that you have to transport your raw materials from Lagos to the Southeast. Had it been we have a seaport closer to us here in the South-east it would have been better and easier; you do not have to travel all the way to Lagos again to get your goods.

These are some of the things the government has to do and also to channel our taxes into so that we can have good roads and other infrastructure to assist the companies located in the Southeast to do better.

As a young lady and the MD/ CEO, what are the challenges of managing a big company like yours with subsidiaries?

Yes, I do find it challenging,

I will agree with them, that manufacturing in Nigeria is not easy, especially we that are in the South East and South-South regions of the country. We have a lot of challenges with logistics, with manpower, electricity and in this part of the country, we do not have a lot of experts also

especially now that my parents are no more. And we the children and as a family came together to make sure the companies are still working. The challenges are more of emotional; we still have physical challenges when it comes to matters of the society, but we put our hope in God that God will keep giving us strength so that we can move forward. I know that it is not easy for young ones to take over a big company like this, but I believe that with time we will get over the whole issue.

Can you tell us why you went into the study of pharmacy?

It was a passion built when I was a child, seeing my parents that were not pharmacists in the business of drugs; they had a lot of challenges in the pharmaceutical industry business for the mere fact that they were not pharmacists.

The fact that I did not want my parents being sidelined made me to go into that study so that I have to be closer to them as they had a big investment in the pharmaceutical industry. So, I thought it wise to go into the pharmaceutical training so as to close that gap. I feel it was a wonderful decision I took and I feel that God will also help us all the way; help my family. I went to one of the best medical schools, and training.

My siblings also went to medical training. I am grateful to have this wonderful great exposure and also coming back from overseas to bring this knowledge to my people. I can’t say that I have achieved it all, I believe, I am still in the training process, and I believe by the grace of God we will get to the peak of our career.

I studied in Ternopil National Economic University (TNEU), Ukraine, likewise my younger ones. My siblings, three of us, have graduated and we are doing well in our areas of calling. My sister is a medical doctor; she is the vice-chairman of the company; her name is Dr. Nnadumije Ebube Dawn. She studied Medicine and the other one is Barrister Nnadumije Ona Pryanka, she studied in American University Cyprus and I believe we all have our inputs to make in the society by travelling and coming back to invest our knowledge in the country and the society we grew up in.

20 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 03 November 2019

Encounter 30 minutes with Ndaeyo Uko, a quintessential journalist ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

H

e is described as a globe-trotter who has coached editors and reporters in newsrooms in Nigeria and Ghana and trained journalists in Cameroon as well as introduced narrative writing at James Cook and Monash, Universities in Australia where is now a professor.

Significantly, he is a regular speaker at the Nieman conference on narrative journalism but before assuming such exalted positions and becoming a global brand, he was seen as fearless, bold and satirical in his writings when he was practising journalism. His columns in the Daily Times gave the military junta sleepless nights. That’s how he became one of the most sought-after journalists in the industry.

One can hardly forget his satirical pieces in major newspapers, his encounters with the powers that be, including the ‘motor park episode’ and the Rock and Rule years.

Because of courage in daring to tread where others dreaded, he was always at loggerheads with the authorities.

So, when we sat down together recently, the major topic of discussion was nothing else apart from journalism practice, its impact in the society and how it can be a tool for social development. He may have left active journalism practice but his love for the profession that brought him fame and recognition worldwide has not left him. This was displayed throughout our interaction.

He recalled his days at the Daily Times, one of the widely circulated daily newspapers then, how his boss then insisted that he had to go through his script before publication and how he stoutly rejected.

And why did you do that? I asked softly. “I could not have allowed him to go through my script, if it were a news report, I would have done so,’’ he answered in a low tone.

“Once, I interviewed an army officer and he asked sarcastically whether I have been taken care of; I told him I earn a salary which is more than his rank.’’

“I also had the opportunity to interview a ‘big man’ who insisted that I should accept something from him.

As a way of showing respect, I reluctantly accepted but gave it to his gateman,” he

For DTT to succeed in Nigeria, govt needs to educate viewers - Hanlon Andrew Hanlon, chief executive officer of TVC Communications, Lagos, Nigeria, in this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE, spoke on issues around the proposed Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) which may soon come on stream in Nigeria. Excerpts:

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Ndaeyo Uko

said.

He recalled that after he left the Daily Times, a governor from one of the South South states invited him to revive a newspaper owned by the state government. He said after spending six months working for the state government, the governor did not fulfill his part of the agreement. He refused to pay for the services he had rendered. According to him, little did he know that it was a prelude for something big that was about to happen- a project that brought him something more substantial.

“Soon after that experience, I got another invitation to revive a newspaper in Port Harcourt, that was Sunray newspaper, because of the experience I had with the governor in the south-south, I insisted that I should be paid up front,’ they agreed and I got my money inintact.”

Uko, now a professor of narrative journalism, did not allow the journalism instinct in him of asking questions to go unnoticed. He threw a few questions at me, some of which I considered very profound to the growth of journalism and another indication of his enduring love for the profession.

“What are the challenges facing journalism today?” he asked.

I turned my eyes towards his face. Myriads of answers flooded my mind. An openended question, it was. The answer could be as many as possible depending on where the person answering is coming from.

“Journalists are not ade-

quately remunerated,’’ I said.

“That is true,” he said. “In our days, it was difficult for journalists to buy and own good cars,” he said.

As we were talking, a journalist drove in. He was in a 1999 Toyota Camry car. I drew his attention to it and saiditwouldbealmostimpossible for a journalist to buy a 2018RangeRoverbeingseen everywherearoundthetown.

As our meeting progressed, he reminded me of those values he has held on to over the years which he would continue to cherish.

“I will always keep and maintain old friendship,” he told me.

Another was that of maintaining his integrity and not bothering his friends who have found themselves in government.

Uko read an online report of how a female journalist in Akwa Ibom was jailed by officials of the state sanitation and waste management agency for taking pictures while the officials raided road side traders in Uyo. He immediately called and asked about the travail of the female journalist.

His book, ‘Story Building’ published by University Press of America is one of the many books he has so far authored.

Arguably, a journalist’s delight and one whose indelible mark in the profession will be difficult to ignore even by generations unborn, it indeed a meeting that was worth the while with a man “who has been everywhere, thinking about journalism and practising.’’

hat is the BON annual general meeting hosted in TVC recently all about?

It was the Broadcasters of Nigeria Annual Conference. They do it every year and we are asked to host it this year as one of the members of Broadcasters of Nigeria (BON). The idea behind the conference this year is to discuss the plans of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). Most Nigerians know nothing about this and most Nigerians love their television.

You get free TV and you can watch several television channels but the way that you receive those is going to change because your old aerial will not work anymore. When the government switches off the analogue signals, they have to get a separate box to receive television channels like you do now. The question is: who is going to pay for the box? How much will the box cost? Lagos State government may subsidise the cost of the box. The box

ment is rolling this out in the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). So, it is their project, we as the broadcasters have to shut down our transmitters on the day we are told to do so and hand our pictures over to the new signal transmitter which is licensed by the Federal Government. So, as a broadcaster, we are very nervous about this. Here we own our signal and we are in charge and we are on the transmitter. But the day it is going to come, possibly, next year and the government says we must turn off our transmitters, give them our pictures and we will put them through our new digital transmitter, which will be received all over Nigeria.

What are the advantages of the new DTT? There are huge advantages with the new DTT. The picture quality is much better and you will get more channels. This is really good for TV viewers but there are still a lot of questions around how viewers are going to get pictures, who will buy the box? How much will the box cost? For

Andrew Hanlon could cost between 10 to 20 US dollars. That is a lot of money for people who don’t have it. All of a sudden the signals will go off and people will be thinking how to get their free TV channels back. So, this is what DTT is.

The Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) has been really slow to take-off in Nigeria. What do you think the problem is?

It is the government that is introducing this system, so the Federal Govern-

every TV you have in your hands, you need a separate box. Each box could cost between 10 to 20 dollars.

A lot of people cannot afford this. Me as a TV CEO I’m worried that if people don’t have the boxes they can’t view us and I am going to lose. The advertisers are going to say to me that I have lost all my viewers.

We as the broadcasters need to be sure that our signals are going to be put out there on the system and we need to know that the

viewers all over the country will be able to receive the signal as well. So, the government needs to launch a huge educational campaign to educate viewers on what is going to happen. People in Nigeria do not know anything about this. What happens in other countries is that the government would launch a very big advertising campaign to help people understand the changes. It is a big project and the government has to educate people. We broadcasters have to make sure that we are ready to hand over signals to this new transmission network by government.

What does this mean to you as a business person?

I am very nervous about this because we have to turn off the transmitter here and all the other channels will be told likewise but we will then need to know at that point that everybody will receive us on the new digital transmission system and everybody has the black boxes in their houses. If they don’t have the black boxes they can’t receive us. To get the black boxes, they have to pay for the box or potentially the box will be subsidised by the state governments or Federal Governments.

People need to know that this is coming and may happen within the next 12 months. We welcome the development as long as it is properly planned and everybody knows what is going on.

How have you been able to navigate through the economic challenges in the country to thrive as a television station?

I came here two-andhalf years ago but the recession hasn’t really ended. So, what we have done to try and navigate our way through the bad economic times is that we have had to be clever. We have had to work hard.

We have tried to make this an attractive company to do business with and we have succeeded in that. We have grown the business in the last three years despite very slow economic growth in the country. We are working harder to create more employment even though we are in tough economic times. We are succeeding but it takes a lot of hard work and great commitment from all the employees.

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Analysis Rising taxes, charges making Nigerians poorer

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Obinna Emelike hen the news broke that Nigeria has escaped the clutches of economic recession, it was good news for hungry investors who were eager to see the Nigerian economy grow again after five consecutive quarters of contraction that started in 2016 and killed their investments appetite.

But the news did not matter so much to the politicians and the Nigerian elite who kept the champagne flowing even more during the economic downturn.

The ‘so called’ good news then did not also matter to the poor masses who do not know the difference between economic recession and boom as they have always been under the pressure of hardship.

For the poor masses, the economy has been in recession ever since because their welfare has never been taken seriously by the government.

Worse still, the many promises of good life, jobs, security among others during political campaigns are never fulfilled, especially by the present administration.

Few months after mouthwatering campaign promises were made to the masses, the politicians seem to renege on them and, instead of fulfilling them, government is introducing policies, measures and initiatives that will make Nigerians poorer, while the rich is getting richer.

In two months (January 2020) when the approved increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) rate from 5 percent to 7.5 percent will take effect, more Nigerians with low purchasing power will become poor as prices of everything will go up.

While commenting on the VAT increase in BBC Pidgin, Funsho Ola-Oju, tax expert at Andersen Tax, expressed worry that the increment would affect the purchasing power of Nigerians, which is still struggling to improve since the 2016 recession.

While VAT increment is yet to take effect, the recent Central Bank of Nigeria’s

policy on 3 percent charge on withdrawal and 2 percent on deposit is going to distort business as many hard working Nigerians are not ready to give out 3 or 2 percent of their hard-earned money to a bank that does not carter to their interests, rather the government it serves.

Looking at the imminent hardship, Phillip Ekunem, an economist, observed that the increment in VAT is in spite of the many taxes people and corporate organisations are paying already and fears bandwagon effect. He thinks that the federal government is over-taxing people, while state and local governments are also doing same at their levels.

“You pay income tax, pension deductions, health insurance, land use charge if you are a house owner, pay for security levy in your estate, pay electricity bills, waste disposal bills, power your generator, dig your borehole among others, yet government is increasing VAT. How do they want us to survive?”

Ekunem asked.

For Ekunem, the attacks on the poor masses are from many fronts, and sadly unnecessary as the Nigerian economy is still recovering and requires huge spending and not further cutting the purchasing power of Nigerians with anti-welfare policies.

Expressing his fears further, the economist said the

states, local government, government agencies and parastatals will also toe the line of the federal government by increasing their respective taxes as well, with the poor masses bearing the brunt.

“What is happening now is a game of ‘we have escaped, let them suffer’ and the suffering group has always been the poor. So, that is why people are doing a whole lot of things to escape poverty. Have you heard the amount our legislators appropriate to themselves just to be sure they and their generations unborn are far from poverty? What about the poor that elected them?”

Ekunem queried.

The anti-masses policies seem unending. Yet again, banks and businesses have started deducting N50 stamp duty on every Point of Sale (PoS) service from N1,000 and above. One wonders what the Central Bank of Nigeria hopes to achieve with the directive when depositors are complaining of many charges by the commercial banks.

The intrigue is that customers paying with cash will not be charged, hence encouraging many to go back to the cash system, after the CBN has claimed to achieve success with the cashless policy.

Ekunem said the 50 stamp duty directive is anti-cashless policy. “The Central Bank is confused, if not, why tell Nigerians to go cashless and now

introduce something that will make people pay less when the transaction is cash-based”, he argued.

In line with Ekunem, Ademola Oketunbi, an investment analyst and university lecturer, noted that the 50 stamp duty directive is not only anti-cashless policy, but also many steps backward in the financial inclusion target of the CBN. It would be recalled that a few years back, the CBN set a target of 80 percent financial inclusion by 2020, a target that will get Nigerians who do not bank or do online transactions to get onboard. Then, the apex bank claimed that meeting that target would help in reducing poverty in Nigeria.

With the counter policy, some analysts think the CBN is no longer mindful of financial inclusion and lifting people out of poverty.

Oketunbi explained that it was sad that Nigeria has about 96.4 million adult population, out of which 40.1 million (almost half of the population) are financially excluded in a digital age where ePayment, eCommerce, among other hassle-free financial services, products and banking innovations are trending.

“So, how are they going to get more people to be financially inclusive when new policies are unfavorable to online transactions; it means that if I need to pay someone N5 million, I may resort to cash and withdraw N499,000 until the money is complete instead of allowing the bank to collect 3 percent for withdrawing my money ”, he said.

Looking at the increments in a practical way, Ada Onyeka, a house wife and mother of four, said that it meant she could not buy 10 litres of fuel at N145 per litre at the filling station if she has only N1,450,00 in her account because the amount is not enough and did not cover theN50 stamp duty on POS. “If my children’s school fees amount to N500,000 and that is all I have in my ac-

count, it means I cannot pay through transfer because the bank needs to deduct 3 percent withdrawal charge. So, 3 percent withdrawal charge means I need up to N600,000 in my account for the transaction to be successful. That is a huge burden on parents”, she said.

The increments are not welcome development for the average Nigerian business owner because they are additions to the many taxes and expenses they incur in doing business in Nigeria. It also means increasing prices of goods and services in a country where low purchasing power is impacting negatively on patronage.

The impact is already felt in the hotel business as occupancy has never been stable after recession, leaving Nigerian hoteliers to battle high cost of operation, dwindling revenue amid challenges of doing business in Nigeria, especially multiple taxation, which most of them say is gulping as much as 10 percent of their profit.

According to Obidike Osakwe, a hotelier and member of Hotel and Personal Services Employers’ Association of Nigeria (HOPESEA), apart from VAT, there are over 24 different taxes paid to the three tiers of government across the country amid high cost of daily operations.

Apart from VAT, some of the other taxes include company tax, consumption tax, hotel license, personal income tax, environment impact assessment, parking permits, waste water request, land use charge, radio and TV permit, LAWMA, LASAA, security among others.

“Guests are complaining that Nigerian hotels are overpriced; if the taxes are so much that we cannot operate at profit, we will shut down, and many family members of staff who will be sacked will suffer”, he said.

According to BDSunday investigations, in Lagos alone, over 15 hotels have been redeveloped into real estate and private schools as the profit margins were not big enough to pay all the 24 taxes across federal, state, local governments and agencies, and also sustain the business.

The investigations also discovered that some luxury flats in Ikoyi and Lekki axis in Lagos are empty because of the high rent. With the many charges and taxes from the lean pockets of the masses, more luxury flats, according to MilesAway, a real estate company, will be empty as many tenants would not be able to afford such flats due to declining purchasing power.

He added that companies that were struggling to save cost and stay afloat would not keep their executives in such flats.

Unrepentant bandits from Zamfara, Katsina are relocating to neighboring states - Presidency Nathaniel Gbaoron, Jalingo

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he Presidency has raised the alarm over the alleged relocation of unrepentant bandits from Zamfara and Katsina states to neighboring states and beyond.

Amina Shamaki, permanent secretary, Special Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, made this known at the Federal and States Security Administrator’s Meeting in Jalingo.

Shamaki expressed concern to the security managers and members of the public.

According to her, “This is an indication that those unrepentant bandits are making efforts to escalate the menace to other areas”.

She noted that some states in the North-Central and SouthWest geopolitical zones have started experiencing upsurge in kidnap incidents being perpetrated by the dislodged bandits.

The permanent secretary enjoined states that were faced with banditry to take a leave from the initiative of Zamfara government by engaging repentant fellows in continued dialogue.

She stressed the need to criticallyexaminethepeaceinitiative in such a way that would prevent the bandits from one area to another with relative ease.

She encouraged security agencies to intensify efforts aimed at degrading the capacity of armed bandits and deny them freedom of movement and action.

The permanent secretary commended the efforts of both the governor of Taraba and Benue to bring lasting solution to Tiv/Jukun crisis in Taraba state.

According to her, the governors are working closely with the Federal Government to facilitate and support early resolution of the impasse through effective peace building process.

In his speech, Yassy Dogari, permanent secretary, Home Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said that the meeting would serve as a platform for sharing of information and to enhance intelligent evaluation among security managers.

He said that the planned commencement of Operation Ayem-Akpatuma 11 in the state would go a long way in addressing the security challenges in the state and assured that the state government would support any initiative aimed at for stalling social disorder in the state.

BDSUNDAY gathered that participants were drawn from all security agencies and paramilitary services as well as representatives from other states.

Chairmen of local governments, chairmen of board and parastatals were also in attendance.

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Arts Igbo-Ora; a melting pot of twins OBINNA EMELIKE

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he historical city of Igbo-Ora was alive on October 12, 2019 as people from all walks of life converged in the ancient town to celebrate the annual 2019 Igbo-Ora World Twins Festival.

The town is reputable among communities with multiple birth record of twins and triplets in virtually every household.

The festival, which was put together by Twins World Creations in conjunction with Igbo-Ora Community Foundation was organised to showcase the tourism and cultural potential of the community, which are worth enlisting in the Guinness Book of Record.

The uniqueness of the annual event was the presence of Oba LamidiOlayiwola Adeyemi 111, Alaafin of Oyo/ grand patron of the festival, Eleruwa of Eruwa, and some traditional chiefs from Oyo. As well, the highlight was the presence of over 3000 set to twins from different part of the country, who gathered at the event.

While speaking at the event, the Alafin said that Yoruba twins are special gift from God because they are harbingers of good things and possessed what other children do not have.

According to the monarch, “Twins are unique creations that are very important, and we Yorubas also count them worthy, God created them in unique ways.

“Yoruba believes that giving birth to twins brings happiness to the family that is why everybody wants to associate with them either having them as children or as an associate, this makes them to have adoring names that are different from all other children.

“There was a particular Alaafin of Oyo, Alaafin Oluaso whose

seven wives gave birth to male twins who in turn gave birth to 54 children and that Alaafin built a palace for all of them.

“All traditional rulers should teach their people history about their father’s land and their community, if you become king, and I teach and showed you the mystery in history of Yoruba land, the more you get it, the more you will have promotion and peace of mind, the ‘Isokun’ that was eulogized in the glorification of twins is in Oyo town.

Speaking the festival, Oba JiohTitiloye, Olu of Igbo-Ora , said that many researchers are still trying to unravel the mystery behind multiple twin berth in Igbo-Ora, adding that it might be either the environment or the food people of Igbo-Ora eat that make them give birth to many twins and making the town the world twins capital.

Oba Titiloye noted that a study

conducted by a British gynecologist, Patrick Nylander, from 1972 – 1982 recorded an average of 45 to 50 sets of twins per 1,000 births in the South West of Nigeria, and there are about 30 times more in Igbo-Ora than there are in the whole of Europe.

“According to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) article, there are about 158 twins per 1,000 newborn in Igbo-ora, the twins capital of the world compare to 5 twins per 1,000 newborns in Europe.

“Population expert has a history of giving birth to twins or other multiples also affirm that Nigeria, particularly the South West has the world highest twining rate and the Igbo Ora, the headquarters of Ibarapa Central Local Government has the highest percentage of twins.

“In Igbo-ora , nearly every household has a history of giving birth to twins or other multiples,

people attributed the predominance of twins in Igbo-ora to a meal, Amala and Ilasa, morsel meals that combine yam powder (agida) and okra leave soup, yams contain gonadotrophins, a chemical that helps women produce multiple eggs” he said.

The chairman of the event, Olusola Ayandele, who was a gubernatorial aspirant in the last governorship election in Oyo State, said that the twin festival was just the beginning of renaissance, adding that twins has been celebrated all over the world, and it has now become a tourism event in the whole of Ibarapa land.

“Here in Igbo-Ora , almost every family has twins, and this does not happen anywhere except in Igbo-Ora, I want to advice twins to continue be a good ambassadors.

Meanwhile, Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, the Ibadan, Oyo State-born twin ambassadors

and initiators of the festival, confirmed that being twin has brought a lot of good things to them while saying that the festival was aimed at impacting the state, and Nigeria at large. According to them, “We are of the opinion that the twins festival can be used to boost the economy of Nigeria. This means that twinning can be used to promote and develop tourism potentials in Igbo-Ora. This festival, which started 10 years ago as NaijaTwns Festival was repackaged last year for global participation hence World Twins Festival is designed to position Oyo State as the foremost twins tourism destination in the world, initiate the development of twins festival as a unique sponsorship property and create activity around Igbo-Ora towards attracting of pilgrimage to the “land of twins” or “world twins capital” and improving the economy of the town and neighboring areas”.

They added that the challenges facing twins in Nigeria is basically economy, because most of the families that have twin are not financially buoyant to care for them.

Set of the oldest twin at the event Adeleke Twins said their mother gave birth to three set of twins and the two of them also had twins among their children, “The gene runs in the land, we are happy with this event and we are grateful for the organisers The highlight of the festival was the twin parade, circus performances, twins talent show, and an energetic performance by the dou of Taiwo and Kehinde Alese operating on the stage n a m e A K AT En t e r t a i n m e n t .

The University College Hospital Ibadan and Igboora Community Foundation presented gift to some 25 sets of twins that were given birth during the week of the festival while the event was supported by MTN and Indomie.

Atunda entertainment signs partnership deal with 3D modeling Agency

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tunda Entertainment has scored big in its quest to offer first class and international exposure and experience to models under its grooming as it has signed a partnership deal with one of the world’s leading modelling agency, 3D Modelling Agency.

With this new deal, both organisations are expected to synergise in hunting for talented models from across Nigeria and Africa, with the aim of nurturing them into world acclaimed models through the various channels available in the creative industry globally.

According to Ogongo,the lead model of Atunda Entertainment, , who is spear heading this new move, 3D Agency is an internationally recognised modeling agency, with presence in major countries

and cities of the world. The endless list include: The USA (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami), Canada (Montreal and Toronto), Hong Kong, China (Beijing and Taipei), and Japan (Tokyo and Osaka).

Other locations are: Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Russia (Moscow), Argentina, Chile and Mexico and Italy (Milan, Rome), France (Paris), United Kingdom (London), Portugal (Lisbon), Denmark and Sweden. And now making inroads into Nigeria through Atunda Entertainment.

Atunda Entertainment is an arm of Motherland Beckons, an outfit created by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who is the president of La Campagne. It is devoted to the building of Africa continent, focusing on developing African talents in

the areas of music, modeling, acting and general creativity.

With the aim of showcasing these talents, which have been groomed under the finest of Afri-

can culture and creative ferment, to the rest of the world. Since its inception Atunda Entertainment has developed major musical stars and presented them via explosive and unique performances to the world.

According to her, it is a new dawn for the modeling industry in Nigeria and Africa, declaring that: ‘‘The agreement represents the next stage for Africans that would like to build a career in the modeling industry.’’

She further disclosed that the grooming process for models to be featured in the programme will take place at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ikegun Village, Ibeji Lekki, Lagos.

La Campagne is world acclaimed African themed resort and Nigeria’s premier resort, where African

culture and architecture have been creatively showcased to present the best of Africa.

3D Modelling Agency provides top models to international brands such as Elite, ING, Crystal, Metropolitan (in Milan), Next, Independence, Wonderwall Fashion, Premier Elite, Essay, Glamour, Flash, Face, Genesis, New York Models and Dream Models.

It also works with major designers and fashion houses, which include Burberry, Armani, Dior, Versace, Dolce and Gabana, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Guess, Nike, Puma, Zara, Adidas and H & M. Its models also work for major product brands such as Audi, Ferrari, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Coke, Cartier, Volkswagen, Rolls Royce and Jaguar.

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Arts LagosPhoto seeks to break global identity barrier, imbalance with ‘Passport’

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OBINNA EMELIKE f you have been to any of the venues of this year’s edition of LagosPhoto Festival, you would appreciate the sheer creativity the participating artists are displaying through their various works.

From France, USA, Algeria, Ghana, Curacao, Belgium, South Africa, Lebanon, Morocco, Angola, Haiti, Poland, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Italy, Spain and Nigeria, the host country, all the artists are speaking one language and passing across same message with their photographs.

Their message is embodied in theme of this year’s edition, which is aptly tagged ‘Passport’.

But why passport, if one may ask. Passport is the most important official document a human being holds in the modern world. But it portrays identity and barriers; hence the theme of the festival is aimed at breaking the barriers.

With photographs, the artists explored options of creating a fluid and permeable world, where nationality, gender, and historical imbalances are secondary.

As well, through the photographic works on display, visitors at the several venues of the festival can see an alternative global environment where people do not need passports.

In her view of passport, which she specifically wrote for LagosPhoto 2019, Matteo Vegetti, author of L’Invenzione del Globo, explained that, “Normally, citizens of Western countries do not perceive what unity of

nation and birth entail. On the contrary, those who have had the misfortune of being born in poor countries or counties disliked by the powers that dominate the planet, soon discover the paradox that holds them hostage: far from allowing them to pass from one country to another, to “pass the port”, the passport, is often the first obstacle to the possibility of traveling.”

Speaking at the opening reception at Federal Government Press Liason Office, Lagos Island, on October 27, 2019, the curatorial team noted that this year, LagosPhoto invited artists to consider the festival platform as a laboratory for ideas and a safe place for experimenting with open forms of identity, creating new categories of an international passport

that allows for diversity.

The team was happy that many artists found answers and sustainable alternatives in a versatile world that is not based on utopias but routed in the way we already live.

The 10th edition of LagosPhoto, according to the team, presents exciting works that depict a diversified world, and breaking known barriers, especially identity.

In line with previous editions, this year’s edition further provides a platform for the improvement and progression of professional and emerging photographic talent in a comprehensive public programming initiative that included workshops, artist presentations, and portfolio reviews facilitated by prominent local and international photographers.

In his remarks at the opening reception, Azu Nwagbogu, director, African Artists’ Foundation and director, LagosPhoto, noted that everything about the festival this year was spectacular, especially the very interesting works and supportive audience.

He also noted that the various venues enabled LagosPhoto to engage with the host communities because “art should not be about elitism but egalitarian”.

Explaining further on the theme, Nwagbogu said, “If you look at the world today there is tendency towards nationalism, closing up and barriers. The theme enables us to interrogate what that means and allows us to engage problems such as Brexit in the UK, xenophobia is South Africa among other global issues”.

He is also excited that the festival has been sustained for 10 years now and attributed the success to the support from people.

“We have been lucky to have the support of the community and people who understand what we are doing and who really believe in the power of images to spark social change”.

Apart from the excitement at Federal Government

Press Liason Office, Lagos Island, the festival is thrilling the public with breathtaking works and performances at other venues such as African Artists’ Foundation, Victoria Island, Lagos, Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi and Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.

As well, there are exciting affiliate programmes at the festival.

One of them is the joint exhibition with PhotoVogue festival. LagosPhoto and PhotoVogue collaborated on the production of a joint exhibition, which started in Lagos in October and will end in Milan this November.

The exhibition showcased the best production of African and international talents on the chosen themes.

Also, the Nigerian Collective featuring young curators is a highlight. It is a Nigerian based group show curated by four young curators; Princess Ayoola (Nigerian), Ugochukwu Emebiriodo (Nigerian), Marco Bianchessi (Italian) and Arinola Olowokporoku (Nigerian).

Viewers were also excited with the 50 winning selection of thought and emotion provoking works from this year’s Portrait of Humanity project; a new global initiative by 1854 Media, publisher of British Journal of Photography.

The photo festival also features partners such as Canon Central and North Africa, Culture at Work, Tecno, Wellcome Trust, Unseen Foundation, and British Journal of Photography.

The festival, which commenced on October 27, 2019 runs until November 15, 2019 at the four venues in Lagos.

producer, who has ‘Kpali’ as his first foray into film business, the movie offers a gripping story that a large spectrum of movie lovers can relate to irrespective of gender and age.

Eh i a g w i n a r e v e a l e d that, “My team and I are very pleased to present this work to viewing public after many months of shooting in Nigeria and London. ‘Kpali’ highlights a blend of Nigerian and English cultures amplified by an array of talents and a quality cinematic delivery.

The story will further enrich

the conversation about Nigerian immigrants in search of greener pastures.”

Also lending her voice, Ema who is the head-honcho of Vzhun Films expressed her undisguised excitement to present the movie. She said, “From the standpoint of a producer, it was really exciting to see first-hand the deep connection between the actors and their roles on this project. It was a pretty intense production and we can’t wait to bring this remarkable experience to movie fans across Nigeria this December.”

Vzhun Films set to release ‘Kpali’ in December

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zhun Films, a leading production company has announced a feature film entitled ‘Kpali’ featuring a line-up of top Nollywood actors including Nkem ‘Osuofia’ Owoh, Linda Ejiofor, Ini Dima-Okojie, Kunle Remi and Gloria Anozie-Young.

Produced by Emem Ema, creative industry entrepreneur, the suspense-filled movie is being released in collaboration with Genesis Deluxe Distribution (GDD).

Shot in different locations in Lagos and London, the movie was directed by Ladi John-

son. The Yuletude season gets even more interesting with Kpali due for release on December 20, 2019.

The story unfolds around Amaka, a Nigerian professional who works in an investment bank in London.

Life throws her a curve ball as her UK employer suddenly has to trim its workforce and she may lose her job. It gets complicated as her work visa is about to expire.

In a twist, Amaka’s employer gives her a lifeline to win a big account with a Lagos-based, Nigerian company. She must head to

Nigeria with a colleague of hers on this desperate mission. But there is a caveat, the deal must be wrapped

up in 30 days or else she loses everything.

According to Abhulime Ehiagwina, the executive

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Women World ‘I am not limited by being a woman; I go for what I want in all the right and legitimate ways’ May we know about some of the businesses you are you into? run a few businesses, a laundry outfit, called Launryking, a bedroom essentials outfit, called Sweet Dreams Essentials, and a real estate consulting, sales and marketing company, called Dream Estate Lekki Limited, while I sit at the Group level as Deputy Managing Director for the NedcomOaks Group. There are other plans to improve my business horizon.

What informed your decision to go into the luxury laundry business?

I started my career in the banking industry in 2005 here in Lagos. A few years down the line, as a young wife, nursing mother, juggling chores which included sorting and doing that chore everyone loved to hate, laundry, I was experiencing some high level of stress at the time, and I recognised it was a shared problem-cumfrustration, because Lagos is an upwardly mobile urban city lifestyle living, and a lot of us had very busy days, packed tedious schedules, and also fully-booked weekends, with activities from weddings to different other kinds of parties, work training, further education, family, etc. with little or no time for other domestic chores or even ourselves.

The corporate outfits worn by these busy professionals like suits, jackets, shirts, etc. actually require expert cleaning that shouldn’t be done at home, and so that birthed a strategic business outfit, Laundryking, with the sole purpose of bringing convenience and lifestyle change for me and my fellow business professionals, and to further help promote work-life balance for us.

It wasn’t and still isn’t a walkover, I had a lot of challenges because it is not a field that has a lot of mentorship opportunities, skilled human capital, very capital intensive, it requires a lot of time, energy and focus, amongst many more challenges. Gradually, over the years, keeping my focus, taking it one step at a time, one day at a time, we have grown from one staff in the boys’ quarters of my house, washing bowls as our first washer, wooden tables as our first finishing table and me as the pick-up, delivery, customer service representative,

”

Ichechi Okonkwo runs the flourishing Laundryking, Sweet Dreams Essentials and Dream Estate Lekki Ltd. She also owns other businesses that are doing very well. In this exclusive interview, with BOLATITO ADEBOLA, Okonkwo, who is the DMD/Sales director, NedcomOaks Group, shared her thoughts on business, family and future aspirations. Excerpts:

The Bible never told us that there was a place where God said a man is supposed to be richer than the woman or the woman richer than the man or more successful, vice-versa

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Grace Dagbo

Ichechi Okonkwo

marketer, business developer, accountant; in fact, the utility staff, into a full team of over 40 staff, a fully-equipped factory with modern equipment and various outlets in Lekki and many more to come.

How did you start the real estate business?

I started real estate full time by marketing and selling our projects through NedcomOaks, after I left my banking job. Our estates are strategically located in the heart of Lekki in safe, secure and serene environments, as the safety and well-being of our subscribers are very paramount to us. They are uniquely finished with high-quality materials and modern social amenities, bringing and affording our subscribing families convenient lifestyle living without any hassle.

What are the added value services available at your estate?

We offer flexible payment options from 12 months to 30 months, and mortgage options for our subscribers, to

help ease the pressure and burdens of the one-off payments that have denied a lot of people the dream and freedom of owning their own homes or building their investments portfolios.

What’s the uniqueness of your estates?

Our estates, as I mentioned earlier, come with modern social amenities like swimming pools, gyms, kids play areas, football pitches, etc.; we also run fully-serviced estates with round the clock power supply, pure drinkable water and also provide round the clock security. We offer aftersales, post-move-in services and facility management in all our estates.

Is gender a barrier to the success of female entrepreneurs?

I do not agree with gender being a barrier to how successful a female entrepreneur can be. Even the location of a person is not a barrier. Nothing is a barrier to anyone. Everybody’s grass can be green, as long as you water it, you

pray and you have faith. When God created man, he did not commission Adam to prosper more than Eve. The Bible never told us that there was a place where God said a man is supposed to be richer than the woman or the woman richer than the man or more successful, vice-versa. Anybody can be anything. The important thing is for an individual to know what he or she wants and goes for it in all the right and legitimate ways.

How do you unwind?

Basically, in my leisure hours, which I rarely have, but if the opportunity presents itself, I love to read, and more often than not, I travel out or within the country to see new places of interest to know what goes on there, but the demand of my various businesses hardly give me time or this.

Do you have any regrets or challenges on the job?

I have no regrets, and I work on resolving the daily challenges as they come, as challenges in any business are

inevitable.

How did you successfully manage the many brands into big ones?

Structures and processes in my businesses have helped keep them all on track.

And how do you balance motherhood and business?

Everything about me works with structure, including my family, and so being a mother, I try to balance my time for them and my work. My kids are the most important aspect of my life, recognising this is their molding and shaping stages in life I am present. My family has been very helpful.

My husband has been very supportive in my journey. He supports me and keeps pushing me on, being the beat best version of myself, especially doing business.

How would you describe the business climate in Nigeria, especially ad it affects real estate?

It’s tough accessing funding in an economy where all the banks would rather lend their money to government, rather than the private sector.

The government needs to also avail land more often to actual private developers and not political private developers.

What are the expansion plans for your real estate business and Laundryking?

To continue to strive to make more millennial homeowners, ease the stress of busy business people and professionals, providing them convenient and professional services.

Sunday 03 November 2019

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Life&Living How to eliminate ingrown hair forever ter a shave can lead to problems as it grows thicker and curlier.

Try switching to waxing instead, as waxing can weaken new hair growth, preventing ingrown hairs.

• Use lightweight moisturisers: Exfoliation means nothing if you top your skin with thick, heavy moisturisers. Heavy creams make exfoliation much harder, and thick oils can clog pores and worsen ingrown hairs.

• Visit a Dermatologist: Like with all medications that state; ‘if symptoms persist, visit your doctor’ the same applies with persistent ingrown hairs that just wouldn’t go away regardless of all remedies. Instead of plucking an ingrown hair yourself and risking infection, it is safer to visit your dermatologist instead.

• Try tea tree oil: Tea tree oil kills bacteria and brings down swelling.

It’s sometimes used to treat acne, and it may also work for ingrown hairs. Mix the oil with water to dilute it, and apply using a cotton ball.

D

Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

ealing with ingrown hair either on your chin area, under arm, or pubic region can be really frustrating, especially as they cause unsightly bumps that you just can’t seem to get rid of as quickly as you would like.

For those who don’t know what an ingrown hair is, it’s hair that started growing normally, outward, but then curled under itself and began to grow inward, under the top layer of your skin, creating a little bump that might look like a pimple.

In some cases, the skin around the ingrown hair may become darker.

This is known as hyper pigmentation. You may also experience pain or itching around the area of the ingrown hair. And just so you know, it’s not a man only problem, women also have to deal with ingrown hair, especially in areas where they shave. Anyone can develop them anywhere - eyebrows, underarms, bikini line, etc.

So you may have tried shaving only in the direction of hair growth, tried using shaving creams and gels e.t.c. but certain people may be at a higher risk for ingrown hairs.

For example, people with thick, curly hair tend to develop ingrown hairs more often than people with fine, thin hair. This is especially true with pubic hair, which tends to be coarser than hair on the head or the rest of the body.

Here’s how to get rid of them for good: • Exfoliating: The cure for ingrown hair is exfoliation and exfoliation with acid is the easiest and

fastest way to get rid of ingrown hairs. You just have to make sure that you use sun screen afterwards to protect your skin from the harsh acidic content and exposure to the sun.

• Dry brushing: Vigorously brushing your body with stiff bristles prevents ingrown hairs from forming, and releases tucked-under ones. However you should limit yourself to doing this once a week, so that you don’t bruise your skin.

• Use body scrubs: If you really want to eliminate your ingrown hairs, you need to invest in a body scrub.

It is a less intense alternative for ingrowns around your bikini line. Make sure to scrub at-least twice a week to exfoliate and revive the skin for good blood circulation which stops ingrown hair.

• Stop shaving: If your ingrowns are getting more and worse, then maybe you need to stop shaving.

Shaving isn’t bad per se, but the way hair grows af-

Showcasing the best of Nigeria’s tourism through performing arts IFEOMA OKEKE

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igeria is blessed with enormous entertainment activities. The diverse cultures and values which are evident in our arts, dances, music and songs are admired by many countries.

Nigeria’s performing arts space is contributing to the success story the country has got to tell. In this space, artists use their voices, bodies or inanimate objects to convey artistic expression.

Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria, (SPAN) is helping to foster creativity across Africa while unveiling the 2019/2020 season-‘Your Success, Our Victory.’

Following a series of successful seasons in the past 12 years of operations, SPAN has continued to bridge the gap between performing arts education and presentation through missions and messages that have resonated through social and artistic challenges.

The impact of SPAN has stretched beyond socio-economic class, tribe or

religion as the benefit of engaging the grassroots’ audience with performing art education, entertainment and transforming messages has remained our core drive.

This season, it is set out to inspire the victorious among Nigerians, those who helped others succeed. Nigeria’s message projects with showcasing different sides to the story of Victory and Success, and how this can drive a sense of togetherness, growth and unity. The 2019/2020 season is tagged ‘Your Success, My Victory’.

Speaking on the rationale behind this message, Sarah Boulos, the Chairperson of SPAN, further stated, “I have realized that some of the barrier to our individual victory does not necessary mean our direct effort at something, but the effort at ensuring the other person succeeds. Victory should now be attributed to more than just our wins but also helping the other person win and our winning together.”

In addition to this, she said, “Focusing on helping someone succeed, can also assure your victory, and that poverty alleviation will be one of our emphases, using empowerment com-

munity programs and performing arts as a tool, starting from November 11, 2019.

“This season program includes an interesting line up of partnerships and community outreaches starting with the Film Makers Workshops, dance and music workshops, the “West African Afro Latin Community” in partnership with Dance and Arts Alive, long with dance performances like ‘Black Out’.

This starting point will be in Lagos

with four days of thrilling performances, encapsulated in a four-day empowerment and presentation programs featuring six international music and dance facilitators teaching about 400 students and building their professional skills, helping them to set up their studios. This four-day project will also connect local business to diverse audience making our victory your success.

With initiatives such as this and the many more to come, SPAN promises to offer an all-encompassing experience touching on key aspects of life through the Performing Arts.

Also speaking about the West African Latin Dance Festival, Buddy Agedah, the convener of the festival, added that this festival will be the 5th edition and they are expecting professional Latin Dancers from Europe, and over 6 West African Countries like Benin, Cameroun, Benin, Ghana and many more. Several workshops and master classes will hold throughout these days including special evenings with spectacular performance to crown each day’s activity.

The Chairperson extended her

invitation the general public to a special dance and music performance crafted from her life story themed “Reflection”. This story dives into the struggles and triumph of different stages of her life, all expressed in dance and music performances.

The lines up of activities for the weekend of 14th to 17th November are music, dance and drama workshops by six International facilitators which will be held at SPAN community center; West African Afro Latin Festival; performances and Competitions; The Dance Project - A Sarah Boulos Story: “Featuring tales of success from both international and SPAN dance artistes”; salsa congress showcase; amongst several other activities.

SPAN is a non-profit organization with the vision to build a performing art center in Nigeria to educate, present and empower the performing artists and their God given talents.

SPAN has become a key holder in the Nigerian economy, as their projects have provided lead to over 800 jobs development and the emerging of over 30 dance studios and music studios throughout Nigeria.

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Sunday 03 November 2019

Travel It is excitement on water with La Campagne, Radisson Blu boat cruise OBINNA EMELIKE

Akinboboye, president, La Campagne, who is also the founder of Motherland Beckons, an organisation devoted to building the continent of Africa through arts, ent e r t a i n m e n t , c u l t u re a n d tourism, described the boat cruise project as harvesting the vast wealth of Lagos waters.

For him, it is a yet another dream come through even as he lamented the waste on the vast coastline across Lagos and the country, which has remained underutilized over the years by the government and Nigerians, a situation, which he said has contributed to the poverty and suffering in the land.

He reeled off some amazing statistics to the amazement of the guests in underscoring the depth of wealth that is wasting away. For instance, he disclosed that Lagos Lagoon spans a space of 211 kilometres, with over 198 kilometres of beachfront spread while Nigeria as a whole boasts over 804 kilo-

metres stretch of beachfront spread across over six states, with Lagos blessed with the largest beachfront.

The good news, he said, is the fact that La Campagne has now found a worthy partner to explore the fallow Lagos water so as to offer a new experience in water leisure to Nigerians, especially tourists, who for years have yearned for opportunity to explore the beauties and riches of the Lagos waters.

For him, Lagos waters is very calm and is a rich attraction for water leisure enthusiasts but like most of other attractions in Nigeria, they remain attractions because no attempt have been made to turn them into tourist attractions or a tourist destinations.

But with the new partnership with Radisson Blu Hotel, all that is now changing, as Lagos waters is going be turned into a tourist attraction that everyone will desire to explore in the coming days. ‘‘We are breathing life into

Lagos water with this new project, which will make a difference in the way people travel and explore the water because it is the break of a new dawn for lovers of water sports and leisure. The boat cruise is not going to be the normal cruise. It is a leisure cruise with a lot of entertaining offerings”, he said.

He insisted that it is not about cruising on water only as the boat will ferry guests from the hotel in the early hours of the morning after breakfast to the resort and while onboard they will be treated to lavish and savoury offerings such as musical, dance and comic shows of all sorts.

According to him, a well fitted and stylishly decorated boat has been deployed for the service. Onboard entertainment, he said is going to be first class and nothing near what people are used to.

The onboard entertainment, he further noted would feature sax time and keyboard

time, as well as, time out with Atunda Entertainment crew, led by Anu, Olo and Ara. At the resort, the guests will further be treated to exciting top packages designed in the unique style of the award winning and world acclaimed African theme resort. With the resort recently taking delivery of top class water sports and leisure equipment, he said guests would have fun and enthralling moment at the resort, as well as, dining on the lagoon.

On his part, Wellington Mpofu, director of sales and marketing, Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, expressed delight over the project, disclosing that it is a way of the hotel contributing to the development of tourism business across the city hence it has partnered the resort in launching the boat cruise project, which he said will not only boost the profile of both the hotel and resort but also offers a new experience to their guests.

“With the boat cruise, you are going to have an amazing time of your life. We are going to have a good ride on Lagos waters. This is going to revolutionise the way we view tourism in this city. It is a new paradigm shift and what we do with people visiting the city’’, Mpofu said.

Furthermore, he said it is not only going to typify what the city has to offer visitors but that ‘‘the synergy between the two organisations is a development that is going to change the face of tourism in the city. People have been seeing this water and have been on it but now we have both decided to build exciting packages around it that people will find difficult to resist.’’

Badagry. The presentation was done by Ikechi Uko, the organsier of the award, with the support of Olusegun Runsewe, director general, National Council for Art and Culture.

The Africa Travel 100 Awards is part of the annual Africa Travel Awards that is now in its 18th year. Over the years, it has recognised leaders, industry practitioners, and the government officials who have promoted tourism and improved travel using unique platforms and new information in Africa. In 2017, it hosted the Top100 Travel awards for Women in Tourism and in 2018 the Top 100 African Tour Operators.

The awards were presented

to winners at the 15th Akwaaba African Travel Market that was held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on September

23, 2019. Other notable winners of the award are; Alain S t . A n g e , f o r m e r To u r i s m Minister of Seychelles, Mike

Amachree, Oscar Ibru, Mayor of Addis Ababa and Edmund B a r l e t t , J a m a i c a n To u r i s m Minister.

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oised to deliver on its promise of offering the best of leisure experience to the guests, the management of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort has launched a new project, which is aimed at exploring the beauties on Lagos waters, as well as, cutting down on the travelling hours from any part of Lagos to the resort, which is based in Ikegun Village, Ibeju Lekki.

Tag g ed ‘ L a Ca m p ag n e, Radisson Blu Boat Cruise Life Style’, the new service by La Campagne in partnership with Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was launched recently at Radisson Blu during a colourful ceremony witnessed by a number of guests and stakeholders in the tourism industry.

The launch ceremony climaxed with a boat cruise from the hotel’s jetty to the resort, with the over 40 minutes cruise on the Lagos waters offering guests a foretaste of what the new service has to offer. The experience for the guests on the maiden trip was quite unique and went beyond the normal boat cruise offerings.

It was all embracing package, spiced with entertainment onboard and climaxing with a bouquet of dining and leisure packages at the resort, including an array of water sports and leisure and entertainment by Atunda Entertainment with the trio of Anu Lady Ekwe, Olo midan bata and Ara (Thunder), enthralling the guests with a blend of African and contemporary tunes.

Speaking during the launch ceremony, Wanle

The boat cruise taking off at Radisson Blu Anchorage jetty

Benin monarch bags Africa Travel 100 Award

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he organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, has honoured Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II with the Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities Award in recognition of h i s c u l t u ra l a n d h i s t o r i c a l upstanding.

The award was presented to him at his palace during the just concluded National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Benin City, Edo State. Oba Ewuare II who is th e cu s t o d ia n o f a l l B e ni n heritages including; the Benin Moat and Igue Festival, has become the third monarch to win the award after the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and the Oba of

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BDSUNDAY 27

Travel

Within its first year, Istanbul Airport served on average 210,000 passengers per day Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

O

ne of the largest projects in Turkey on a global scale, Istanbul Airport has the mission of being a point of attraction not only for Istanbul and our country, but also for our region and the world.

It has added tremendous value not only to aviation but also to the construction, logistics, tourism and retail industries.

Istanbul Airport opened to millions of passengers from all over the world with a spectacular ceremony on October 29, 2018, and has made a significant contribution to the Turkish economy since its opening. Having boosted the construction sector during its 42-month construction period, the airport has also provided momentum to the aviation, tourism and retail sectors during its first operating year.

Istanbul Airport is a global asset in the aviation industry!

Following the success of operational processes at Istanbul airport,

significant progress has been made towards the goal of becoming a global hub and bringing Turkey into the top league in the aviation sector, presenting an exemplary airport operating model to the world.

During this period, Istanbul Airport has come to the fore as the largest hub in the region, “Turkey’s gateway to world”, thanks to its strategic loca-

tion between East and West, serving 130 destinations in 60 countries, just three hours away.

At Istanbul Airport, which was opened on October 29, 2018 but opened to full capacity on April 6, 2019, 41.088.868 passengers, 256.521 flights, with 28.017.784 baggage and 855.259 tons cargo have moved.

Eight international airlines have started flying from Istanbul Airport

Bi-Courtney honours staff who returns passengers’ lost items

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he management of BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), has rewarded two of its Aviation Security (AVSEC) staff who returned missing items belonging to passengers.

According to a statement by BASL, one of the said employees, Babatunde Ajala, was deployed to work at the Departure entrance 2 on Friday, April 12, during which he sighted an unaccompanied brown leather bag.

Out of curiosity, he picked up the bag having realised the owner was nowhere to be found. Af-

ter close examination, a sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira, Two iPhones, one iPad and some complementary cards were found in the bag. He promptly escalated the matter to his supervisor who in turn swung into action.

The owner of the luggage was later identified to be one Herbert Akindolire, an Accountant-General in Ondo State. He was contacted and thereafter summoned to confirm the ownership and content of the bag.

Akindolire, who before this time was worried because he has searched everywhere for the bag, was elated on learning about the discovery. He extended his grati-

Naomi Smith, co- founder & commercial director, Gemona West Interior, Business Development, ProBlind Nigeria, Wassim Bashasha and Co-founder & Creative Director, Gemona West Interior, Deise Smith at the MADE by Design exhibition held recently at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos

for the first time!

The objective is to become the airport of choice for airline companies. To date, 70 Airlines take off from Istanbul Airport. Eight international airlines have started flying from Istanbul Airport for the first time since reaching full capacity; Ethiopian Airlines, Nouvelair, Indigo, Air Albania, Sichuan Airlines, China Southern, Tassili Airlines and UR Airlines.

In addition, Transavia.com France is scheduled to start flight operations in October. Once Istanbul Airport reached full capacity, airline companies from different continents including Europe, Middle East, Africa and Far East doubled their flight frequency.

High occupancy rate in commercial areas Istanbul Airport’s Duty-Free areas have reached 90 percent occupancy, most with global brands.

Out of a total expanse of 54,000m², there are 63 units across 34,000m², including nine international and 22 domestic brands.

The airport boasts a wide range of options ranging from traditional flavors to modern trends. Istanbul

airport is home to the world’s biggest retail brands, including such a Bvlgari, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Celine, Fendi, Hermes and Salvatore Ferregamo.

Yotel, the world’s largest terminal hotel, is located in Istanbul Airport. Yotel provides quality accommodation, and is the hotel of choice for American, British and Russian passengers. Hosting 55,000 guests to date, YOTEL has achieved a 100 percent occupancy rate.

Over 5.000 members have used the iGA Pass Loyalty Program Ista nbul Air por t a ims to make time spent at the airport a unique experience. The iGA PASS passenger program currently serves over 5,000 members. 146 thousand people have used the iGA Lounge to date. iGA PASS has also completed a successful year by offering Meet and Greet services to more than 17,000 guests.

On the airport floor, passengers over 65 years of age or who are pregnant or have young families with babies under two years old can use the buggy service free of charge.

Emirates treats customers to an array of sweet and savoury delicacies on Diwali tude for the sincerity of the staff and the professional way the whole matter was handled by BASL security management team.

In a related development, on Saturday, the 6th of April, another passenger who was scheduled to travel with an Abuja-bound Dana Airline had his phone missing. But the timely intervention by another BASL AVSEC staff, Henry Akhile, saved the day for the traveller.

After the affected passenger raised the alarm, Akhile promptly responded by carrying out comprehensive CCTV playback.

The perpetrator was summarily apprehended, with the phone retrieved from him and handed over to the owner in a timely manner such that his flight schedule was not disrupted. The culprit was eventually handed over to the Police for prosecution.

While commending the two officers for their honesty, responsiveness, particularly on the way and manner the two incidences were handled, Ayoola Ajayi, the Head of Human Resources, said BASL frowns at acts that are capable of causing undue confusion in and around the terminal, noting that the two employees have proven to be worthy ambassadors for their display of maturity, sincerity and professionalism at their respective duty posts.

He lauded other members of the team for doing the company proud through their conducts, and for making the moments count for the affected passengers.

I

n celebration of Diwali, Emirates offered customers a variety of special treats that are synonymous with the festival of lights.

During the Diwali festive period from 25 to 31 October, the airline served a colourful and aromatic array of traditional sweets on all flights to and from India, and savoury meals in selected airport lounges worldwide.

Economy Class customers were served Motichoor Laddu, a traditional dessert made from boondis (very small flour balls) which are deepfried in ghee and then simmered in cardamom and saffron-flavoured sugar syrup. They are later shaped into sumptuous laddus and then garnished with silver leaf and pistachio.

Passengers travelling on First and Business Class enjoyed the Motichoor Laddu along with Dry Fruit Tribhuj, a festive special of ground cashew and pistachio fudge filled with dried fruit and topped with silver leaf.

In Emirates airport lounges in Dubai, Delhi, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kuala Lumpur, Emirates offered frequent flyers as well as First and Business Class passengers special dishes that include traditional sweets and savoury options on 27 October.

At the Emirates lounge at Delhi International Airport, customers had an assortment of Indian cashew sweets, along with Motichoor Rabri – a traditional Indian dessert made of flour roasted to consistency in ghee and milk, layered with cardamomflavoured sweet condensed milk and topped with pistachio nuts.

Meanwhile, the Emirates lounge

at Dubai International Airport served Mini Dal Kachori and Mini Punjabi Samosa, which are snacks made from crispy deep-fried breads with spicy stuffing. For dessert, the lounge will serve Angoori Rabdi, a sweet and succulent milky pudding, paired with Motichoor Laddu.

Passengers at the Emirates lounge in Cape Town and Johannesburg enjoyed Barfi, a sweet and dense milk-based confectionery; Jalebi, an Indian sweet made from deep-fried batter in pretzel or coil shapes steeped in sugar syrup, and Nankhatai, shortbread biscuits.

At the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Emirates lounge served Biryani, Chapati that is paired with sweet and sour spicy roasted pumpkin, and flavourful chicken curry with sweet potato.

Beyond the culinary offerings, Emirates ushered in Diwali on ice, the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system with 4,500 channels. During the festive period, passengers across all cabins watched popular Bollywood movies, including recent hits such as Uri, Gold, 2.0 and popular TV shows such as Koffee with Karan and Kanpur Waale Khuranas.

As a global airline, Emirates has been delighting customers’ palates with regionally inspired cuisine, and special seasonal menus for celebrating global cultures on its flights. Whether it is Diwali, Holi, Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Easter, Oktoberfest, or other major festivals, Emirates celebrates them with thoughtful touches to create lasting, memorable experiences for passengers travelling far from home.

28 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 03 November 2019

VOX POP

‘What Apapa gridlock has done to us’ Eseroghene Ayomah

I

Mathias Prowess - Artist ’ve spent some years in Lagos and I can say from my experience that Lagos traffic in the morning and evening after work is awful. Its traffic had affected me recently in the fact that I get an additional stress after the accumulated stress from work. The stress gets overwhelming in that anytime I come home opting to do something after work, and rest my head, off I go to bed immediately.

I always wake up exhausted from the previous day’s stress. The circle repeats itself. I leave for work as early as 5:45am and get to work past 8am in the morning.

Gabriel Ayomah - General Manager, Rock View Hotel The traffic situation seems to be up and down; we thought we’ve had a relief, when the President set up the task force to address the issue of gridlockscausedbytankersandtrailers in Apapa. These vehicles usually occupy the road, making it impossible for other users to access the road. It has been very difficult for the past years, but when the task force came they were able to address the issue within two months and there wasatemporaryrelief.Butitappears now that the whole thing has gone back to its former state.

Things have deteriorated, especially in the last few days it has not been easy at all; it’s been difficult to access Ijora, and when you want to go through Lagos Eko Bridge, the tankers are there; when you go to Apongbon bridge the tankers are also there; when you decide to come to Apapa through Mobil the tankers are also there; so the tankers are everywhere. The roads are not helping matter; under the bridge that can provide a relief for people to pass is now a nightmare, especially Ijora under bridge through the Navy Dockyard is not easily accessible. The bad road in Apapa has affected businesses that are located within Apapa environment. Many businesses in Apapa have closed down, and some hotels in Apapa have closed down.

The impacts of the traffic have been so much on us. So many estate owners have relocated and many of the houses in Apapa are now vacant because nobody wants to live here any longer. The negative impact to my hotel is also enormous. We have been struggling for years because of the traffic jam. I have lost so many businesses; those who made reservations eventually turned them down because they cannot access

the hotel. The hotel remains one of the best hotel facilities within Apapa vicinity, but we are not getting the corresponding patronage because of this. Our revenue has not been good, but we have not asked any staff to leave as a result of the poor business. We are hoping that one day the government would come to our rescue and open the tank farms outside Apapa that they said they want to open for many years. For now, we are praying that God will come to our rescue.

Muoghalu Bunmi Juliet - Student The traffic is beyond bad; you can stay in hold up for over three hours some days. I think the government should do something about it. For example, yesterday I was almost robbed while inside the bus I boarded. It was a horrible experience. This traffic creates rooms for robbers to come and rob people and they don’t care if you wind up or down they will burst the glass and pick whatever they want. Before getting to Cele bus stop one of the days, some robbers were trying to rob the people in vehicle; I happened to be a witness to it because my bus was at a filing station and people were shouting and very scared, the robbers came armed with cutlasses to threaten the lives of people. We were in the bus discussing and our bus was at the front, all of a sudden our conductor started running and we were all surprised because we had no idea of what was going on and he said they were robbing at the front and he saw them, but he ran away before they got to his side.

They were hitting cars; then he saw some group of people running back, we decided to hide our phones to avoid being attacked. Our conduc-

tor was so scared, he said that no one could fight anyone of the robbers because they were all armed with long machetes and guns; no one had the courage to make a noise or challenge them.

Uzoma Wisdom C. - Banker It has been terrible and the only cause of it is bad road and wrong parking by the public transporters.

It has even helped to increase the incidence of robbery on the road and I happen to be a witness to a robbery last Monday. The issue of traffic in Lagos can be stopped or reduced by the government doing what they need to do as a matter of urgency on the roads in Lagos.

The gridlock is caused mainly by potholes which warrant commuters to force themselves on the parts that are manageable especially that

has to do with some other roads too at different places. Commuting myself from Oshodi to Egbeda alone at some point costs me a lot of money and time. Imagine you going from Oshodi to Egbeda and spending N700, meanwhile, the normal transport fare is N50 naira.

So, not only that you are wasting time and money, you are also suffering emotionally and health wise. Lagos roads are so bad to the extent that they are costing Lagosians a lot more than they can afford, and if this is not addressed as soon as possible it might lead to things that words cannot describe.

For example, it can actually lead to protests of all kinds. It would affect the economy of Lagos. Companies, industries, commuters and workers are complaining. So you can imagine

of Apongbon.

With the way things are going, and if nothing is done on time there would be big issue in Lagos State and robbery cases would increase.

And at this yuletide season the rate of crime will be alarming because these guys target gridlocks to rob people. The trucks that keep parking at Eko Bridge should stop because they are the major cause of traffic on that road.

Salami Damilare Ezekiel – Transsnet Financial Nig. Considering the state of the bad roads in Lagos, for the past few weeks Lagosians and commuters have been experiencing unprecedented delay and a stressful journey. Just a short journey from Ikeja to Ogba might take you over an hour, a journey of not more than 10 minutes will take you hours because of the bad roads and that

how Lagos GDP has already been affected. Lagosians won’t be able to pay their taxes as expected and they will automatically default and at the end of the day, it will impact negatively on the state. It has also, already, affected lifestyle. When you go from Surulere to the Islands, initially you spend like N350 to N400 but because of this issue of bad roads and traffic, you spend three times, it does not make sense.

Henry Iwundu For the past few weeks I have witnessed a lot of happenings as a result of the gridlocks. Everywhere you go in Lagos today, commuters are stranded Transport fares have increased astronomically, because commercialbusandtaxidrivershike the fare to take care of the wear and tear on their vehicles and also the enormous stress they go through.

They take a lot of risks to move

about. Creating more roads and routes should be one of the fundamental things the government has to look into as urgently as possible.

It rained very heavily on Wednesday morning and it disrupted the movement of people. there was no place for anyone to pass; the routes were very congested, drainages are nothing to write home about.

The Lagos traffic has affected me so badly because I get to work very late nowadays; I stay longer on the road than at home. The rate at which the trucks have colonised the roads of Lagos should not be neglected by the government. As early as 5am, trucks would be struggling with mini cars and buses, causing havoc and holdup which is very dangerous and unfortunate.

Ohagwu Peter - Tailor My experience in Lagos traffic for the past few days has been terrible. What amazes me sometimes is that after being in the traffic for hours, and as the vehicles begin to move, you will discover that there is nothing causing it; you begin to ask; what was the problem? Yesterday, I went to Lawanson in Surulere, and from there to my area where I stay; it is just 15 minutes, but I spent more than 45 minutes on the road.

JumokeAdeniran-Businesswoman The Lagos traffic has affected me based on the fact that I sell food at Apapa, at Ajegunle market to be precise. I used to have so many customers that would be waiting for me to come. But due to the traffic I now spend more hours on the road and I’ve lost a lot many of my customers within the past few days.

Customers now go to other places to buy food and it’s very disheartening. I plead with the government to do something about it because it’s not helping me in any way in business. I tend to spend so many hours on Apapa road especially.

Sukura Sule Basil - Hawker The traffic has affected me also.

I discovered that whenever there is holdup, drivers would be so edgy and irritated that they would shout at you when you approach them with an item to buy. I get on the nerves of the frustrated drivers and passengers due to spending more time on the road. Most time, when I get to commercial buses for passengers to buy my goods, I’ll hear some saying ‘you no go go sleep abi, your mate don go house since?’ I’ll feel bad about it and walk away from that particular place and it has been happening that way for the past few days now, making me lose business. Most times I’ll sit and watch vehicles pass by me without going to them just to avoid insults from them.

Timmy Badmus – Aspiring Fashion Designer I’ve been a victim of armed robbers’ attack on Ijora Bridge due to hold up. Once there is hold up, robbers see it as an opportunity to harass commuters and I have fallen victim several times. I have lost money and other valuable items.

The government should look into this and put an end to it immediately.

Tankers should be removed permanency from high ways as they cause most of the gridlocks.

Sunday 03 November 2019

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BDSUNDAY 29

ExecutiveBookshelf With Chido Nwakanma • Reviews • News • Interview • List

You are what you read

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r. Kayode Fayemi: My Book World What are you reading

currently?

I have a strange habit which I am sure you are probably familiar with from our old days. I do not read one book at a time. I am reading a couple of books right now. They are not too diverse; they are in the same genre.

I am reading a book by Paul Collier, an Oxford academic who wrote The Bottom Billion(2007). He has just come out with a book on the future of capitalism, really examining the decline of social democracy and what to do to still hold to the middle ground between populism and dogma. He argues for the need for pragmatism.

And what are the pragmatic solutions to the challenges that we are confronting in the world? I am reading The Future of Capitalism(2018), which is more like the Tony Crossland book of old,The Future of Socialism.

I am also reading an exciting book by one of President Obama’s aides, Samantha Power. Samantha was the US Ambassador to the United Nations. Before then, awardwinning journalist, academic at Harvard and she wrote this book, The Education of An Idealist(2019). When you go into government with a lot of idealism, and you have to confront the real issues.

Here is someone who wrote about genocide in Bosnia, Herzegovina, the Serbian crisis and the Rwandan genocide and criticised America for not doing enough in responding to these issues.

She now found herself as a security council official in the same US government and having to deal with the problems of Syria, Iran, diplomatic engagements across the spectrum. Even inside the progressive government and having to confront a lot of those dilemmas.

I am reading a book by the CNN White House Correspondent Jim Acosta.

Inimitable reporter, continually challenging and asking the tough questions of the Trump administration and of course President Trump hated his guts and probably still does. They threw him out of the White House, but he took them to court and won. His book is The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell The Truth in America (2019).

Finally, I am reading a new book, For The Record

by David Cameron, former

prime minister of Britain.

They are all political books, autobiographical, biographical and accounts of people and where people are in their political journey.

What informs your choice of a book to read?

I am a student of history and politics. I have a bias for books that teach certain lessons. I am interested in leadership, for example. One of the most interesting books I have read recently is Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Leadership in Turbulent Times. It is an analysis of the leadership of four US presidents.

Because I am also in public office that tends to influence what I read.

Of course, I also pick up other books. I am currently reading two interesting books by two Nigerians I respect. One is The Pentecostal Republic by Ebenezer Obadare an examination of religiousity in our setting and The Burden of Office by a former Attorney General, Mr. Mohammed Adoke.

You could say all of these books are still in the same direction.

Which books rate as the Top Ten in your reading experience?

Wow. Which books rate as the Top Ten? 1. Ibadan: The Penkelemesi Years by Wole Soyinka. I am a penkelemesi child so you can understand why that book rates highly with me.

2. The Famished Road by Ben Okri.

3. The Fishermen Chigozie Obioma. I found it engaging and it is also set in Akure, an area I am familiar with.

4. Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Adichie. I found her rendition of the civil war a lot more graphic than even the real story.

Different. Palpable. A love story weaved around a tragic circumstance. It made an impression.

5. What is history (1961)? -E. H. Carr.

6. Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway.

7. On War Carl von Clausewitz and The Art of War, Sun Tzu. I am a student of war.

8. The Republic Plato 9. North-Eastern Yoruba Districts and the Benin Kingdom by Banji Akintoye.

10.

Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela Which books would you return to again and again?

There are actually books that I return to again and again. Long walk to freedom by Nelson Mandela, On War, Clausewitz, The Famished Road and in terms of biographical works I will return to a book by a gentleman, he is dead now, Orientalism by Edward Said.

Please suggest five essential books and five general interest books for young people.

That requires some careful reflection. It has to be

books that teach and ones that are attractive for them to read. a. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, a classic that resonates across generations and age groups. b. The Fate of Africa: A history of Fifty Years of Independence Martin Meredith, a comprehensive sweep of what has transpired in this continent. Useful for a young person to know. c. Crippled Giant: Nigeria Since Independence (1998), EghosaOsaghae d.

Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie e. The God of Small Things, Arundathi Roy f. On War, Clausewitz g. Prebendalism, Richard Joseph h.Nation As Grand Narrative Wale Adebanwi What role did being a bibliophile play in your career?

Very critical role. Even my getting into politics was informed by my childhood connection to reading. I grew up with a father who was an Information Officer in government. Newspapers were all over the place. As a child it was a must for me to read newspapers. I then grew very much attached to it. Somebody saw me the other day who I had not seen since my secondary school days and he said, do I still carry a James Hardley Chase book around? (laughter). Apparently I used to do this a lot when I was young.

That is his abiding memory of me. Just sitting in one

corner, not bothered by anything around me, totally engrossed. Reading has been a major part of my life. People find it strange when they come into my car and find loads of books there or in my office. No matter how busy I am, I cannot be too busy not to read because there are always lessons that are ingrained in what you read.

You are actually what you read.

Ekiti is known for education. What are you doing to boost knowledge production in your state?

Quite a lot. As part of this first anniversary, we had what we normally call the JKF Essay Competition.

This is what has been missing from this environment for a while now. The idea of people competing in the area of knowledge production has become somewhat alien.When we were young, we took part in essays, literary and debating societies, representing our schools in Inter-House Debates and quizzes. All of that seemed to have disappeared, and we are reintroducing them in schools and public competitions.

Over and above that, a significant component of my government’s agenda is what we call the knowledge economy.How do we turn around an environment that is already known for affinity to education, but education for its sake or education for wealth creation? There is a sense in which knowledge for its own sake is not

necessarily a bad idea. But we also live in a world that has become instrumentalised. So it must also serve a purpose. In our Knowledge Economy agenda, we are looking at applied knowledge. When you’ve got the knowledge, what do you do with it? How useful does it become to society? How do you apply the knowledge?

How do you connect the dots between the town and the gown? What is the university, for example, doing for us in government? What sort of partnership do we have?What is the university doing for industryin our state and beyond? How do we connect the Diaspora to our local content and ensure that the partnership serves our people better? How do we pool the resources in our education quadrangle of Afe Babalola University, Ekiti State University, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and the Federal Polytechnic? How do we make all these work better for us so that Ekiti can really and truly live up to its billing, to the name that people ascribe to the state?

So, what are you planning to do? Are you going to build e-libraries or digital creation centres?

We are doing that and more. We have this Knowledge City where we are focusing on preparing our young ones for the fourth industrial revolution. It is an agritechhubRecord by is a biomedical hub, it is an ICT Innovation hub, it is an outsourcing place. It is a city for knowledge production, dissemination, outsourcing and knowledge reterntion. It is all around a particular space which sits in the middle of the quadrangle about which I have just talked.

When is it taking off?

It is pretty much taking off now. We are working on the masterplan currently.

We have already securedsupport in principle from several institutions, including the African Development Bank andAfrexim Bank. It is a PPP initiative.

Government is just desirous of producing the framework, preparing the place for private sector players to take over and drive it. In doing that we want a minigrid power; power is key to it.

Broadband access is essential. Fibre optic cabling is a very critical thing that we are doing — getting anchor tenants that would then help multiply local content and ensuring that we prepare our school age children for participation in this.

To be concluded next week.

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Sunday 03 November 2019

Consumer Watch Meeting nutritional targets of SDG will increase Nigeria’s income, says FG

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Stories by Ngozi Okpalakunne inister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono has stressed the need to address malnutrition and meeting nutrition targets of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), adding that such effort will inject additional $29 billion into Nigeria’s national income.

Speaking at a press briefing heralding the 2019 Nutritious Food Fair (NFF) organised by HarvestPlus, the minister who was represented by the Director of Agriculture, Frank Satumari, affirmed that addressing malnutrition challenges is not only social service, but economic strategy.

The three-day NFF programme will hold from November 13 to November 15 and will be officially opened on November 13 by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

“Over 10,000 participants

L-R: Managing Partner Okwudili Ijezie and Co. Blakey Ijezie, Kordy Agubata, Alhaji Rafiu Ajagbe, Ezebube Reggie Udeagbala,during a press conference on the Federal Government plans to increase the rate of Value Added Tax(VAT) from 5 percent to 7.5 percent held in Lagos.

from eight countries but mostly from across Nigeria are expected to take part in the fair themed “Nutrition is everyone’s business’,” said Paul Ilona, Country Director for HarvestPlus.

“It will feature panel discussions, scientific presentations, and exhibition of business opportunities to increase investments in the nutritious food

sector,” he added.

Dr. Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Delivery, commended HarvestPlus for its efforts to end malnutrition.

He said that the problem of malnutrition was that it limits the potential abilities of children. “We have a major problem of malnutrition in Nigeria,

children cannot reach their full potential. This makes me sad,” Dashiell said.

“And we must look for ways to solve this,” he added, stressing that the NFF provides opportunity for stakeholders to take joint action against malnutrition.

To show their endorsement to the upcoming event, Nollywood stars represented by Segun Arinze, and Francis Duru joined other partners in IITA to play a novelty football match in IITA. Nestle also will be participating in the event come November 2019 According to HarvestPlus, this year’s NFF will converge all key nutrition stakeholders in the public and private sectors including donors and ambassadors to show progress made so far in biofortification; galvanize new opportunities for growth and build new capacities across the nutritious food value chains, which will contribute to achieving SDG 1, 2 and 3 targets for Nigeria.

Highlights of the NFF will include: Innovations in nutrition showcasing biofortified crops like vitamin A cassava, vitamin A maize, orange sweet potato, iron beans and pearl millet to improve health; opportunities for small and medium scale (SM) investors to diversify, increase returns on investment and create employment in the fast growing nutritious food sector; exhibition of nutritious foods by small, medium and large scale food processors and opportunities to engage new distributors and retailers; exhibition of quality seeds by small, medium and large scale seed companies and opportunities to engage new agri-input dealers and retailers; Exhibition of farm and food processing equipment for SMEs in the nutritious food sector and training on equipment maintenance and grassroots quizline to enhance nutrition and SME education for secondary school students.

Engineers call for improved implementation, enforcement of environmental laws …advocate ‘zero waste’

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overnment at all levels has been urged to ensure the implementation and enforcement of environmental protection laws so as to achieve “zero waste” policy in the country.

Speaking at the annual general meeting and conference of the Nigerian Institution of the Environmental Engineers (NIEE), Lagos chapter which came under the theme, “Environment Protection Laws and Regulatory Practices,” chairman of the Lagos branch, Abiola Kosegbe affirmed that the implementation of such laws and engagement in global best practices will also harness the green economy.

Kosegbe further stated that Lagos chapter of NIEE believes that the task of achieving a cleaner and healthier Lagos is achievable with all stakeholders as well as consumers being on board.

“The general society must have realised that the physical regional planning , land use , human processes, viz-a-viz power generation , transmission and distribution, mineral; crude exploration , mechanical/ vehicular discharge and all kinds of activities on earth has direct or indirectly impacted the environment negatively.

The acclaimed human benefits have generally distorted the equilibrium of the natural ecosystem, thereby putting lives at great risk”, she noted.

In addition, she explained that her association has been able to conduct several technical sessions, industrial visits and also attended a couple of stake-

holders’ meetings to enhance knowledge and also to contribute their quota to the development of technology.

However, she expressed her association’s willingness to continue to cooperate and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to develop constructive policies , guidelines and laws that will key in to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to achieve an environment that will allow for the present day and future prosperity.

On the theme of the conference, she explained was apt, considering myriad of environmental challenges facing the state and the recent efforts of the Lagos state government in squarely addressing the problems. On her part, Chairman Nigeria Society of Engineers, (NSE), Funmi Akingbaghohun, lauded the organisers of the event and stressed the need for the country to have more environmental engineers.

“When more environmental engineers are on board, they will be able to proffer solutions to environmental challenges in the country” she added.

Also, National chairman of NIEE, Adisa Yinusu, observed that there are many laws in Nigeria including environmental laws, adding that the main issues surrounding these laws were the implementation and enforcement.

While emphasizing the need for the government at all levels to ensure the enforcement of these laws, he urged the government to create a conducive environment that will enable Nigerians to abide by those laws.

L-R: Past chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Ikeja branch, Charles Akintola, chairman Lagos chapter Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) Abiola Kosegbe, Sodeinde Olalekan Nurudeen of the office of Lagos Drainage services receiving a gift from chairman NSE ikeja branch, Funmi Akingbagbohun, Akintunde Zedomi , national general secretary NIEE, Olasunkanmi Ojowuro and Remi Eko during AGM/ conference on “Environmental Protection Laws and Regulatory Practices in Lagos”, Organised by Lagos chapter of NIEE recently.

“We have laws that regulates everything here in the country , but enforcement is the key because our people are ready to abide, in enforcing our laws, governments need to put things in place to make the environment conducive for people, so that they will be able to abide by the laws. Take for instance, in a situation where government said that people should not defecate in the open places, government should provide conveniences. So, both the government and the people have roles to play in order to make our country habitable, he noted”.

National Secretary NIEE, Olasunkanmi Ojowuro who also spoke at the event, stressed the need for Nigerians

to have a positive change of attitude towards environmental issues and added that a lot of people are not mindful of their environment.

In her words: “We have issues of populations, the more the population, the more we have issues affecting the environment, everybody wants to own a building, instead of building on a dry land people will build on swampy areas, that is ignorance and besides, our reckless attitude is an issue to be addressed. Take for instance, the manner in which people drop their waste both solid and liquid is also not encouraging. There is need for Nigerians to care for their environment”.

Speaking on the theme of

the event, a lecturer at the Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Yekeen Adeboye defined environmental protection laws as laws that govern the emission of harzardous substance in to Nigerian environment.

X-raying practices of toxicity regulatory standard laws in Nigeria through environmental monitoring, Adeboye who is also the Principal Consultant Institute of Oil and Gas Management Professional, had environmental monitoring as the systematic sampling of air, water , soil and biota in order to observe and study the environment as well as to drive knowledge from the process.

Monitoring may be carried out to assess pollution Monitoring may be carried out to assess pollution To him, monitoring may be carried out to assess pollution effects on man and the environment in order to identify any possible cause and determine relationship between pollutant concentration and health effects, climatic changes among others.

While emphasising the need for improvement in the implementation of environmental protection laws and regulatory practices in Nigeria, he called on environmental engineers to act as a community police to bridge the gap between regulators and public through enforcement of competence standards for manager of operations like construction; solid mineral production, manufacturing ; energy and telecommunications sectors.

Sunday 03 November 2019

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BDSUNDAY 31

Ogun Watch Ogun partners FG to provide electricity for rural dwellers in 32 communities

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Stories by Rasaq Ayinla

s part of efforts to provide offgrid, renewable energy to the rural dwellers in the state, the Ogun State government has partnered Federal Government through its Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

The partnership, which was reached under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), is aimed at the provision of uninterrupted power supply to rural communities, covering 16 communities out of 32 communities targeted in the first phase.

Speaking at a meeting with the team from the Federal Rural Electrification Agency ( R E A ) o r g a n i s e d by Og u n State Energy Working Group for the Community on Nigeria Electrification Project, Ojetola Rasaki, director of Rural Electrification, Ministry of Rural Development, noted that the present administration is committed to facilitating and encouraging genuine partnership that will improve the living standard of the rural dwellers as well as those in the urban centres as government cannot do it alone.

“I want to welcome you to our state and assure you of our cooperation throughout the period of your stay. The present government welcomes any Federal Agency of Government that has genuine programme that would have positive impact on the citizens of Ogun State,” Ojetola said.

Speaking on behalf of REA,

Ogun constructs 750 low-cost housing units in 3 senatorial districts

Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Ogun state deputy governor on reflective jacket and Wellington boots listening to some experts’ opinions on the way to prevent perennial flood at Ogun-Lagos border areas of Isheri, Ishasi, Magboro and others.

the team lead from Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Te l e o l a Oy e g o k e , s a i d t h e initiative of the Federal Government was in collaboration with World Bank group, aimed at improving rural life across the country.

She noted that the objective of the project was to provide electricity to unserved and underserved communities across the 36 States of the Federation, using a renewable energy sources with the

Rural Electrification Agency as the implementing agency.

Oyegoke explained that, “The first phase of the project covered 16 communities while this second phase would cover another 16 communities, making a total number of 32 communities.”

She pointed out that 32 communities in Ogun State would benefit from the project, out of 250 projects shared among the eight benefiting s t a t e s , u r g i n g t h e S t a t e ’s working group to engage

the communities in order to create an enabling environment for the private investors which would in turn create wealth for the rural dwellers.

The 12-man technical committee visited some ongoing project sites at Yewa North, Odeda, Ijebu East, Ewekoro, Ogun Water-side, Odogbolu, Abeokuta North, Ado-Odo, Ipokia and Obafemi-Owode Local Government Areas of the state for on-the-spot assessment of the renewable energy project.

s part of effort to bridge housing deficit and deepen home ownership in the state, Governor Dapo Abiodun administration has begun the construction of 750 low-cost housing units spread across three senatorial districts of the state.

The construction of 250 housing units each in three senatorial districts of Ogun West East and Central was borne out of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment towards providing quality and affordable housing which will be accessible to low and middle class residents of the state.

Speaking on state government’s effort to ensure more provision of housing units at reasonable and affordable prices, Akinwale Ojo, acting general manager of Ogun State Housing Corporation (OGSHC), declared that the low-cost housing scheme was to ensure that a very large number of residents have access to own houses in the state.

Ojo, who spoke with BDSUNDAY at the ongoing pilot construction of 250 housing units in Ogun Central Senatorial District at Kemta, Idi-Aba in Abeokuta, explained that the quality of the housing is comparable to any standard housing quality in the world as the construction is being subsidised by government as part of commitment to deepen home ownership in the state.

“Towards actualising the Building Our Future Together Agenda , Governor Abiodun, alongside his team has been working relentlessly to deliver affordable housing to the people.

Pressure mounts on FG to cede Oyan Dam to Ogun as flood ravages border communities

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s flood continues to ravage some communities in the borderline between Ogun and Lagos states, residents have urged Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, to cede moribund Oyan Dam being controlled by Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), an agency under Federal Ministry of Water Resources, saying if Oyan Dam was used to generate electricity there would not issue of perennial flooding.

Th e r e s i d e n t s l a m e n t e d huge damage which the perennial flooding had caused to their property and good living as places such as Isheri, OPIC GRA, Magboro, among other communities at the border area had already submerged by the flood being sparked off by the constant release of water from Oyan Dam to rivers in Ogun and Lagos states

as the residents requested that the water at the Dam should rather be used to produce 9 Megawatt of energy instead of constant release of the water from the Dam. Oyan Dam is located in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State and constructed

by President Shehu Shagari-led Federal Government in 1983 for irrigation and power generation for some Southwest states, but was never officially handed over and operational before 1983 Coup D’etat staged by Buhari-Idiagbon Military Regime that toppled and abruptly ended the Second Republic.

The Dam lies along border community in Igbo-Ora sited between Ogun and Oyo state which is being controlled by Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA). It is a Dam that is designed for power generation, water production and agricul-

tural purpose through irrigation system.

Recall that BDSUNDAY had earlier reported that Governor Dapo Abiodun had expressed the state government’s intention to take over the Dam with a view to producing 9 Megawatts of electricity under the new energy production policy, asking for better use of the water from the moribund Federal Government-owned Oyan Dam. “Oyan Dam is a Federal Government Project and we have been engaging Federal Government on how to take over that Dam, that Dam is meant to generate a 9 Megawatt of electricity in this corridor. That Dam has not been functional.

It was never commissioned we are trying to see how the Federal Government can transfer that Dam to us so that we can use it and contribute that 9 Megawatt into our electricity”, Governor Abiodun was

reported to have said this.

But, when BDSUNDAY went for on-the-spot-assessment of the level of damage done in some areas where the flood had wreaked havoc, particularly in OPIC GRA, Isheri North area in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, residents decried non-conversion of w a t e r bei ng relea sed fr om Dam to energy as production of 9 megawatt power designed for the Dam would require 20 million cubic feet of water to run the power turbine, saying if such was done then the perennial problem of flood in the area would be tackled head on.

Speaking on behalf of some residents in the area, Bayo Adebami said: “It is unfortunate that Federal Government does not take potentials which Oyan Dam offers. The Dam can better be used rather than perennial flooding being caused by indiscriminate release of water from the

Dam. You can see for yourself, every place is either submerged or water-logged; we have to move out when the water level has gone beyond our windows.

“Our Governor, Governor Abiodun of Ogun State has been talking to Federal Government to hand over the Dam to Ogun State government for better use. The Dam is designed for the production of 9 Megawatts of energy and if that is done, the turbine will need 20 million cubic feet of water and that will definitely stop this flooding.

“All we can only ask the Federal Government to do as a matter of urgency, is to hand over this Dam to Ogun State government for them to use it to power not only the turbine that brings energy for the people but also to use it for irrigation system on agricultural production, especially rice farming.”

32 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 03 November 2019

TheWorshippers

‘God will grant us access to the keys to total victory in Christ Jesus’ As Christian faithful gather for the Rhema World Convention 2019, with the theme, ‘Total Victory in Christ Jesus’, that is commencing today. The Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers (RCC&T), Bishop Taiwo Akinola in this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU spoke on his expectations from the convention, among other issues. Excerpts:

S

What can you tell us about Rhema World Convention 2019? ince the beginning of creation, God gave man the power to dominate his environment, to subdue and to triumph over all circumstances of life (Genesis 1:26-28). And, as we know, even after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, this divine unction to man dominate to has ever remained with God. Hence, man became restored to the platform of dominion through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No wonder then that God gave us as a theme for this year’s convention, ‘Total Victory In Christ Jesus’. And, without any doubt, this Rhema World Convention 2019 provides another opportunity for individuals, families and nations to obtain divine solutions and intervention for all problems and issues, and to dominate situations and circumstances of life.

I have boundless assurance that participants at this year’s convention can look forward to access the keys that will open them to the world of total victory in Christ Jesus in all areas of their lives, including dominion power over sin, poverty, sicknesses, barrenness, and spiritual attack, deliverance from curses, fear and satanic spells.

Also, during this event, genuine salvation will be served by the Lord for those who are yet to be born-again, and those whose aspirations include making it to heaven at last. I firmly believe that every participant will, by reason of divine performance, have new songs to sing after this gracious event, in Jesus name.

I use this medium, therefore, to invite everyone to join Champions all over the world to be at the Rhema Christian Church International Headquarter, Champions Peace Cathedral, Temidire, Sango Otta, for this annual event, which kicks off 9am Sunday, 3rd and runs through to 2pm, Sunday 10th November 2019.

What is the mandate of the church for this annual convention?

In line with the glorious vision given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, we are

still marching forward in God’s plan of raising a multitude of people all over the world, who have been foreordained to be partakers of His grace and glory. As a marching order, He said to us: “Raise with me a glorious assembly of Jesus people; a people of my power, purity and purpose, and in this place will I give peace”.

Rhema Christian Church and Towers, with the International headquarters at Sango Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria, was birthed on the 2nd of November, 1991 solely to fulfil this divine agenda stated above. And, since then, it has been our privilege and honour to spread the good news of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ round the world with outstanding results and testimonies of God’s goodness through preaching and teaching of the infallible, unquestionable and inerrant Word of God. In the past 28 years, our ministry has spread its tentacles across the globe. Presently, besides our various branches in Nigeria, we have our presence in the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya, to the glory of God. As a nation-Church, our earnest mega-vision is to love Jesus Christ passionately, and with the help of the Holy Spirit to enthrone Jesus Christ in the hearts of very many people all over the world.

And, based on this heart cry, over the years, we have received some measures of grace to forge ahead to impact mankind in various ways through our churches.

What should participants at the Rhema World Convention expect this year?

Just like last year, the unique feature of this year’s convention is the assembly of stars and anointed gospel artistes that would minister daily throughout the convention. Gospel artistes lined up include, Mike Abdul, Wunmi Sax, Olufunke Akins, Folasade Taiwo, Bois Olorun, Praise Machine and others.

Each day of the convention, there will be morning, afternoon and evening sessions: 6am, 9am and 5pm respectively. On the 8th of November, there will be our popular

livelihoods of many citizens in many parts of the country.

Starkly, the Global Terrorism Index estimates that Fulani militants killed about 1,700 persons from January to September 2018, six times more than the number killed by the bloodthirsty Boko Haram Islamist sect throughout that year.

Thinking that the incumbent administration has always promised to deliver on good governance; even though we can see some measure of intervention on some roads, like Ibadan-Ife Road, yet we still urge government to please do more in the area of security. And, there can be no more urgent time than now.

I recommend community policing and inclusion of men of goodwill in our neighborhoods in these security enhancement projects.

Taiwo Akinola

Hosanna Night, a time of victorious and miracle invoking praise, where anointed gospel artistes have been lined up for divine ministrations. The Grand-Finale on Sunday, 10th of November, starting 8am, promises to relaunch and to commission God’s people into a supernatural and overflowing blessings for them to begin to operate victoriously.

Meanwhile, notable and highly anointed ministers of God are billed to preach under strong Holy Ghost unction and to minister in the word alongside my humble self at the convention to launch participants into their new realm of total victory.

These include, Rev. Dr. Kunle Adesina, Bishop Ayo Olubusuyi, Bishop Victor Akilla, Bishop Dr. Abiodun Akinteye, Bishop Israel Alaya, Pastor Femi Gbenjo, Pastor Sina Olufade, Pastor Tofunmi Opaleye, to mention a few. I look forward with greatest excitement to welcome all to the best convention of its time in Jesus mighty name.

Free medical tests and services will be offered for all participants during the event. Again, a finan-

cial empowerment session will be hosted for some small scale business entrepreneurs before the close of the convention, by the grace of God. Away from the convention; what is your take on the current state of insecurity in Nigeria?

Insecurity has certainly laid the country low on her back, somehow.

Some major highways are now being avoided by travellers for fear of being kidnapped.Interestingly,albeitweird, kidnapping is fast becoming the country’s most lucrative business.

Nigerians everyday in the present time is being inundated with reports of killings, robbery, banditry, kidnapping, with resultant disasters and economic depression. A government panel found that bandits collected over N3 billion in ransoms from 2011 to May 2019, widowed 4,983 women, orphaned 25,050 children and displaced 190,340 persons in Zamfara State alone. In the first four months of 2019, said the police, 1,071 persons were killed. Kidnapping, banditry and communal strife have emptied farms and destroyed the

Youth unemployment is considered a ‘gun powder’ waiting to explode; how do we as a nation handle this challenge?

According to statistics, youth unemployment is presently put at 55.4 percent. As a Church committed to the progress of our dear country and the citizens, we are concerned that the rising spate of unemployment in Nigeria has remained unabated over the years. We observed that this critical situation has needlessly resulted in some youths taking to crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, internet fraud as well as being ready tools in the hands of insurgents, politicians and sponsors of communal crisis.

Meanwhile, we view this development, not only as a by-product of lack of fear of God, but also of gross disparity inherent in the nation’s planning and haphazard execution of projects aimed at generating employment opportunities that should absorb the numerous youths and young graduates being turned out annually by our tertiary institutions.

We are, therefore, urging this administration to please arise to the necessary duty of fulfilling its promise of generating jobs as one of its cardinal projects to empower the youths and make them productive for the advancement of the country.

Religious leaders must be vocal on peace building, says Idowu-Fearon Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna

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ecretary of Anglican Communion (worldwide) and Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has enjoined religious leaders in Kaduna State to be more vocal and step up their campaign towards a peaceful society.

He said a society that is devoid of sentiment is having the advantage of attaining its goals.

He made this assertion in Kaduna yesterday during consultative dialogue with religious leaders, where he said in the past 40 years, Kaduna State has gone through different kinds of crisis, hence the need for religious leaders to continuously preaching love and forgiveness.

According to him, until the religious leaders are sincere and ready

to work together for the betterment of all and sundry, saying to create and promote peace and understanding for one another, religious leaders must lead by example to ensuring peace in the society.

Rev. Idowu-Fearon lamented that the crisis in the last 40 years left the state in a shabby situation with loss of lives and destruction of unimaginable property in the state.

According to him, “Religious leaders must be sincere to their followers, and preach peace and forgiveness to the future generations so that the future generations could be guaranteed of a harmonious relationship.

“Religious leaders must live, practise and preach integrity and accountability to the followers bringing to the knowledge of followers that without love, no society can grow.”

Governor Nasir El-Rufai who was

represented by the Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensuring peaceful coexistence amongst the diverse groups in the state.

“We know that not every Christian and not every Muslim understands his or her religion fully and deeply enough to recognise this premium that both religions place on peace. Indeed, many of us do not even realise that both religions recognise that the other worships the same God. “Religion is central to our identities, and we can be very protective of those. And identity issues become political issues, which brings the hands of government to the table, which must make decisions that do not always please everyone,” the governor said.

According to him, “Government

is a human institution, and so is not perfect. Religious leaders too, make mistakes. We need regular lines of communication and processes of dialogue to work through the difficult conflicts we face when religion and other major identity concerns become engaged in the issues that divide us.

“That is a central reason the government of Kaduna State under our watch established the Kaduna State Peace Commission two years ago, so that our state would have a public institution whose sole purpose is to facilitate dialogue across our many divides. I am proud to say that the Commission, under the leadership of Archbishop Idowu-Fearon and his team, has taken great strides in that short time to set up some important peace infrastructure across the state, and to help douse tensions during the difficult election period early this year.”

“But the Peace Commission did not do these things alone. You were there to help us at every step, and we cannot hope to build peace in Kaduna State without your help.

Together you have churches and mosques in every community in this state. Your words every Sunday and every Friday can guide our fellow citizens toward peace or anger. Your good works in your neighborhoods help to mend the tears in the fabric of Kaduna State. And when you reach across religious divides, you prevent the violence that plagues us when disputes get out of control,” he further said.

The state CAN Secretary, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim opined that fairness is a tool to restore peace amongst the people of Kaduna State.

“I hope the issues discussed here will be fully implemented and ensure that all sections in the state are given fair treatment,” Ibrahim said.

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BDSUNDAY 33

TheWorshippers Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali

info@yomikasali.com

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had a conversation with a gentleman in the academia about the recent BBC eye on Africa documentary about Sex for Grades in our universities with mention of University of Lagos, his response triggered something in me that made my heart bleed because of his comments.

He told me that the issue has been there for years and accused my ‘constituency’ (the church) of being guilty

Salt or sugar...Moral conundrum of the bigger sin - SILENCE. During the conversation, I had to brutally agree with his position, especially when one of the lecturers mentioned in the video doubled as a Pastor of one of the most conservative Pentecostal churches in Nigeria if not in the world.

It got me thinking and I recalled my Lecture at a friend’s 65th Birthday Colloquium about a month earlier, I had argued vigorously about ‘Building a Broken Society’, with Nigeria as a case study. My thoughts were that the rise in crime, corruption, moral decadence, kidnappings and the plethora of problems we have in the country is because of the Breakdown of MORALS and the deliberate weakening of Moral Institutions in the country.

Our Lord Jesus said in scriptures that Believers ‘are the Salt Of The earth and Light Of The World’ (Matt 5 v 13-15), we are to season the nation not sweeten it, we seem to have lost our saltiness as mentioned in the same passage hence the challenges we face in our today’s world. The church is the only solution to the rapidly declining morals in

Good parenting bedrock of good society – Folu Adeboye SEYI JOHN SALAU

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ife of the General Overseer of Re d e e m e d Christian Church of God (RCCG), Folu Adeboye has said that good parenting is the bedrock of any society, which is capable of building good homes as the family remains the smallest and most important unit of the society.

Adeboye stated this at the 70th birthday thanksgiving service held in honour of Adeyinka Badejo, wife of former general overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria.

“Some parents could not boast of their parenting and home, because, they are also product of bad parenting. Good parents should endeavour to sacrifice all they could to give their children, not only good education, but good and godly parenting for successful future of the children who are heritage of God,” she said.

Quoting from the bible, she said: “Knowledge is the application of what you might receive to develop your lifestyle and to form your character”.

She described the celebrant, Badejo, as a virtuous woman brought up and nurtured with good and godly parenting, including passion and love for God, the evidence of what manifest in her lifestyle, marriage and service to God, the church community and Christianity.

“No woman can be successful in life without a good husband beside her, because, it takes the two to do it together, when they found each other, especially through salvation and genuine love for Christ,” she said.

Expressing her gratitude to God, Badejo said she was grateful to God for all He has done in her life with the assurance of eternity. “I am very grateful to God for everything about my life.

His goodness and mercy are incomprehensible and no amount of money can buy them”, Badejo said.

Other event during the thanksgiving held at the Foursquare Gospel Church national headquarters, Yaba, was the unveiling of a book of tributes, ‘ADEYINKA BADEJO: A Woman in full faith, fullness and flair’, compiled by Doyin Akinade.

neighbours as ourselves.

We have become so selfconceited and self-centred in our dispositions today.

CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT ETERNITY IN VIEW IS RELIGION: This is very important for me as a person, we should teach more about where we shall spend our Eternity so that we will be more Heaven conscious without being earthly useless, unlike being prosperous on earth without any plans for eternity.

Nigeria and we must sort these issues out by changing our messages on the pulpits.

5 MORAL MESSAGES WE SHOULD PREACH AND LIVE MORE GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT: The last time we taught this was probably in the 80s and now we teach young people to be discontent with everyone

around and embrace greed.

The church has failed the nation in teaching Godliness because we make Gain look like Godliness.

ing their children to become criminals because of money.

Honour your parents on earth so that you may live long

PARENTAL HONOR COMES WITH A BLESSING: This is the only Commandment with a blessing, and we should teach this again, however, the downside to this, is that sadly, many parents are also teach-

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURS AS YOURSELVES: The cardinal Moral Message is built on the Golden rule, which is ‘Do unto others what you want them to do unto you’, this can only be done when we Love our

D O N ’ T C O M PA R E YOURSELVES WITH OTHERS BUT BE INSPIRED

BY SOME: I love the adage that says, ‘it’s not all that glitters that’s gold’, that has been proven right with some of the recent arrests of some Nigerians by the FBI for fraud, even Forbes claimed one of the guys was a success by being swayed with glitters...we should be careful!

I hope we have been Inspired today. Keep your heart warm with Love towards God and Men. Drop me a note of acknowledgment and encouragement.

Be Inspired!

Nigeria needs sacrificial leaders to end socio-economic challenges - Cleric SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he senior pastor in charge of the Grace Family International Church, Yinka Ojo has said that Nigeria will overcome its current socioeconomic challenges when leaders are willing to sacrifice for the nation.

Ojo stated this at a preconvention press briefing, held at the premises of the church in Ikeja, noting that no developed nation has risen out of the kind of problems Nigeria find herself to become

developed without sacrificial leaders and leaders with vision.

According to the clergyman, “Politics is not a job or career, it is service; for instance, the United States President, Donald Trump is an example of a sacrificial leader for his country. Since he became president, he has not collected a single month salary, he donates it to pensioners and said he would do that throughout his tenure; because he realises that there are people who need that money more than him.

“That kind of spirit is what

we need among all the people in the executive, legislature, judiciary and all levels of leadership in the country.”

Describing the convention, which is themed: ‘Like a Mighty Rushing Wind’, as a time of visitation from heaven and four days of stirring hope alive, Ojo said there would be special seminar for unmarried young men and women as well as special marriage seminar.

The 4-day convention, which commenced on Thursday, Oct. 31st will end today, Sunday, Nov. 3rd at The Blue Roof LTV 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

The man of God also pointed out that there is a major failure on the family front “the kind of values that Africans treasure are no longer to be found today; no parent has time today to sit down and teach their children values; African values and culture.

“There is failure of spending time with the children, moulding their mind and shaping the way they think so that they can live right in the future; many children are raising themselves, some on the streets and that is why there is so much criminality among them,” he said.

L-R: Rev. Samuel & Rev. (Mrs.) Bisi Aboyeji (G. O Elect, Foursquare Gospel Church), Rev. (Dr.) Wilson Badejo (fmr. G. O Foursquare Gospel Church/ Celebrant husband), the Celebrant, Rev. (Mrs.) Yinka Badejo, Rev. (Mrs.) Bisi & Rev. Felix Meduoye (outgoing G. O Foursquare Gospel Church), Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye and Rev. (Mrs.) Mercy Ezekiel assisting the celebrant to cut her 70th birthday cake during the Thanksgiving Service in her honour, held at Foursquare Gospel Church national headquarters, Yaba, Lagos

34 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 03 November 2019

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

At 40, Ajulo takes W/African construction industry to greater height Anthony Ajulo, an entrepreneur and industrialist is the co-founder of Colton Group of companies, a fast growing conglomerate with interest in construction, manufacturing, industrial chemicals and ICT. The flagship of the group is Advanced Concrete Technologies which produces chemicals that enhance sustainability of structures. In this interview Ajulo, Chartered Accountant, ACCA qualified and MBA holder who founded the company 11 years ago with his partner, Collins Balogun says he is passionate about Nigeria.

Ajulo, 40, says his generation has a responsibility to deliver the black race through innovations and entrepreneurship. He however regretted that the problem with Nigeria is not lack of ideas but inconsistency of application of policies. Excerpts

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Could you tell me more about the Colton Group? olton Group is a diversified group of companies. Our first business started in 2008 with our subsidiary, Advanced Concrete Technologies Limited. Within this period, we have grown phenomenally to have a manufacturing division where we make different products. It has been a tough journey but rewarding and the experience has been enriching.

What is therefore the focus of Advanced Concrete Technologies firm?

It started as a company that imports construction and building materials from Germany, USA and other European countries.

We sold these chemicals and we also trained people on how to use the chemicals. In the last 10 years we have trained over 100 end users. The chemicals enhance and increase sustainability of buildings.

They are chemicals for constructions that improve the concrete for longevity of buildings. For instance the constituent of what human being eats determines longevity of the person. Therefore the constituent of what the concrete is made up of increases the longevity of the concrete. Today, with newest building chemicals, it is easy to build structures that are safer and solid against collapse.

What actually inspired you to go into this business?

There were other companies in this business when we started and most of them were foreigners. At this period, there were no Nigerian companies doing this at their level.

But, we mustered the challenge to start the business and we started with importation of the materials.

We started manufacturing locally under one of our subsidiaries. Today we produce over 80% of what we used to import. We have one of the biggest factories in W/Africa.

We have also completed our latest factory which would be opened later this month and our capacity has grown by over 100%. From the new factory we will be serving the whole of West African market.

Could you compare the time of importation and now you are manufacturing materials locally?

When we were importing, our staff strength was less than 30.

We also faced the challenge of forex sourcing. But with local manufacturing, our work force has increased to over 100 staff.

The speciality input is imported,

Anthony Ajulo

however the commodity input which forms 85 % of the body of the product is sourced locally.

Initially it was difficult to source the input locally, but now there are Nigerian companies who process these materials for us.

You are into the business of sustainable structures. When you hear of building collapse, what comes to your mind?

It bothers me that people cut corners. Whether you adopt new technologies or not, if you don’t cut corners and do not compromise on the quality and mixture of material, and use the right professionals and consultants, the chances of building collapse will reduce. To solve the problem of building collapse, there will be better regulation, stiff penalty for those who compromise on quality and standards and penalty for those who are constructing without engaging the right professionals.

It has been difficult environment for manufacturers in Nigeria, how do they cope, what is your view?

Let’s break this into phases.

Firstly is running the operation of manufacturing in Nigeria. It is a bitter-sweet experience because you are basically your own government – providing your own electricity, water, security etc. Today, I have two generators of 300

KVA in my factory in Sagamu. I am also purchasing another 1000KVA generator for the new factory. Remember that I also provide diesel for the generators. The second issue is the ease of doing business in Nigeria. It has been extremely difficult. We have a government who intends to improve the ease of doing business. I hear that we have moved 15 places up to 131 from over 145 position. To achieve further improvement, government needs to do a few things. First, government needs to automate Customs clearing process. Importer can go online and get his container cleared. This is the practice in some West African markets. The manual process fostered by some cabals impedes ease of doing business and in the process government losses a lot of money. Government needs to reform the Nigerian Customs Service and other agencies.

Corruption thrives when face-face interaction is ensured. Until this is cut off, corruption will continue and the ease of doing business will not be realised effectively. Thirdly, government should also checkmate multiple taxations by its agencies. Again, the government agencies need to have human face.

In Nigeria, most government agencies don’t have a human face as it is done abroad where issues can be resolved quickly.

Back to your business, how has it been in terms of patronage?

Being in business for 11 years has been a roller-coaster but it has been rewarding. For instance, when we wanted to build our first factory in 2012, we approached all the banks for a loan of N500 million but they were not ready to give us loan. They were basically asking for collateral. Remember we are young entrepreneurs trying to come up. However, since then it has been rewarding experience as we have been able to grow organically to where we are today with different business units. Today, some of the banks have seen the success story and they want to give us loans perhaps due to the CBN new rules.

Are there other challenges you face in business?

Apart from those challenges mentioned earlier, another challenge is the issue of African perception about locally made products.

In Africa, we have a challenge of not valuing our things. There is a perception that what is made locally is not of the same quality with imported. This is not the same situation when you travel to some countries such as India. This is however challenging us to be more innovative and do better products and packaging than imported. The black race has to deliver itself from this mentality.

Unemployment rate in Nigeria is rising from about 20% to 23% as at Q3, 2019. How can more youth be inspired to entrepreneurship as white collar jobs are diminishing?

I am passionate about Nigeria and venturing into entrepreneurship was not because of circumstance. I became an entrepreneur by choice. When I left university I got job offers from banks but I turned them down. But I joined an Indian company for no salary but to learn the job. The Indian who liked the offer because he wanted to save cost rather placed me on commission. I stayed there for two years. I started being entrepreneur early enough. When people say that they are not in business for lack of fund, I laugh. The truth of the matter is that you do not need money to be an entrepreneur. In fact, if you have too much money at initial stage, there is likelihood of failure. For me, one of the lessons is that almost everybody we asked for money turned us down, so we have to become resilient. When we started, the first weeks were tough, but today we have grown

organically.

Where do you see your group of companies in the next five years?

I believe that my generation has a responsibility to deliver the black race. There is a misconception that Nigeria is doing well. We are not going to do well as a nation until we do what we need to do. This is not about Nigeria but the whole black race. In 1960, the GDP of Ghana was higher than S/Korea. Today the GDP of S/Korea is 100 times higher than the GDP of Ghana. The difference is that Ghana has a lot of natural resources, but S/Korea has human capital and it invested heavily in education. This is what we don’t do in Africa. In Nigeria we invest minimally in education against the international standard. The future is not in natural resources, it is in what we can do with the natural resources. The guy that makes chocolate makes over $100 billions of dollars per annum from cocoa produced in Ghana while Ghana makes just about $3 b to $4 billion per annum.

This is same with Cote D’Ivoire and Nigeria. This tells us that the power to add value is much more important than the pure natural resources. Part of what I want to do in my generation in the next 10 -20 years is to make young people realise that we can create more Dangotes. I use Dangote because he has invested heavily into the real sector of the economy. There are other Dangotes who are not Nigerians and who move their capital to somewhere because it is business and not morality. If we replicate Dangote spirit and create more Dangotes, then we will grow fast as a nation. This is why I say we have a responsibility to save Africa.

What will be the role of government in inspiring this generation?

The problem in Nigeria is not lack of ideas but inconsistency of application of policies and ideas.

No policy is perfect but whatever policy is created, let it have a human face and be consistent with it. Secondly Nigerian government needs to understand that it needs to be ambitious. Government needs to find ways to raise revenue to fund infrastructure and invest in education. Nigeria also needs working rule of law for development to occur in the country. If offenders are not punished without godfathers’ intervention, more offences will happen and a country cannot develop under such environment.

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BDSUNDAY 35

Health&Science Autism symptoms in adults can differ from those in children

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he symptoms of autism in adults can differ from those in children, and many adults have learned to live with their symptoms over the years.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common Trusted Source neurodevelopment disorders. In most cases, people receive an autism diagnosis in childhood, usually after the age of 4 years.

However, some adults live with undiagnosed ASD. Even people with more severe symptoms may not have received the correct diagnosis.

There are some similarities between ASD and certain other disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Receiving an ASD diagnosis

later in life can be helpful for many reasons, but particularly because it can provide people with better access to services and support. Read on to learn more about autism in adults.

Signs and symptoms of adult autism Autistic people typically find aspects of communication and social interaction challenging.

They may have difficulty relating to other people and understanding the emotions of others.

Autistic people may also have inflexible thought patterns and behaviour, and they often carry out repetitive actions.

Adults with mild symptoms of ASD may not get a diagnosis until later in life, if ever.

Common signs and symptoms of ASD in adults can include: clumsiness, difficulty

Foundation rescues, empowers over 11,000 victims of sexual abuse, trafficking ...Launches trauma Centre GODSGIFT ONYEDINEFU, Abuja

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he Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) says it has rescued, rehabilitated and empowered 11,680 women, boys and girls who are victims of sexual abuse, child labour and human trafficking.

Amina Abubakar, founder WOTCLEF, said some of the victims have been empowered with education and skills, while some others with finances in form of micro credit to start up desired businesses since the foundation started in 1999.

Abubakar, speaking on the occasion of the foundation’s 20 years anniversary in Abuja, said the victims during rescue suffered varying trauma and health challenges especially HIV/AIDS, but said most of them are today employers of labour.

Abubakar informed that she started the foundation in a move to curb the high incidence of trafficking in persons saying WOTCLEF has achieved laudable success. She however urged the federal government and relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts to ensure that the menace of trafficking in persons is curbed, and specifically to ensure that perpetrators are duly punished.

Meanwhile, Julie Okah-Donli, the director general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) announced plans to introduce issues around human trafficking in primary and secondary school curricular.

The NAPTIP DG represented by the Director counselling and Rehabilitation Ebele Holasa

explained that the infusion will increase awareness and help reduce incidences.

“We have gone 45 percent and very soon, issues of human trafficking will go into the curricular, as this will create a sustainable sensitisation from the grassroots, which can be transferred from generation to generation,” she said.

WOTCLEF also launched a trauma centre, this centre according to the foundation’s Executive Director, Inmabong Sanusi will rehabilate traumatised victims through art.

“These children are traumatised because they have gone through sexual abuse, child labour and others. But this centre avails them the opportunity to use their hands, mind and heart to become creative, and tell their stories through art to facilitate the healing process”, she said.

making conversation, difficulty making or maintaining close friendships, discomfort during eye contact, challenges with regulating emotions and extreme interest in one particular topic, such as a specific period of history.

Other signs and symptoms can also be frequent monologues on the same subject or subjects, hypersensitivity to sounds or smells that do not seem to bother others, involuntary noises, such as repetitive throat clearing, issues understanding sarcasm or idioms, lack of inflection when speaking, only having an interest in a few activities, preference for solitary activities, and problems reading the emotions of others However, they also have trouble in understanding facial expressions and body language, reliance on daily routines and

difficulty dealing with changes to routine, repetitive behaviours, social anxiety, superior abilities Trusted Source in mathematics and related disciplines, in some cases and the need to arrange items in a specific order Autistic people will not usually have all of the above signs and symptoms, and they may experience others that are not on the list. Signs and symptoms vary from person to person.

Also, the symptoms can differ between men and women.

Autistic women may be quieter and appear to cope better with social situations than autistic men. As a result, it can be more challenging to diagnose ASD in women.

According to some research, autistic people may have higher rates Trusted Source of co-occurring conditions, such as anxi-

ety or depression, than those in the general population.

Living with autism Living with ASD can be challenging, but receiving a diagnosis can provide access to certain autism supports and services.

It can also provide a different perspective on a person’s childhood and the way that they relate to others and the world.

There is no “cure” for ASD, but for many people, ASD is an essential part of their identity and does not require treatment.

Doctors and therapists can help people manage their symptoms and deal with challenges specific to ASD, such as sensory overload and social situations.

Culled from Medical News Today (MNT)

US government to support treatment of additional 60,000 people living with HIV in Lagos ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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agos State remains significant in the trajectory of HIV/AIDS epidemic control in Nigeria, and an important area of focus for the delivery of HIV/AIDS services in the country, because of its population, geographic location, diversity, and status as a major gateway to the rest of the Nigeria.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) administered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is implementing an Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) surge program in Lagos State to identify and provide treatment to approximately 60,000 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) who have not previously received such treatment.

On October 31, Consul-General Claire Pierangelo led a U.S. delegation on a courtesy and advocacy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Government House, Ikeja, to highlight the long-standing USG support to Lagos State and

the U.S. Government’s $75 million budget increase for HIV control activities in Nigeria, with an additional focus for ART surge activities in the State.

Consul - General Pierangelo thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to work with all stakeholders, as the state implements the PEPFAR ART Surge and expressed appreciation for his general cooperation with the U.S. government in order to move the State towards achieving control of the HIV epidemic.

She urged the Governor to remove all barriers hindering people living with HIV from accessing free services offered by the USG through the PEPFAR program.

Specifically, she highlighted the negative effect of user-fees as a major barrier to people living with HIV accessing treatment and urged the elimination of such fees for all people living with HIV. She also advocated for antenatal care charges for pregnant women living with the virus, and the removal of other barriers hindering PLHIV from accessing health services. “The United States

remains committed to supporting Nigeria as it works to reduce and ultimately eliminate the scourge of HIV/AIDS among its people,” Consul-General Pierangelo said.

She noted the increased funding to make anti-retroviral available would enable more people living with HIV to lead healthy, productive lives until the day a cure for the virus is found.

The Consul-General noted that disbursement of the additional PEPFAR HIV funds is contingent upon Nigerian federal and state governments reducing or eliminating financial barriers to PLHIV accessing services, in particular fees charged by healthcare facilities for non-essential services or those already provided by PEPFAR. The U.S. Government recently announced support to Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Enugu States for the launch of an ART Surge, a program designed to put additional 500,000 people living with HIV on treatment. The 500,000 people being placed on treatment are in addition to the more than 700, 000 people already on treatment as part of the overall PEPFAR intervention.

Montana industries partners FRSC on ember month’s road safety campaign ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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he Ember Months Road Safety campaign was flagged of on Wednesday 30th October 2019, by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zone 2 Lagos with a road rally in partnership with Montana Industries ltd, distributors of Cougar and Vikrant Tyres.

The campaign tagged ‘Road Safety is a State of mind, Road Traffic crash is an absence of mind: Stay Alert, Stay Alive, aimed to bring to all motorists safety awareness especially in

the festive season.

According to Akinbote Olanike , Zonal policy research and

statistics (PRS) deputy Corps Commandant “being alert while driving is of the utmost importance as the psychological health and emotional readiness of a driver can make a difference in staying alive and getting home to your family.”

“All motorists should be alert

while driving to stay alive, that is the reason why the Road Safety is carrying out Medical health checks on all drivers at the Ojota New garage,” he said.

The representative of Montana Industries Feyisayo , lauded the entire Lagos Zonal command and explained their partnership with the FRSC as In the interest of Safety on the roads, which also is paramount to them as a Major Tyre distributor in the country.

The Road rally drove through major roads in Lagos while educating Motorists on how to Stay alert.

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Sunday 03 November 2019

SundayBusiness Delivering a new intelligence to connected living with LG ThinQ

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orldwide market for smart home devices is expected to grow to nearly 815 million shipments by the end of 2019, according to IDC. By 2023, this figure will reach 1.39 billion shipments, indicating growing consumer demand for a connected lifestyle.

With the proliferation of IoT devices on the market, many consumers are fast learning the benefits of smart home technology. For those embracing the latest innovations with open arms, such technologies are often coupled with wearable and mobile devices for seamless integration.

Since its unveiling at CES in 2011, LG’s ThinQ platform has been integrated into a range of household products, from washing machines and air conditioners, to refrigerators and televisions – helping homeowners around the world interact with their devices in new ways.

With its promise of bringing new intelligence to connected living, LG ThinQ enables devices to be operated from the convenience of a free-to-download smartphone application, unlocking a world of potential for remote operation and added functionality.

Ease-of-use Products integrated with LG ThinQ are designed to provide the utmost conve-

nience. The intuitive application brings a smart home hub into the palm of the user’s hand and can be used to set the washing machine in motion prior to an important the event, program the air conditioner to start 5 minutes before returning from work, inform when produce in the refrigerator is expiring and set the air purifier in motion after preparing dinner.

Recently, LG introduced its ThinQ AI platform with 2nd Generation α9 and A7 Processors into a range of its OLED and NanoCell TVs. As the world’s first Arabic supported AI televisions, the new devices make use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) to enable voice-activated control via

the Magic Remote. LG’s universal Magic Remote features auto device detection for a number of devices and can be partnered with the TV’s Home Dashboard to access and control connected smart devices with more convenience than ever before.

LG ThinQ AI also enables each TV to listen, think, answer and evolve in accordance with the user’s requests and preferences.

Taking the hassle out of adjusting settings, LG’s ThinQ AI platform deploys a deep learning algorithm to produce a better picture and sound quality automatically, whilst also recognising lighting conditions and tweaking brightness to enhance vis-

MTN rolls out mobile money transfer product in Kano Adeola Ajakaiye, Kano

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TN Nigeria, one of the leading telecommunication companies in the country, has launched its Yellow Digital Financial Service (YDFS) into Kano market, as part of an initiative geared at scaling up e-business transaction across the country.

The product, which was floated with the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was rolled out in a big way during a ceremony held in Dambatta Local Government Area of the state.

Briefing journalists on the sidelines of the launch, Kumar Abubakar, who is a regional manager of the company, disclosed that the new innovation was conceived to ease the demands of their customers seeking to transfer money to their friends and relatives in a more costeffective and safe way.

According to him, the company intends to capture 50,000 users of the product out of the over four million

potential subscribers before the end of the year.

“This idea was conceived to reach people wanting to send money to their friends or relatives but finding it difficult to do cash transaction. This informed a development in which they resorted to sending money by purchasing credit cards and sending it to them through agents to sell before delivering the money. And in the process of doing this, they are being cheated.

“In order to address the challenge, the Yellow Digital Financial Services, a subsidiary of MTN, came up with a new product which was licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to do cash transaction. It is such that if you have a brother in Lagos or Port-Harcourt or anywhere in Nigeria, you can send cash to him through our MoMo agent and then he can go to the agent nearest to him and collect cash without any charges. This is what we are here in Kano to sell to the people in Dambatta,” Abubakar said.

He explained that the

network planned to reach out to about 63 million subscribers in Nigeria, out of which about four million of the number resides in Kano State. The product is a more reliable financial transaction that will ease the public need for smooth e-transactions.

“If you look at other competition in Nigeria, you will see that they have restrictions. They have a lot of plans in Nigeria but they don’t have coverage. So, what we are leveraging on is our strong customer base, such that everywhere you go you will find an agent close to you and effect your transaction.

“What we are planning is to cover beyond the INEC’s polling unit per community in order to have a wide reach out for transaction,” he added, pointing out that 3000 agents are recruited to offer the MoMo services to Kano residents, he further explained.

The event which was held inside the Dambatta Community Market attracted a large crowd and a crosssection of local musical and cultural artistes who performed before the launch.

ibility.

Personalisation LG ThinQ is designed to work in sync with each user in the household, who may use the same devices in different ways. LG ThinQ studies what users like and how they behave, analysing product preferences and usage patterns to provide truly personalised experiences for each person in the house.

LG refrigerators can be programmed to align with the home’s daily rhythm –

observing when a user most frequently opens their refrigerator, whether after school or at dinner time. ThinQ technology recognises these peak periods, to cool ahead of time and keep food in optimal condition. It can also increase the speed of ice production, ensuring that as families return from the office or school pickup, they can immediately cool down. For laundry, LG ThinQ analyzes the softness of fabrics to provide specialized care and optimal wash quality – reducing clothing damage by up to 18percent.

Via the LG ThinQ app, users can initiate the Express Freeze function, increasing the ice-making and freezing capabilities of their refrigerator. Express Freeze, once activated will run the freezer at its coldest temperature possible for a 24 hour period. The feature can also be stopped at any time via the simple touch of a button.

Proactive customer care LG ThinQ harnesses the power of AI and data analytics to provide customer care services based on usage habits and the status of each device. Once installed and registered via the LG ThinQ app, a diagnostic check auto-

matically runs to ensure the appliance is running properly.

For added peace-of-mind, the LG ThinQ app also provides regular updates on recommendations for proper usage methods, which can also be sent as email alerts.

LG’s ThinQ platform also provides recommendations on how to troubleshoot and manage each appliance with ease. It can flag if the washing machine tub requires thorough cleaning, or if a homeowner is using too much detergent. For the refrigerator, users can receive updates on when to replace their water filter, being driven directly to the website to purchase a compatible model.

Efficiency As more homeowners look towards managing their consumption habits, smart home appliances can now also be programmed to operate with greater efficiency. An LG refrigerator can monitor usage patterns and automatically run in save mode during hours less frequently used for optimal energy consumption. When traveling for long periods of time, users can also enable Vacation Mode via the LG ThinQ app, further increasing operational efficiency.

MindBody & Soul

with Chioma Nwosu Be kind to yourself

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ost times, when I fail or fall below my standards, I punish myself with excessive criticism, I beat myself up, and I’m often too hard on myself.

Sometimes, I realise I don’t love myself and I’m my own worst enemy, why do I treat myself with disdain? What crime have I committed not to love myself and shower myself with kindness? Always blaming and shaming myself for my pain. Self-neglect becomes the order of the day, pushing myself to an uncomfortable limit. ‘’To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance’’ - Oscar Wilde. One way to winning back our hearts and reclaiming our wellbeing is through selfcompassion, which is treating oneself with kindness, care, thoughtfulness, consideration, empathy, love.

Many people believe that the only way to motivate themselves whenever they have ‘’let themselves down’’ is to crack the whip with harsh self-talks and behaviour, but research shows the opposite. Kristin Neff, one of the

leading self-compassion researchers states; Self-limiting or destructive thought processes, like the critical inner voice diminish our motivation and initiative, whereas selfcompassion and kindness increase them. When we learn to be kinder to ourselves, we also become more resilient to challenges and stress, more productive, more able to overcome bad habits and addiction and have better and more fulfiling relationships with others.

To be kind to yourself, you have to soften the voice of the inner critic. Start practising self-talk that sounds warm, friendly and kind. Let your inner voice take on the tone of a supportive friend or coach when the harsh tones set out, pause and speak to yourself warmly and gently.

Be mindful of how you treat yourself, do things that nourish you, book or research a trip you want to take, set up dinner or a cup of coffee with a good friend, look into how you can grow in your career to get new and exciting stuff to do, try a new hobby.

Take a self-compassion break, take a day or week

off from everything, be deliberate during this period, choose to do nothing and take this time to find out what and where the root cause of your anger towards yourself stems. Pause for a moment and take a break for your mental health.

Being kind to yourself in everyday life is in my experience, one of the best things you can do for yourself. Life will become lighter, and your relationships will most likely improve. You will feel happier overall. Your self-esteem and your sense of deserving good things in life will go up. https://mrsmindfulness. com/three-ways-kinderyourself-today/ https://www.positivityblog. com/self-love-today/ Chioma Nwosu is a mental health/positive psychology advocate, speaker and founder of Olamma Cares Foundation an NGO focused on encouraging the social acceptance of developmental disabilities and mental disorders, finding and implementing long term solutions of these conditions through training, capacity building, advocacy and intervention.

Email: cnwosu@olammacares.com Instagram: _olamma_

Sunday 03 November 2019

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BDSUNDAY 37

SundayBusiness Complementing functional mortgage with flexible land administration system for growth

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or Nigeria to have a mature housing market as it obtains in advanced economies like UK and the US, it must have a well developed and functional mortgage system which must be complemented by a good and flexible land administration system.

Almost always, the slow growth in the Nigerian mortgage system, which has become worrisome, is attributed to the country’s land administration system where the anachronistic Land Use Act has been oppressing the housing sector since it was enacted.

The place of these functional mortgage system without a good and flexible land administration system in the housing sector is quite critical and it has been observed that no housing market can be said to be mature as those of UK and the US without them.

In Nigeria, both of these are lacking. The growth of the mortgage system in the country has been greatly hampered by very rigid, non-flexible and primitive land laws encapsulated as the Land Use Act. Passed by a decree in 1978 and inserted into the 1979 national constitution, the provisions of the

Act can only be changed through a constitutional amendment, requiring a two-thirds majority of both the federal and state legislatures. This is not going to happen any time soon.

But developers have to produce houses and mortgage operators have to continue in business. So, “it has become clear that we must create an enabling environment in which a sustainable mortgage market can thrive, and one of the most important drivers of this is a well established land administration process”, says Adedeji Adesemoye, Head, Project Administration Team, Nigeria Housing Finance Programme.

Adesemoye who is also deputy director, Other Financial Institutions Services Department (OFISD) at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) , highlighted the unintended consequences of the 1978 Land Use Act’ at a forum in Abuja, pointing out that various efforts, including the setting up of the Nigeria Housing Finance Programme (NHFP) and the Model, Mortgage & Foreclosure Law (MMFL) were being put in place to grow the housing and mortgage markets.

NHFP is being implemented by the Federal Government through

its relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and this is supported by the World Bank International Development Association (IDA). The objective of the programme, Adesemoye explained, was to increase access to housing finance by deepening primary and secondary mortgage markets.

The MMFL is a draft bill designed to make delinquency in mortgage repayment unattractive to mortgagors and reduce losses from mortgage loans. It is expected to create a more attractive and vibrant environment, thereby attracting investors providing long term, low cost and more available capital to the market. Its main strategy is to encourage the use of administrative procedures to address some of the most negative provisions of the Act. This is a good development for both property developers and investors. But in addition to these, developers also owe it as a duty to themselves to be creative in managing the limited impact of the Land Use Act. Developers should de-emphasize the traditional way of raising development finance, explaining that they should go to the capital market to raise funds at much cheaper rates

NICArb 2019 conference to focus on deepening arbitration in Nigeria JOHN SALAU & ESEOGHENE AYOMAH

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he Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) has stated that the 2019 annual conference of the institute will be dedicated to deepening industry collaboration among experts in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Nigeria.

The 40th anniversary celebration and 2019 NICArb annual conference which aims to create a platform for drivers of the Nigerian economy to discuss national and global trends is scheduled to hold on Thursday, 14 November and Friday, 15 November, in Lagos.

Sola Oshodi-John, registrar and CEO of NICArb said the

conference will proffer solutions to underlying challenges in resolving investments and commercial disputes in Nigeria and the sub-region, while paying attention to other local peculiarities for economic development.

However, commenting on the P&ID controversy, Oshodi-John said the federal ministry of justice has decided to use a different approach, because it believes it is in the best interest of the country.

She opined that several contracts were negotiated and signed without putting the best interest of the country into consideration. “...they have signed contract without paying full attention, either because they currently do not have the expertise or they have other interest,” Oshodi-John said.

According to her, the ministry

of justice should set up a technical committee to oversee every contract signed in Nigeria. This she said will allow for technical input of professionals in the field. “...so that when you are signing agreement that has to do with technical areas you have professionals from those field,” she further said.

Chinyere Onuorah, deputy registrar of NICArb, said there is a need to review previous negotiations entered into, and be very particular about how we negotiate, going forward.

“Any negotiation that we are into that’s not in interest of Nigeria, no matter how useful or how well packaged it is; because sometimes this agreement comes looking so lofty, so wonderful in the interest of Nigeria,” she stated.

WIMBIZ holds annual conference Ngozi Okpalakunne

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omen in Business and Management (WIMBIZ) has said it has concluded plans to hold the 18th edition of its annual conference in Lagos.

The event tagged, ‘Shaping the future: Strategy to win’ is scheduled to hold between 7th and 8th of November 2019 at Eko Hotels & Suites.

Speaking at a press briefing heralding the event, the chairperson of the executive council of the 2019 WIMBIZ conference, Olubunmi

Aboderin Talabi explained that the two-day conference would feature practical sessions designed to equip the participants with winning strategy and hands-on knowledge to take new challenging roles, explore emerging business opportunities, as well as build and sustain a successful career in today’s world.

Stating that relevant topics that speak to times and existing situation would be discussed, Talabi also said: “Delegates at the programme will learn how to develop winning strategies to secure their seat at the table, discover how to collaborate

to win, understand consumer behaviour, reach those who are not on the internet, overcome trauma and silence shame, rise above the imposter syndrome and much more through each of the six deep dives and seven plenary sessions.”

According to her, this year’s conference will be chaired by former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Rose Ukeje.

In addition to 50 other speakers, Talabi said that the keynote address would be presented by Fed Swaniker, co-founder and Trustee African Leadership Academy.

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) and longer tenor.

To also address the problem of mortgage market growth, the CBN has come up with the idea of a guarantee mortgage programme. This is a mortgage given to a borrower by a lender where an identified third party will take responsibility for the loan if the borrower defaults.

Expectation here is that this will push up housing affordability because, with the new programme, once a borrower defaults, the third party receives a claim from the lender, pays the lender off, and assumes responsibility for the mortgage.

A quality mortgage guarantee programme is used to provide credit loss protection to lenders in case of borrower default. The products incentivize lenders to accept loans with lower down-payments, thus increasing affordability. The implication of this is that borrowers who,

ordinarily, would not have qualified for mortgage loan by reason of their low income, can now obtain loans which enhances their affordability.

Experts in the housing sector say one of the surest ways of making housing affordable and growing the sector is by industrializing development through emphasis on locally produced building materials.

Industrializing the sector, in their opinion, would not only drag down the cost of construction, material wise, but also create jobs for those involved in the housing value chain, including input manufacturers, professionals and artisans.

But the experts insist that government should provide infrastructure and come up with a policy framework in the financial sector that will make mortgage accessible and affordable through a significant reduction in interest rate.

Hollandia Evap inspires consumers in new campaign

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igeria’s leading evaporated milk brand, Hollandia Evap Milk, has launched a new marketing communication campaign. Aimed at inspiring and enabling consumers to achieve their daily goals, the campaign strengthens the milk brand’s position as the all-rounder evaporated milk and positions it as the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of breakfast meals, foods and drinks, such as cereals, custard, pancakes, smoothies, tea, coffee, and chocolate beverages.

Tagged “Start Your Day Right with Hollandia Evap”, the TVC follows the life of celebrity mum and goal-oriented actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, and other mums. The film showcases their daily morning routine of preparing nourishing breakfast meals with Hollandia Evap Milk for their families, and highlights the satisfaction they derive from choosing the Hollandia

Evap Milk brand to achieve their goal of keeping their families healthy, well-nourished and prepared for the long day ahead.

The commercial closes with Mercy Johnson-Okojie endorsing Hollandia Evap Milk as the ideal evaporated milk brand that helps consumers start their day right.

The campaign which will be executed on TV, Radio, Print, Outdoor and Digital media platforms celebrates women, wives, mothers, fathers, and other care givers, for their role of taking care of and providing for their families, and acknowledges their aspirations to achieve success on multiple fronts.

Speaking on the launch of the new campaign, Managing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, said “the new Hollandia Evap Milk communication embodies the company’s goal of inspiring consumers to make the right decisions daily to live healthy and happy lives. We want our messaging to resonate with consumers who are desirous of using a wholesome, nutritious, and tasty milk to complement their breakfast or other meals.

We are confident that the new commercial would enable consumers to aspire for success by starting their day right with Hollandia Evap Milk.”

Hollandia Evap is a creamy and tasty evaporated milk brand which is produced in hygienic aseptic packaging. It has the nutritious goodness of milk and is fortified with vitamins, nutrients and calcium.

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Sunday 03 November 2019

SundayBusiness Power of the healing foods Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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ong before Hippocrates (460 BC-370 BC), the popular Greek known as the father of medicine came up with the quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” theHoly Bible had made references to the medicinal properties of foods and herbs. They represent health and longevity from Almighty God. Therefore, the importance of diet and of preparing and eating food was oftentimes seen as a spiritual act.

The focus in those days were on fresh, natural foods called the field plants or “plants of the field”.These consist of herbs, roots and green, leafy vegetables such as tomatoes, corn and beans. According to the book of Leviticus, clean meat is defined as the meat of every animal that has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud. Examples of clean meat include the ox (cattle), buffalo, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, antelope and mountain sheep.

As for seafood, everything with fins and scales are allowed, but whatever doesn’t have fins such as shellfish is prohibited. For birds, everything is allowed except eagles, vultures, kites, ravens, ostriches, seagulls and owls.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, m o d e r n lifestyle has veered towards processed foods much of which are fried, fatty, canned, with additives such as sweeteners, flavours and food preservatives some of which have serious side effects.

Efforts are on by nutritionists and food scientists to promote foods that are healing and healthy.

Emphasis is therefore, shifting to healing foods such as apples, bananas, oranges, pineapple, tomatoes and lemon (all fruits).

Others include beans, cashew nuts, carrots, cocoa, olive oil, coconut oil and cod liver oil.

Plant materials such as herbal tea and green tea are also highly recommended. As for sources of healthy foods from animals, raw goat milk, turkey meat and one egg per day are all recommended.

In fact, so important are healing foods that one Dr. Axe Fans has come up with the Healing Foods diet. He boasts that it is not just a diet but a tool that will launch you into a total health transformation. This diet was designed to help anyone triumph over diseases like: diabetes, obesity, heart disease, autism, digestive disorders, fatigue, depression, hormone imbalance, and cancer prevention.

So, what are the scientific explanations for their efficacy and functions? The first is that they decrease Inflammation.

According to Fans most diseases

today are due to inflammation.

Inflammation damages your cells and arterials walls and causes High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Arthritis, and digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease to name a few. By reducing inflammation your body is better able to heal from any disease.

Secondly, they alkalize the body. Your body should have an average pH of 7.36. A can of soda literally has a pH of 2.5 and it would take approximately 30 glasses of water just to balance things out. Green vegetable juices like wheat grass and spinach help restore the body’s proper pH. All diseases including infections, osteoporosis and cancerthrive in an acidic environment. By alkalizing your body your cells can heal and regenerate at the highest level.

Thirdly, they lower blood glucose .One of the primary causes of diabetes and weight gain are burnt out and insulin receptors. By lowering blood glucose levels, insulin receptors can heal and your body can begin to produce normal amounts of insulin to heal diabetes and leptin for weight loss.

Another powerful reason is that they eliminate toxins.

Toxicity has become epidemic in our society today and is a major cause of our increase in hormonal imbalance and autoimmune diseases. The diet helps problems like female disorders, infertility, hypothyroidism and headaches by balancing hormones and helps in reversal of autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, alzheimer’s, and autism.

So good also that they optimise nutrients. Many of today’s

Why Nigeria may not have stable power supply Olusola Bello

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igeria may never have stable power supply if there is no appropriate tariff across the Gas to Power value chain. This is because not paying an appropriate tariff in any of the value chains would affect all the systems from the gas producers to the power distributor, and this will continue to lead to inadequate supply of gas to the power sector.

An official of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources who spoke with BDSUNDAY said that it would be in the best interest of all stakeholders, especially consumers and the government to ensure power supply is stable and accessible by everyone in the country to address the issue of reflective tariff in the power sector and stop the blame game between power operators and gas supply/ producers over payment for what is supplied.

He said that there is enough gas for the country to meet its power need and jump-start its economic activities but there must be enough incentives for investors to participate in the development of the Gas to Power value chain.

He said gas is available judging from the current reserves that the country is having. He however,

said there is no gas for anyone now because there are no enough incentives for investors to look for a new sources of gas.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s gas reserve has hit 200.79 trillion standard Cubic feet (scf), one year ahead of its planned target. This is about five trillion higher than what was obtained in 2018.

However, infrastructural challenge is preventing her having the full benefits of this resource as many of the potential consumers cannot get it for use.

Oil and Gas industry sources which confirmed this stated that the Federal Government has actually planned to achieve this figure by 2020.

The country’s reserve has for many years hovering around 186

trillion standard cubic feet of gas with most of it coming from associated gas.

The sources said the increase is as a result of recent encouragement and policy directives rolled out by the government which are aimed increasing the nation’s gas reserve for the purpose of boosting her economy.

They said the potential for gas growth in the country is very high provided there is enabling environment for investors to operate.

The country currently produces 8 billion SCF of gas domestically with 3.5billion of this going for LNG and 1.5billion for domestic market.

Nigeria’s gas sector has proven to have the potential of been a key player in the emergent global natural gas market. There have been different development concepts and solutions for the effective exploitation and utilisation of this abundant natural gas reserve of which some of this gas reserves are termed ‘stranded’. Economics and profitability of new and existing industrial gas projects been considered to increase gas utilisation with hope of solving the energy crisis in the country.

Effective utilisation and monetisation of the nation’s ‘stranded’ gas reserves has the tendency of solving the energy crisis in the country.

illnesses are due to nutritional deficiencies. Most of the foods we eat today are processed and stripped of all vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and enzymes. This diet slows the aging process, improves mental capacity, and increases energy levels.

Th e He a l i n g Fo o d s Di e t consists of eating equal amounts (33percent each) of clean protein sources, healthy fats, and low glycemic carbohydrates in the forms of fruits and vegetables.

The steps to take include removing the bad fats and replace them with good fats.

Bad fats such as hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, trans fats, soybean oil, canola oil and vegetable oils cause heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, chronic fatigue, and neurotoxic syndrome. Bad fats create chronic inflammation throughout the body inducing disease. Good fats are essential to hormone production, cancer prevention, brain development, weight loss, cellular healing, and antiinflammation.

The next step is to change the meats that you eat. There are hundreds of studies that link commercial meats with cancer and heart disease. The grain fed to animals that were created to eat grass changes fatty acid ratios (too much omega-6, not enough omega-3) and denatures good fats, leading to modern day disease.

Dr. Fans insists that the bioaccumulation of commercial pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and hormones in meats are causing a toxic onslaught, which leads to many cancers, neurological disorders and chronic illness.

Grass fed and free range meats offer many fatty acids missing in the Standard American Diet (SAD) such as: aracodonic acid, linoleic acid, and Omega- 3 fatty acids.

Also, consciously remove all refined sugars and grains from your diet.These include white rice, white pasta , and white bread. 1/3 sugar comes from soft drinks, 2/3 from hidden sources including: lunch meats, pizza, sauces, breads, soups, crackers, fruit drinks, canned foods, yogurt, ketchup, mayonnaise. High glycemic or refined sugars cause elevated glucose, which elevates insulin leading to premature aging and degenerative diseases such as type II diabetes, heart disease (inflammation of the arteries), and cancer.

Sugar is an anti-nutrient offering insignificant amounts of vitamins and minerals and robbing your body of precious nutrient stores. This inevitably leads to diseases of the new millennium such as chronic fatigue, heart disease, diabetes, and cancers.

Low glycemic carbohydrates in the forms of fruits and vegetables have high amounts of fibre, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help you age slower, improve energy levels, lose weight, and naturally detoxify your cells.

Note: This concludes the earlier topic of ‘foods that protect body’s vital organs’.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

NCDMB, OPTS to develop marine vessel standards for oil industry Olusola Bello

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he Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will partner the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) - the umbrella body of major oil producing companiesto develop an oil and gas industry marine vessel standards.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Kesiye Wabote gave the hint in Abuja when he received the new executive committee of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) led by the President, Mkgeorge Onyung.

The standards will be applied in marine tenders by all oil and gas operators and will specify uniform technical specifications that must be met by marine vessels that will work in the oil and gas industry.

The conceptualisation of the standards will have inputs from relevant stakeholders and will enhance business opportunities for marine operators and stimulate capacity building, efficient maintenance of vessels and optimum service delivery, Wabote explained.

He added that NCDMB was

desirous to promote the development of shipyards and would collaborate with the ship owners or any group that would submit a bankable proposal on how to domicile that important capacity in-country.

Responding to a request by the ship owners for the Board to relax certain conditions which made it difficult for them to access the Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI Fund), the Executive Secretary insisted that existing conditions on the NCI Fund would remain.

He clarified that the Board instituted those conditions, including the demand for Bank Guarantee from the applicant’s commercial bank, so as to guard against failure of the loans and the entire credit scheme. “We set tight conditions because we do not want the Fund to fail,” he added.

He described the NCI Fund as phenomenal success, noting that 90 percent of the funds have been accessed by oil and gas companies that met the set conditions.

Earlier in his remarks, President of SOAN, Mkgeorge Onyung stated that the visit was aimed to familiarise the Board with the new executive of the association and seek innovative ways both organisations could collaborate for the good of the industry.

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NewsFeature Apapa: What next after Presidential Task Team?

Reservation Areas (GRAs) in Lagos along with Ikoyi and Ikeja GRA. The port city had thriving businesses; fun places such as the popular Amusement Park.

Night life in Apapa was legendary and the operators made a lot of money from that.

Continued from page 1 Unlike many other similar arrangements before it, the task team did its best to cage the monster called Apapa gridlock.

For the first time in many years, motorists had pleasurable driving experience on both Apapa roads and bridges and other adjoining ones.

Now, the success recorded by the task team has become a mere flash in the pan. Things, according to Chinua Achebe, the great fiction writer, have fallen apart, and the centre can no longer hold.

In Apapa of today, the falcon no longer listens to the falconer. It has become business as usual with all the pain and stress that define Apapa as a destination.

Apparently, the Task Team is overwhelmed. They are handicapped and this, according to some stakeholders in Apapa, is because the team is not getting as much co-operation as it should.

“There are too many vested interests in Apapa as a port city.

Many of them are very powerful and highly connected. There is only so much the task team can do and, don’t forget, members of the team are human beings. All around them they perceive the smell of money,” said an Apapa resident who did not want to be named.

According to the resident, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) which is a major stakeholder is not cooperating fully with the task team, adding that they tend to work at cross purposes with the team.

Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG’s general secretary, agrees, blaming the gridlock on the unpatriotic activities of key institutions and individuals within the maritime sector.

He specifically highlighted the failure of NPA, the concessionaires and security personnel deployed to manage the situation in Apapa and within the port for the return of congestion in the port city.

The situation in Apapa, according to him, was a result of NPA and port concessionaire not allowing containerised trucks easy access into the ports, thereby causing backflow of traffic

snarls to the bridge.

“There is no running away from the truth. NPA is not in control. It does not have parking for trucks yet unable to come up with appropriate schedule for the trucks to enter Apapa,” said Olawale.

A critical look at the situation in Apapa as it is today shows that the task team is at its wit’s end.

While the team and NPA play the ostrich and trade blames, motorists are dying inside choking traffic; businesses are suffering and the Apapa economy, which is estimated at N20 billion a day, is losing value by the day.

The question on every lip now is, when will the present situation improve? Who is going to make the improvement happen? If the task team withdraws or is forced to withdraw in the present milieu, who takes over from them?

The task team is coming from the highest level of government.

It was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari himself with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the chairman? What is the federal government going to do after the task team? Set up another task force? Or return the military to the road?

From all indications, the federal government must be at the end of its tether as for as Apapa problem is concerned. As the Bible would say, “here goes the Presidential Task Team, whence

comes another?”

The Opeifa-led team was well constituted with members drawn from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), NPA and the Nigerian Shippers Council.

Other members include a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force led by a Commissioner of Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), representatives of the Truck Transport Union, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), etc.

“This team succeeded because they did it differently—trying the impossible and daring the red devils everywhere on the roads who are preying on the truck drivers and gaining from everyone else’s pain,” said the anonymous resident, wondering where government would get a more formidable team from if it has to replace the present team.

The military option may not fly again because, according to Opeifa, “when the military was brought to control Apapa traffic, I warned them against that. I told them that what was needed was a traffic management to complement what was being done on port reforms.

“But they went ahead and brought the military and when they came, they shut down everything rather than use a traffic management plan. They were

just enforcing and controlling misbehaviour while traffic situation was getting worse,” he added in an interview.

According to him, the team has been able to achieve what everybody can testify to because they have a clear traffic management direction which they followed and are still following, adding that they have a manual call up system which is transparent to the stakeholders so they believe in it.

The journey has not been easy because Apapa is ant-infested.

There are food particles here and there for the ants to pick.

Additionally, as Opeifa puts it, “Apapa is a highly militarised environment where a lot of people come from different military formations to make fast money.

There had been too many tasks force and they are yet to leave the scene. When they come, they come with aggression and are very vicious.”

Another major challenge, he says, is that they see corruption fighting back, because the people the task team has prevented from the regular ‘chop-chop’ are busy spreading wrong information about the team and trying to frustrate their efforts. Those acts of mischief seem to be succeeding and account for the present situation that is aggressively returning Apapa to the status quo ante.

In the beginning, Apapa was one of the foremost Government

But due largely to sheer neglect, Apapa degenerated to a level where it became a loathsome destination. It became a near-wasteland where the residents and businesses had the option of either remaining in the furnace or relocating with great impact on their bottomline. Many chose to leave.

This is why many houses are empty. Ayo Vaughan, chairman, Apapa GRA Residents Association, explains that “you do not expect somebody to come and live in a house of N5million per annum and right in front of his house, somebody is frying ‘akara’ or doing other forms of business.

So, we have houses that are not rentable, leasable nor even sellable.”

Beyond frying ‘akara’ and doing other businesses, before the task team came, Apapa was impenetrable because of the activities of truck drivers who made every available space their parking lot. Their unwholesome activity literally destroyed the Apapa environment, leaving it unfit for living or business.

On most streets, there are as many as 10 houses which have been empty in the last 5 years.

“So, if you multiply five years by N5 million by 10 houses, it gives you an idea of how much rental income that has been lost on one street alone on annual basis.

“About 40 percent of all the houses in the GRA are empty.

Many of us who are retirees depend on rental income from our houses for our daily living and most of our houses are empty; so, it is as bad as that for many of us,” Vaughan said.

With the way the task team was going, hope was returning to these residents. Some businesses that relocated at the peak of the congestion and gridlock were already mulling coming back to their old premises. Not anymore because some people put personal gain above public interest.

of curbing free speech. When you complain to us about something, we look at it and act.

“I am sure you must have heard that yesterday, we went to the site of the Ibadan Circular Road and issued a stop work order. This is because we don’t want the people of Oyo State to be shortchanged in anyway. You spoke and we listened. The commissioning of this Digital Satellite Network of the Oluyole FM Station is because people spoke and we have listened.

“While on the campaign train, I promised the people of Oyo State that this administration will take the BCOS to a height we will all be proud of and we have started delivering on that promise. With the installation of this Digital Satellite Network, no more

Analogue. In Oyo State, we have gone digital. We can now get clean and clear audio signal to the nooks and crannies of Oyo State and get government closer to the people.”

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of BCOS, Dotun Oyelade, said the station had been operating within the spirit of the current administration, knowing well that probity and accountability were the hallmarks of the government.

He said the BCOS programmes’ content on Radio and TV were currently having a face-lift, which the public and the station’s business partners were taken judicious notice of, saying: “On broadcast content, our television and radio broadcasting are getting better and more innovative.

We will build greater Oyo - Makinde REMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan

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overnor Seyi Makinde has declared the readiness of his administration to build a greater Oyo State, noting that his government would continue to do things properly even it will take a slightly longer time to get results.

The governor added that he would continue to run a government that listens to feedbacks from the citizenry and respond with appropriate actions.

Governor Makinde made the pledge at the premises of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Ibadan, while commissioning the Satellite Audio Network of the corporation’s FM Station, Oluyole FM.

The statement added that the Satellite Audio Network project was embarked upon by the administration of Governor Makinde in August 2019 in fulfillment of the Governor’s promise to turnaround the deplorable situation in which the administration met the historic BCOS. In his speech, the governor maintained that with the commissioning of the Satellite Audio Network, the station has exited the analogue mode and could now reach the nooks and crannies of the state and bring feedbacks from the people, which would aid the quality of decisions by Government.

Governor Makinde said: “With this commissioning, we can hear your feedbacks clearer even when you contribute to programmes on air.

You can speak more and we will listen more. We will listen to everyone and respond with actions. We will respond by getting better.

“As I drove down for this commissioning, I could not help but think about the importance of communication to the development of any community. I believe if we can’t understand ourselves mutually, we can give different interpretations to what is happening around us. Of course, communication guarantees more feedbacks. The more feedbacks the leadership gets, the better the quality of the decision that will be made.

“I have often taken every opportunity to remind the people of Oyo State that we are an administration that listens. We are not in the business

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LifestyleHomes&Suites

Sunday 03 November 2019

Paul Ojenagbon pauloje2000@yahoo.com

Godmade Connect Court edges for class in Lekki

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odmade Connect Court is an ongoing luxury apartment development set in the skylight of Lekki. The project is being replicated in Parkview, Ikoyi . It is on the stable of Godmade Homes Limited while Dapo Olaiya Consulting, firm of estate surveyors and valuers, is the lead marketing agent for the project.

The construction takes into consideration the high definition of luxury living located along QMB Builders’ Mart Road, Lekki and in Parkview where the developments are located. The development consists of 14 units of three bedroom apartments with two private elevators. The building is suspended, thus providing ample parking facility in the void on the ground floor. All the 3 bedrooms are ensuite and the living room comes with a visitors’ toilet. It is attached with a self contained 1-room staff quarters for the domestic servants.

The Ikoyi project which commenced recently is currently at the foundation stage while the Lekki one will commence soon.

The Lekki project was selling at

a discount promotional rate of N45milion per unit for the first four subscribers but the price has been raised to N55, million following the market appeal.

Similarly, the Parkview apartments which sold for N84millon per unit at commencement is now selling for N120 million per unit. Flexible payment plans are available for those that cannot make outright payment. The title on the property is Certificate of

Occupancy issued by the Lagos State government. The Lekki project is slated for completion in June 2021.

It is gated community and entry (for checking in and out) into the premises is strictly controlled. Security is accorded top priority round the clock, boosted with a close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in place to monitor movements within and around the premises. The prop-

erty has a dedicated transformer which eliminates the incidence of power fluctuations. Each apartment has prepaid its meter, staving off exorbitant bills.

Beside supply from the mains, there is backup from generator and inverter.

Potable water is available from a borehole made good over a treatment plant. Refuse collection is centrally controlled to ensure a neat and tidy en-

vironment of good hygiene.

Kitchen is planned to be fully fitted and ready for immediate use. Safety regulations are built into the apartments with escape staircases for emergencies. It is planned to be well lit within and around the premises.

Recreational facilities are thoughtfully included with swimming pool and outdoor lounge to provide some recreation around the pool area.

POP speaker. There is modern interior design for the living room and the kitchen. The kitchen is fully fitted with microwave oven, double door fridge, heat extractor among others. Every accommodation unit is fully furnished with air conditioners. These comprise 4 units of 1 horse power airconditioners and 1 unit of 1.5 horse power a/cs in all t h e r o o m s . Th e b e d r o o m s have sport-fitted wardrobes.

A prominent feature in the houses is the modern internal and external railings. The buildings are pre-wired for inverter, solar system as well as DStv package. Bonus features in the

house include 43” television in the living room and 32” television in the kitchen!

There is a laundry area with washing machine for domestic operations. There is Jacuzzi in the master bedroom toilet.

All the toilets come with extractor fans. A central water treatment plant issues potable water from a borehole. There is ample parking space and indeed a carport.

The title on the houses has governor’s consent, the highest grade. The 5-bedroom detached house carries a price tag of N74 million while the 4-bedroom semi-detached unit carries N54million.

Smart Houses for Digital Living at Chevron

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he area and the beautiful estates around the Chevron Headquarters in Lekki have quite a good collection of some of the most fantastic buildings in Lagos. By the Orchid Hotel Road are two smart houses that are digitally organised to act as the human brain because of the devices deployed in them. They are newly built 5-bedroom detached and 4-bedroom semi-detached houses with boys’ quarters.

With a smart home device, the occupant can control some operations inside or outside the house with the press of the appropriate buttons on the smart phone. Precisely, these operations have to do with the lighting in the house, sound system, Radio FM/AM, surveillance cameras and the television. The device can even show the temperature within and outside the house.

To monitor happenings within the house, close circuit television cameras are installed in the living room, kitchen and the family lobby. By this measure, acts of mischief committed by domestic servants and others are thrown into the open or the knowledge of the owner.

All the rooms including the kitchens come with central

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Trends Odumeje: Onitsha’s trending trader IKEDDY ISIGUZO

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rophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere is testimony that size cannot obstruct one’s determination to excel in a chosen career.

The petit fellow, who has seized minds in Onitsha, can easily be lost in a crowd of three. He is that small.

He has put his size to mesmerising acrobatics that hold audiences captive in serial releases of theatrics, some of which you won’t expect in a Christian place of worship. He is him.

He can break into a dance in the middle of his rare conversations about the Almighty: the music could be any trending secular ‘dance all’ number with lyrics that should not be heard in church. He makes his own rules in a business that is doubtlessly lucrative.

Some of his best advertisements are video clips of followers. In testifying to his abilities, they spray him with money, in amounts that confirm he is into serious business, or his visits to businesses, where crowds quickly gather when they hear he is around.

An alliance with Nollywood actors guarantees a sprinkling of popular faces to his church. Whether worshippers go for Nollywood, wrestling, his dance steps or miracles, their expectations are exceeded.

However, he remains his best advertisement with performances that include sporadic leaps into the air as if he intends to fly.

The unwritten rule is space, more space,

around him for his sprouts of displays.

Odumeje, as he is more popularly known, is never about the expected. He slams the sick on chairs and floors, in manners reminiscent of televised wrestling contests. According to him, broken limbs, have to be pieced to qualify for his healing touch. He challenges the competition to try what he does.

Not so eloquent in English, barely able to sustain conversations in the language, Odumeje relies on frequent resort to babbling, supposedly communing with spirits, to paper over the deficit. He is not in competition with the market.

He knows what the audience wants, and dishes it out in varieties beyond the audience’s imaginations. That’s first class service delivery, not just church service.

Though a shadowy character masking his cant in artistry and acrobatics, some say his traditional ways are adequately accommodated in the mix, and mist. In his fleeting, speedy, choreographed public engagements, there is hardly time to un-

derstand his moves as they issue in quick successions.

He craves attention. His expertise in self-promotion soared when he said he would walk on River Niger, the water that defines Onitsha, as much as Onitsha defines it. The city waited with abated breath.

Days to the miracle, Odumeje denied promising to walk on the river. By then, more people were lining up to his servings of entertainment which comes in combos of dance, drama, and diatribe, as his spirit dictates.

Odumeje is a lesson on how open the religion enterprise is. With a ceaselessly growing market of belief and unbelief,

new target audiences are always available. If not, you create them.

Breakdown in services like hospitals, instability in the economy, and a myriad of issues rooted in mystics, draw crowds to Odumeje.

Efforts to de-market him fail for he is the creator of the niche market in which he operates. It is his business. He operates a sphere others consider too provincial, even crude.

Odumeje would likely fall when he fails to invent new skills to keep his game, his muscles flag, or an understudy overtakes him.

His choice of Onitsha will extend the city’s fame for baptising enterprise. Traders need him. He doesn’t need more than a miniscule of the millions of business people who need protection for their millions – he is already made.

Next step in his revolving business would be to create a special class of people who can access him. The services for this class would be the final confirmation of his place in the effervescent history of business trajectories in Onitsha.

He has grabbed attention. He is squeezing everything out of it. He won’t stop after a self-promoting himself to an Onitsha essential balm.

Imagine his claim that if he hadn’t travelled the petrol tanker fire that ravaged Ochanja, Onitsha’s second largest market, would have been averted?

With Odumeje, you don’t need hospitals, his miracles see to that. Now, Onitsha

may not even need the Fire Service.

Onitsha should brace up for a new trader who speaks the language of the land in slangs and élan that slide the mystics of religion to his side.

Isiguzo is editor-in-chief Momentum Africa Media.

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NewsExtra Terrorism, inconsistent policies hinder investments in Nigeria - Chinese experts INNOCENT ODOH, ABUJA

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hinese experts have expressed worries that the menace of terrorism ravaging parts of Nigeria, political instability and inconsistent policies, are major reasons a lot of investors from China are not coming to invest in the country.

This was the crux of a dialogue organised in Abuja by the Centre for China Studies (CCS), with the theme ‘Dialogue on China’s Governance Experience and the Opportunities of NigeriaChina Cooperation.’

Speaking on China’s governance experience, Chinese intellectual, Luo Jianbo, a professor from one of China’s leading universities, said: “China investors have worries about Nigeria and Africa over instability, terrorism and policy inconsistency sometimes due to change in administration”, adding that it has become incumbent on Nigeria to create the condition and opportunity for more investment.

He stressed that apart from investments in hard infrastructure such as bridges, roads and electricity, Nigeria needs soft infrastructure such as trust, confidence,

and political stability to attract more foreign investors.

He noted that the Chinese governance model can be replicated in Nigeria and given the Nigerian character within the context of the unique Nigerian situation.

He added that China has built an effective state, a responsive state, and an accountable and consensus state built on common understanding based on its diversity.

He said that just like the Chinese, “Nigeria must first build national solidarity to foster a national consensus to create a new identity for Nigerians. Nigerians must get rid of rancorous and vicious political competition.

Nigeria needs a benign and orderly competition and not vicious competition. It must promote unity and create a relationship between freedom and order”.

Another intellectual from China , Wan Yiwei, who spoke on ‘China–Africa Cooperation under the Belt and Roads Initiative’, urged Nigerian leaders to open up to the opportunities provided

by China to industrialise the nation adding that “without industrialisation, the nation will continue to suffer. Nigeria needs more infrastructures and connectivity and

that is the focus of the Belt and Roads initiative”.

Also speaking, former Senator Representing Kaduna Central Shehu Sani, said that Nigeria as a developing country, sees China as an inspiration and a compass on shared history and called on the country’s leaders to emulate China to lift itself from the travails and challenges bedeviling it. “China today represents the idea of a nation that has succeeded where others have failed,” he said.

Director of Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju, said China’s historical trajectory and perseverance which made the nation emerged from its travails to become the second largest economy in the world was the product of determination, discipline and focused leadership provided by the Chinese Communist Party (CPC). He added that the China- Nigeria cooperation will open more opportunities for Nigeria.

During the panel discussion, Nafizi Abdullahi Garba, a professor from the Department of Economics, University of Abuja, called for the Chinese Model of development that is all encompassing, all-embracing and all inclusive, that incor-

porates every aspect of the social, economic political life of the country.

He also called for the inclusion of academics and intellectuals in decision making process in Nigeria, stressing that every aspect of the nation’s life should be subjected to the consultative process of academics and intellectuals.

“In every aspect of the economy, politics should be subjected to thorough intellectual analysis and evaluation,’’ he said even as he harped on issue of inculcating nationalism, selfdiscipline and patriotism at all levels of government.

He also urged for a serious reform in the leadership recruitment process, adding that development can only be possible when Nigeria reforms the Electoral Act to ensure that every member of a political party contributes certain amount to fund that party and put a threshold, a maximum amount that anybody can provide as funding for the political party and link the political party register to the BVN. He also advised that any political party that wants to contest election must do direct primary instead of the indirect primary that is subject to manipulation.

Firm marks anniversary, rewards distributors INIOBONG IWOK

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t was a night of celebration for dealers and distributors of the RC Cola brands of premium non-alcoholic beverage, as the company hosted distributors and rewarded outstanding ones.

The event tagged: ‘Distributor’s Forum’, was held at the Agbara Plant of Firstbev Ltd. The event, which began with a gala night, had distributors from all over Nigeria welcome with good music, comedy, food and drinks at the cozy event hall of Sandton Gold Hotels in Agbara, Ogun State.

However, the guests were taken on a factory tour to appreciate the expanded state-of-the-art facility established for the production and packaging of RC Cola on the day two of the event.

After a tour of the facilities, the distributors, however, expressed admiration for the

A cross section of distributors at the event

facilities and the production capacity of the company.

One of the mega distributors, Mohammed Kakami from Maiduguri, said that his fears were allayed following the tour, while expressing the optimism that with the expansion of the Plant and the sophisticated machineries producing at the required capacity he could consistently distribute the product in his region.

Addressing guests in his

opening remarks at the event, the Head, Commercial, Firstbev Limited, Steve Edeki, said that the essence of the forum was to recognise and appreciate the dealers and trade partners nationwide.

He applauded the distributors for their effort in the marketing the product across the country, while dedicating the early success of the brand to them.

Edeki, reiterating his prom-

ise to customers on promotional offer held in July to September, 2019, thereby fulfilling his promise to reward outstanding distributors accordingly with a delivery/sales truck to a dealer, which was won by Onyeka Egoh from Awka with the registered business name Onyeka Investment.

Also speaking, Shakiru Ogunyemi, head, marketing, assured all the loyal customers of winning a loyalty rewards of branded prizes like chest freezer, microwave, standing Fan, among others.

The occasion was also strategically used to introduce the 60cl pet bottle size of RC Cola to excite Western consumers.

Nwanyieze Ukaummunna and Folashade Pitan both Lagos-based distributors, gave a vote of confidence in the company under the sales leadership of Steve Edeki, head, commercial, for prompt response to consumers and market feedback.

Oyo to introduce brigades in public schools, reaffirms stiffer enforcement of environmental laws REMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan

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o bring about its desired conducive environment for human and businesses to thrive, Oyo State government has said it would soon institute Environmental Brigades in public schools.

The move is to drive the campaign against poor environmental attitude and enforce environmental laws in the pacesetter state.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Kehinde Ayoola said that the state government has established four tribunals and taskforce which would further enshrine the dictates of the environmental law in Oyo State.

In a meeting with refuse contractors, Ayoola said the state government would introduce different layers of enforcement through campaigns across the state.

“The State Government would introduce different layers of enforcement, through campaigns involv-

ing stakeholders. We would also introduce environmental brigades in schools and communities.

“We are not just going to impose sanctions on offenders, we want all concerned to be part of the campaign to rid our environment of dirt so we can all enjoy the benefit of cleaner surrounding and give room for expansion of commerce as a consequence of clean environment,” he said.

Berating the waste collection mechanism in the state, the Commissioner said all hands are on deck to ensure a more efficient mechanism, promising to look into the situation soon.

“We noticed the slow pace of the waste collection mechanism. We will make sure the pace is faster and efficient, very soon. We are working on this,” he said.

Urging refuse contractors to put more efforts on collection of refuse at homes in the state capital, Ayoola also assured them of government’s intervention in creating more dumpsites in the state.

Cynthia Afury emerges Lush Hair ambassador at MBGN 2019

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ynthia Afury has emerged as the ambassador for Lush Hair, a premium hair extension brand for the next one year during the 2019 ‘Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria’ Pageant in Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Bayelsa.

The beauty queen who represented Adamawa state defeated other contestant to walk away with not only a cash prize of N500, 000 but also a full one year free supply of the products and a free access to the brand office amongst other perks.

The 32nd edition of MBGN which was sponsored by Lush Hair saw Miss Rivers State, Nyekachi Douglas crowned the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Sukhm Pannu, brand manager, congratulated Cynthia Afury while describing the event as the most highly rated pageant in and outside Nigeria.

“We are conversant with and quite appreciative of the rigorous grooming and selection process these ladies have been exposed to, match-

ing the international standard. This undoubtedly demonstrates that we have taken the best step in the right direction in settling for one of the beauty queens,” Pannu said.

Also at the event, Guy Murray-Bruce, special adviser to the Governor on Tourism Development & Entertainment, Bayelsa State, said the theme for this year’s pageant ‘Every Woman’ encapsulates the true definition of the woman, who is a nurturer, care giver, working woman, wife, professional, the list is endless. The theme also lends its meaning towards the national fight against the increase in the statistics of girl child rape, girl child slavery, child trafficking and early girl child marriage.

“I hereby seize this rare opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Bayelsa for their warmth and hospitality and special thanks to sponsors who have contributed in no small way to the success of this event such as Tolaram Group, owners of Lush Hair, Silverbird Group,” Murray-Bruce said.

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Sports

Match fixing: NFF says FIFA, CAF eyes very sharp on Nigeria ... reads riot act to members, match officials Anthony Nlebem

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he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a stern warning to its members and match officials, to guard against acts and practices that could be seen to encourage match fixing and match manipulation in any way or form in the coming football season.

With the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season due to kick off on Sunday, 3rd November, the NFF said it encourages match officials and other workers in football to recognise, resist and report any act, practice or tendency that may appear, remotely or directly, to seek to compromise the integrity of any given football match at any point in time.

“It is important that NFF members, including Members of Congress, stakeholders, referees, match commissioners and referee assessors, and indeed everyone involved in the game, resist and report all acts that may seek to compromise the integrity of a game.

The NFF will monitor actions and inaction within the perspectives

LaLiga forms choir as 42 fans perform exciting sound experiment ANTHONY NLEBEM

L of errors in decisions, which could be classified as: 1) Error of Judgment 2) Error of Knowledge and 3) Deliberate Act. “The NFF is on a wavelength of zero tolerance for match fixing and match manipulation in any way.

The Federation will come down hard on anyone involved in any practice that may seek to bring the game to disrepute,” Barrister Okey Obi, head of the NFF Integrity Unit said.

Obi assured that the Federation would not hesitate to visit acts and practices that are capable of bringing the game to disrepute with the heaviest sanctions possible, no

matter whose ox is gored.

“The eyes of FIFA and CAF are now very, very sharp with regards to match fixing and match manipulation matters. Apart from that, the various security agencies in the land are now taking keen interest in what happens during football matches, a development the NFF is happy about. The NFF Integrity Unit is now working in conjunction with the security agencies to monitor all matches.

“It will no longer be business as usual. Members of NFF especially match officials are warned against going to match venues to front for teams.”

Titanic clashes in Spain and Italy … a preview of LaLiga and Serie A games ANTHONY NLEBEM

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he 2019/20 LaLiga season will have its 12th round this weekend as football fans gear up for some brilliant action from Spain and Italy top flight leagues.

The pick of matches from LaLiga this weekend comes as Valencia play away to Espanyol, while Villarreal host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday afternoon, and surprise package is Granada at home to Real Sociedad to close out the round on Sunday night.

Also, the 2019/20 Serie A season will have its 11th round this weekend, 2-4 November 2019, with quality of football from Italy’s top division.

The potential thriller is the clash between unpredictable teams Milan and Lazio from the

San Siro on Sunday night. The teams’ last six meetings across all competitions have produced just four goals – so this rivalry is very much due a loosening of the defensive mindset and hopefully this clash will be one in which the net is rippled several

times.

Also in action this Serie A round is an intriguing clash between Fiorentina and Parma, Atalanta looking to overcome surprise package Cagliari, and a Monday night battle between SPAL and Sampdoria.

aLiga has conducted an experiment to prove that all fans are united by a common factor that goes far beyond the feelings they have for each of their clubs: their passion for football. Under the motto “When we feel together, we feel stronger,” the club association aimed to foster unity among all LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank fans.

To this end, 42 supporters one of each club – took part in a pioneering sound experiment in Spain: recording the rhythm of fans’ heartbeats to the tempo of the new LaLiga soundtrack, composed by Lucas Vidal.

“The passion for football is something that all fans share.

Sometimes rivalry makes us lose sight of that. At LaLiga we are convinced that football is a great link that connects and brings together everyone who loves the sport,” said Enrique Moreno, LaLiga’s global brand and assets director.

In order to do this, LaLiga started a campaign a few months ago calling on those fans who always sing throughout the game in support of their team. More than 4,000 people signed up for the initiative and finally 42 supporters were selected, from eight different nationalities. All of them enthusiastically went to Madrid, without knowing what surprise LaLiga had in store for them. When the fans arrived, they anonymously took part in the sound experiment, without knowing the origin or club of the supporter standing next to them.

A pioneering experiment in Spain This experiment was inspired by a scientific study carried out a few years ago by the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), which showed that if several people sang the same song simultaneously, their heart rates synchro-

nize with each other, going up and down together, which is linked to their synchronized breathing when they sing the same song.

The protagonists of the experiment were a group of18 year old individuals with mixed gender.

In this case, LaLiga wanted to demonstrate this premise, by doing it with real fans in a single day, under the concept ‘When we feel together, we feel stronger.’ To do this, LaLiga established a series of parameters that ensured that the measurements were in accordance with the characteristics of each individual, marking a specific frequency range in which we expected all fans to be at the end of the experiment. This all took place under the supervision of Dr.Tania Rodríguez Gabella, cardiologist at the Clínico University Hospital in Valladolid. Once this parameter was established, the frequency of each fan was measured using heart rate monitors, which sent the signal to a common screen in which Rodríguez Gabella and scientists monitored the evolution of the beats.

Hours after the start of the test, the initial objective was achieved, with figures of 95% or 100% of matched subjects were reached in some sections of the melody.

Unity, passion and a short film to enjoy One of the key points of the experiment was the anonymity of all participants. From the beginning, contact among them was prevented, with the intention of carrying out the initiative in the purest possible way, in order to avoid prejudices that could provoke historical sporting rivalries.

“It was amazing to see how they worked together, no matter where they came from or what club they represented. Everyone was under the spell of the LaLiga soundtrack. They felt it and made it their own,” said Lucas Vidal, the composer of the song.

GOtv Boxing Night Mini is an opportunity to prove my reputation – Baby Face ANTHONY NLEBEM

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ilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde, reigning West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight champion, has stated that GOtv Boxing Night Mini is an opportunity to enhance his reputation and prepare for a possible shot at the African title.

The maiden edition of the event holds on 16 November at the Rowe Park

Sports Complex, Lagos.

Speaking in an interview in Lagos yesterday, Babatunde, who remains undefeated, said the event will also provide other boxers the chance to beef up their fight records and keep them in shape.

“Boxers need a lot of fights to test themselves and this is only possible when promo-

tions are regular. It is no secret that I want the African title and GOtv Boxing Night Mini will help me realise this bid quicker,” Babatunde said.

Babatunde commended the sponsors for introducing the new event, describing it as a right step in the right direction for Nigerian boxing.

Boxers scheduled to fight

at GOtv Boxing Night Mini include Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, West African Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight champion; Waheed “Skoro” Usman, former African Boxing Union (ABU) featherweight champion; Kabiru “KB Godson” Towolawi, Opeyemi “Sense” Adeyemi and Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan.

BDSUNDAY

NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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As INEC faces another test in Kogi and Bayelsa

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t the heart of heightened tension and apprehensions prelude to the governorship elections coming up in both Kogi and Bayelsa states on November 16, 2019 is how well and impartial the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) handles its conduct. It is no doubt a two-horse race between the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Party(APC) and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the two states.

Incidentally, while the incumbent Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello belongs to the APC and will slug it out with Musa Wada of the PDP, the tussle in Bayelsa State is between Lyon Pereworimini of the APC and Diri Duoye of the PDP. Not unexpectedly, there are ping-pong blame games being traded between the prominent candidates, bothering on alleged attempts at vote buying, arms build-up, threats of the use of force by political thugs to cow the opposition.

Such insinuations are not new to Nigeria’s volatile political space. But for democratic ethos to be sustained and indeed strengthened the people’s votes must count. That is what matters most and INEC must ensure that, as a truly unbiased umpire in what one has referred to as ever intriguing party ‘poll-y-tricks’.

INEC has its statutory functions well spelt out in Section15, Part 1of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended). So it is in Section 2 of the Electoral Act 2010.The subsisting laws empower INEC to conduct elections into elective political offices. These include executive offices such as that of the president, vice president, governors and their deputy. Also listed are elections into legislative offices such as the Senate and House of Representatives.

This background therefore, underscores the importance of the functions of INEC. The onus lies squarely on its shoulders to conduct free, fair and credible elections to meet international standards.

It should be on record that specifically in June 1993 the then National Electoral Commission of Nigeria under the Chairmanship of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu gave

Nigeria such widely adjudged credible elections. The Commission used the Option A4 voting system and Open Ballot System. Most unfortunately, that milestone election which should have served as a template for subsequent ones was crudely annulled by the military junta in power. The rest, as they say is history.

In specific term, the current Mahmoud Yakubu-led INEC has the golden opportunity to redeem its image with the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in the two states of Kogi and Bayelsa. And this is because it has been at the receiving end of accusations of its inability to curtail insidious and unpatriotic electoral crimes such as vote-buying, use of brute force by some paid thugs to carry out ballot box snatching and destruction during someprevious elections. So far, it seems to be putting its best foot forward.

For instance, only recently the top hierarchy of INEC met with the topnotch of Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) all geared towards having peaceful and people-oriented elections that would eventually express their democratic franchise.Both representatives of the NPF and NSCDC- Kabir Quarzo and Peter Maigeri have given assurance to that effect. That is as a proactive measure to forestall the use of dubious permanent and ad-hoc workers by desperate politicians.Card readers will be used for accreditation of voters, while collation and transmission of results will be manual in line with the extant laws.

Similarly, INEC has held its quarterly meeting with political parties to review their performances during the previous elections and retool areas that have some challenges to be sorted out. The commission will hold one election in Bayelsa (the governorship election), while it has scheduled two for Kogi (governorship and senatorial election in Kogi West Senatorial District). Yakubu explained that the decision is to make it more economical.

After the INEC Chairman’s meeting with the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioners in Bayelsa and Kogi- Elder

Monday Tom and James Apam assurance has been given that Nigeria will once again boast of free, fair, credible and internationally acclaimed elections that would be in sync with the wishes of the majority of the voters.

To move forward, we have to use the Root Cause Analytical Approach to find out where we get it all wrong.

Put in its proper perspective, over the years, electoral anomalies such as under-aged voting in parts of the north, multiple registration, non-serialisation of ballot papers as well as deliberate delay in the display of the voter register took the centre stage especially in the 2007 polls.

Indeed, so questionable was the outcome of the polls that the independent observers of the election and the international community cried blue murder. There were reported incidents of the carting away of electoral materials between Abuja and Edo state. The same sordid scenario played itself out in parts of Delta state.

The then INEC worsened matters by the controversial disqualification of candidates who refused to appear before its screening committee. That was contrary to Section 32(1-5) of the former Electoral Act, 2006.

Matters got to an ugly head on the day of the election when some eligible voters could not locate their names on the voter register and were therefore, disenfranchised. Some candidates’ names, party logos and photographs were missing from the ballot papers.

There were several reported incidents of mishandling of logistics characterised by late arrival of electoral materials, even keeping the voters waiting till 2.00pm!

In addition to multiple thumb printing by paid fraudsters, snatching of ballot boxes with some top government functionaries involved went on with spree. Yet, rigging of election in collusion with security forces and declaring results from Abuja instead of the state capitals took place in clear violation of the Electoral Act. Between

AYO OYOZE BAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’ 07068638066

then and now, how far have we really fared? That is the million-naira question.

Some political affairs analysts believe that under Jega there were some significant improvements. They cite the computerisation of the electoral system, the coding of ballot papers, ballot boxes and polling units. Its conduct of gubernatorial polls in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states recorded increasingly fair elections. But it is not yet Uhuru.

For instance, the often delayed updating of the voter register and the distribution of the much-needed permanent voter cards, PVC have been widely criticized.

Still, some flaws persist.

There is voter apathy, as was reported with evidence in several states during the last-held gubernatorial and presidential elections. Also, the way and manner candidates go about their smear campaigns, couched with outright insults and innuendoes despite signed peace pacts gives cause for concern. Mass voter education should be an on-going exercise.

But the real concern is the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill into law.

Without it, the wishes of the voters may not be fully expressed. Another critical issue is the desperation of politicians to win and hang on to power at all costsmore by crook than by hook-not to serve the people but because of the mouthwatering apparatchiks of political office.

Will the forthcoming elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states make the desired difference? Only time will tell. But from here we sue for peace.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

New NDDC board and the high hopes

F

or some time now, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been in the eye of the storm. President Muhammadu Buhari recently ordered an audit of the Commission after he expressed disappointment with the low level of development in the Niger Delta several years after it was created.

The President was particularly irked that nothing much was on ground vis-à-vis the huge sum of money that had been pumped into the Commission since its creation.

Some other observers had even suggested the scrapping of the Commission and setting up of a brand new one. But Buhari believes that was unnecessary, since it is not the name that was the problem, but the human elements that had exercised leadership therein over the years.

He believes that a change of leadership would turn things around. Recently, he appointed an acting managing director, pending when the new board he nominated would be cleared by the Senate and constituted. Last Thursday, the Senate screened members of the board, starting with Pius Odudu, a former deputy governor of Edo State who was nominated for the position of chairman of the Commission. Also screened by the Senate Committee on Nigeria Delta Affairs led by Peter Nwaoboshi, was Bernard

Okumagba from Delta State, nominated as the managing director.

There is no gain-saying the fact that the expected positive change in the Commission must came from Odudu and Okumagba as chairman and managing director, respectively.

It can also be said that the bulk of the responsibility is on Okumagba’s shoulders, since he is the man to oversee the day-to-day activities of the NDDC. If the Commission will succeed, it is dependent on the style of leadership he would want to introduce.

While Odudu sits at the board that scrutinises the proposals for project/contract execution, Okumagba, by virtue of his position, is the one to ensure that he at all times rightly advises the board and ensures that whatever that is approved by the board must be followed to the letter. Those who know him well say he is a team player, a thorough-bred professional and stickler to due process.

Festus Masajuwa, a public relations practitioner, recently described Okumagba as the best man for the job.

Masajuwa said: “Over the years, selfishness has been the major factor militating against quality service at NDDC. But Olorogun Okumagba, having established himself as a trusted Nigerian with an enviable record of success in his areas of operation, will continue on the right trajectory that endeared him to the President. I am persuaded that his coming on board this time around will mean that the Niger

Delta people are in for a nice time.”

According to him, “Okumagba is just the best man for the job at this material point in time. For many of us from the Niger Delta, it is a disaster that NDDC has not lived out its purpose of establishment despite huge allocations that had been appropriated to it since inception. It was a Commission that was wellthought out, but the people of the Niger Delta have not really drunken to the fullest of the abundant milk that flows from that Commission. Year-in, year-out, there are sad stories of shattered dreams, gross mismanagement of funds and allegations of mindless looting. I am very optimistic that the nomination/appointment of Okumagba will put laughter on the faces of people of the Niger Delta.”

The new board must ensure that it discharges its duty without unnecessarily allowing politics to becloud its sense of (good) judgment.

Reports have it that too many abandoned NDDC projects dot the Niger Delta landscape.

Efforts must therefore be geared toward completing them at record time.

It is heartwarming that both Odudu and Okumagba received the endorsement of the Senate Committee, to the point that Senators Nwaoboshi and James Manager attested to the suitability of the MD-designate, Okumagba, for the job.

$43.6m

That is the amount Nigeria’s foreign reserves shed in October; the country’s foreign reserves lost an average of $43,604,660 daily between October 2 and October 30, according to data by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Pathetic!

“The flagrant disobedience of court orders and the charges of treason, terrorism and cybercrimes against citizens by federal and state governments set a dangerous precedent in the misuse of the state criminal justice system to silence free expression”.

-The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF), condemning the alarming trend of media censorship by state authorities in Nigeria.

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