BusinessDay 30 Dec 2018

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

Key political events that shaped Nigeria in 2018

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Nigeria cannot move forward without the right people in politics – Primate Ayodele p.38

?? Subsidy removal, huge

finance costs send Notore Chemicals into losses in 2018

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Sunday 30 December 2018

‘We see danger in 2019’

Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$52.15

-0.01 14.42%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,281.40

0.00 15.29%

Cocoa

20yr Bond

0.00 15.54%

$2,395.00

inside Sunday 30 December 2018

How conflicting promises cast ruling party in bad light

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Entrepreneurs, lawyers, others cry out

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BY OUR REPORTERS Politics

ith the Nigerian economy hovering dangerously on the edge of a precipice, according to experts, fears are being raised that the country needs a worthy outcome in the forthcoming 2019 election to halt

Insecurity is a huge threat to next year’s polls - Salawu

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Taiwo Salawu is one of the political sons who went through the political tutelage under of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu. Salawu is a former councillor at the Ibadan Municipal Local Government, and personal assistant and special adviser to the then Council Chairman Akinyemi Aboke. In this interview with AKINREMI FEYISIPO, Salawu, who was a staunch member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but recently joined the African Democratic Party (ADP), talked about the era and demise of Adedibu, Buhari administration, Oyo politics and chances of former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, in 2019, the threat being posed to the 2019 polls by insecurity, among other issues. Excerpts: There are recent killings in Borno and Zamfara States. How would you react to this? his is a sad development again, just as the 2019 elections are less than two months; this might be a threat to the next year’s polls. There is the need for a new approach in the fight against insurgency while the President Muhammadu Buhari should as well overhaul security architecture so as to effectively tackle emerging threats and challenges facing the country. I think it is time we all rise collectively to stop this senseless killings of innocent souls because this is getting out of hand. This year, many people have been killed also in Benue, Plateau, Yobe, while vices like kidnapping , armed robbery, etc still stare the country in the face. The way things are going, insecurity poses a huge threat to the successful conduct of the general election next year.

So, it has become very necessary that government should do everything within its powers to address this issue urgently.

What is your assessment of the Buhari administration in the last three and half years?

The present government is a failure, all that they promised before the 2015 elections, they have not fulfilled. The expectations were high when the government came in power over three years but it has performed below expectations with their change mantra. Even when Buhari came in 1984 in army uniform he did not achieve anything.

This government is calling itself progressive. Are they really progressives? As a progressive you must implement free education, free health care as it is done during the Obafemi Awolowo era.

What do you have to say about Ajimobi’s government in Oyo? The ruling party in Oyo State is a government of noise and propaganda. It was shout of change, change without achievements. Look at where I stay at Akala Way for good seven years now, government didn’t do anything there, a lot of roads were not rehabilitated or maintained which led to many vehicles being damaged; they were doing dual carriage way where people did not even reside.

Go to the hospitals, did they buy drugs or give free medical

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Insecurity is a huge threat to next year’s polls - Salawu Taiwo Salawu

treatment? On education, it is zero; if not because of people who protested, most of the schools might have been privatised now. The outgoing government’s policies, programmes and projects are best described as anti-people which leave our people in pain and despondency.

How will you describe the late strong man of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu?

Yes, the late Baba Adedibu was my father and mentor; I was his political son because I went through his tutelage. But his name will continue to reverberate in Oyo State politics because many players passed through him also in one way or the other.

His demise affected the fortunes of the PDP and politics generally in the south west.

Oyo State politics cannot have the same colour it had in the days of the strongman of Ibadan politics because things have changed. His death has a lot of impact on the political system of Oyo State.

Since his demise, have you seen PDP recording any success

in Oyo State? At his 3-Day fidau prayer when he died, I was interviewed and I said that time that PDP may not record any victory any more, then the prediction has come to fulfillment; this is as if PDP died with Adedibu.

Following his death, the political camp has scattered as many of his associates have moved to other parties and pursuing their political ambitions differently and some of his disciples have deserted his family.

Although death is inevitable, Adedibu’s case will not be the first even when Obafemi Awolowo died, they organised a birthday for him in the first year, many people attended it, second year just core loyalists were there, people believe in what they can achieve from you.

The same thing happened to former President Olusegun Obasanjo; many people used to attend Ibogun Day when he was in power, look at it these days, how many people now attend?

Even President Muhammadu Buhari, if he leaves office today, most of his so-called friends or

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loyalists will not be there again. I will eternally be grateful to Baba Adedibu for what he did for me and my twin brother, Kehinde, but some of his core loyalists still go to his residence at Molete regularly to say hello to his family, especially, Bosede his wife.

Why did you join ADP now and what are the chances of Adebayo Alao-Akala in the election?

I joined the ADP because I have trust in Akala. We have been together during the APP days. He was Chairman, Ogbomoso Local Government, during his 11 months when former Governor Rashidi Ladoja was impeached and his four years as governor between 2007 and 2011, he appointed my late twin brother as SA of sports.

His inside credentials are superb and he has a lot of achievements LIFE&LIVING to show for it compared to other candidates.

ARTS Oyo State must be governed by somebody who has acquired an experience unlike LIFE some of the contestants now who have not even contested ENTERTAINMENT or won a councillorship seat

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Vol 1, No. 245 N300

and now they say they want to be governor.

Oyo people are not foolish.

Ibadan people have ruled the state for almost 17 years and 2months; do they remember the renovation of ancient Mapo Hall or Ade Oyo Hospital? It was during Akala’s first regime that these were renovated and rehabilitated. It was during his tenure that the Erunmu Dry Port started.

Although, I will vote for Atiku Abubukar, we were together in SDP, PDP those days; I am 100 percent sure that Akala will win the governorship election in Oyo next year.

I believe Atiku will perform when elected, just as former President Goodluck Jonathan did. Some the achievements include creating additional 12 universities; 101 presidential special scholarships for innovation and development, increase in O’ Level credit pass in Maths and English, sponsoring lecturers for postgraduate studies at home and abroad; 51 polytechnics were rehabilitated; there was double increase on education allocation and road infrastructure within the country, among many other achievements.

What is your advice to the Nigerian electorate, INEC, government and politicians as the 2019 general election approaches?

Nigerians should use their PVCs wisely and not sell to any politician. With what happened in Ekiti and Osun elections, the electorate should not sell their votes. The INEC should maintain its role as independent umpire while President Buhari should ensure that the 2019 elections are free and fair as he promised the international community and Nigerians. The politicians should eschew violence and play the game according to the rules and should not play it as if it were a do-or-die affair. For the youths, they should not allow themselves to be used by politicians for thuggery, violence or election rigging because of those people going around with money to entice them. These politicians and their rich godfathers have their own children abroad as we speak now and those of them, whose families are still here, will take them away as we get closer to the elections. So, the youth should be very careful and vigilant.

the drift.

Speaking separately with BDSUNDAY in Lagos, some key players in the private sector of the nation’s economy expressed the optimism that should the election be allowed to be credible, free and fair, in which case winners are allowed to emerge, the economy would bounce back, but on the contrary, it would be catastrophic for

the country.

Lai Omotola, group managing director, Masters Reality International Concepts Limited (MRICL) and chancellor of E-Boot Camp Limited, who mentors, trains young entrepreneurs and runs an entrepreneurship programme on radio, said his fears were not that the elections

BDSUNDAY 21

LaoLu Senbanjo and

his canvas on bottle

p.21 Investigation:

How terror killed $20bn 32 BDSUNDAYOgidigben Gas Park Special project Feature www.businessday.ng

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Sunday 30 December 2018

How conflict stalled the project – Majomi,. .

Continued from page ?? individual (or body) the investor or government starts investing. In this situation the investor puts himself in a position of risk. The conflict entrepreneur finds it is easy to extort because he knows that the investor, having committed funds, will find it very hard to exit.

So, they have to cooperate and pay out money. But, with the MCRIA, they will determine from the onset if the place is right for him to proceed with the project, because the MCRIA will predict the possibility of such conflict entrepreneurs emerging in any given community.

Now that the MCRIA model has been unveiled to the media and civil society organisation (CSOs), what should be next?

Well, I think that the media and the CSOs should be active in promoting the importance of host community engagement as a principal investment activ-

p.32 How terror killed $20bn Ogidigben Gas Park project …Okowa hobnobs with ‘new investors’, calls for re-start of project

President Muhammadu Buhari arriving the Victor Attah International Airport for the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, weekend. The State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, led a delegation comprising members of his cabinet and other dignitaries to receive the President.

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Gridlock, waste management top challenges facing Lagos’ next governor DANIEL OBI

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t may sound early to table challenges facing next Lagos governor as candidates are now focused on winning the election, but the challenges which are annoying to Lagosians could form part of the politicians’ campaign messages and winning strategies.

Whoever therefore emerges as next governor of Lagos State should on day one of his assumption of duty on May 29, 2019 roll up his sleeves for work. This is because Lagosians expect much from him and his team as there is much work to be done.

The governor is expected to immediately tackle waste which has given the city a new coloration. Lagos, Africa’s biggest city, and the economic capital of Nigeria has become filthier with waste dumps at every corner which does not create a positive image for it.

Though the challenge of waste management is a global issue but

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Issue of the Week Buhari: A hypocritical tribute to Shagari?

CHUKS OLUIGBO

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n mourning the Second Republic President of N i g e r i a , S h e h u Al i y u Sh a g a r i , w h o d i e d o n Friday at the age of 93, President Muhammadu Buhari described the late former president in very glowing terms.

Buhari, in a statement issued

by Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, described Shagari as a patriot whose life of service and humility was widely acknowledged. He said Shagari lived an exemplary life and urged Nigerians of all walks of life to emulate the departed former president.

Buhari recalled part of the birthday message he had sent to Shagari last February, saying, “We are enthralled and regaled with the many years of unequalled patriotism, sacrifices and contributions to national development. More specifically, we celebrate the role-modelling qualities of integrity, diligence and humility that have been the hallmark of your visionary leadership.”

But Buhari’s description of Shagari in death contradicts his description of the same man in life. On December 24, 2015, Buhari was a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’.

Seun Okinbaloye, the pro gramme anchor, asked Buhari if he was sorry for bringing to an end the Shagari government.

“No, I am not sorry because I mentioned why we did it and we proved our case,” Buhari said.

“But that was a democratic process that would have extended,” Okinbaloye probed further.

Buhari said, “So when you are in a democracy so you are entitled to steal the treasury dry and put your people into popular positions and destroy institutions and destroy infrastructure?” Even though Buhari laboured not to put the blame on Shagari but on the Second Republic, it was a futile effort since Shagari was the arrowhead of the Second Republic on whose table the buck stopped.

(Watch recorded video of the programme on https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=fQ7_ MnxWIF4.)

Shagari was Nigeria’s president from 1979 to 1983. He was re-elected for a second term of four years in 1983 but his second term rule was cut short by Buhari through a military coup barely three months on. It took Nigeria another 15 years to find its way back to civil rule, of which Buhari is now a beneficiary.

It will be recalled that when Buhari wrested power from Shagari through a military coup on December 31, 1983, he said

The remaing body of late Sheu Usman Shagari, former Nigerian president at the National Hospital Abuja,

in his broadcast on January 1, 1984 that “corruption has become so pervasive and intractable that a whole ministry has been created to stem it”.

“While corruption and indiscipline have been associated with our state of under-development, these two evils in our body-politic have attained unprecedented height in the past few years. The corrupt, inept and insensitive leadership in the last four years has been the source of immorality and impropriety in our society,” Buhari had said.

The Shehu Shagari administration, no doubt, reeked of pervasive corruption. It was during this period that some federal buildings went into flames following investigations into the finances of the officials working in the buildings. The notorious rice import licence scandal also happened during this era.

Indeed, it was during this t i m e t h a t Ch i n u a Ac h e b e wrote ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’ (1983), in which he stated that “corruption in Nigeria has passed the alarming and entered the fatal stage; and Nigeria will die if we keep pretending that she is only slightly indisposed”.

Referring to a story in the National Concord of May 16, 1983 with the headline “Fraud at P&T”, Achebe quoted the then Federal Minister of Communication, Audu Ogbe, as revealing that the Federal Government was losing N50 million every month as salaries to non-existent workers.

“In the course of one year then Nigeria loses N600 mil-

lion in this particular racket…

With N600 million Nigeria could build two more international airports like Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos; or if r are not keen on more airports the money could buy us three refineries; or build us a dual express motorway from Lagos to Kaduna; or pay the salary of 10,000 workers on grade level 01 for forty years,” Achebe wrote.

Achebe also drew attention to an editorial in The Daily Times of the same day, titled “The Fake Importers”, which highlighted “a story of Nigerian importers who having applied for and obtained scarce foreign exchange from the Central bank ostensibly to pay for raw materials overseas, leave the money in their banks abroad and ship to Lagos containers of mud and sand”.

He, therefore, admonished Shagari thus, “But to initiate change the President of this country must take, and be seen to take, a decisive first step of ridding his administration of all persons on whom the slightest wind of corruption and scandal has blown. When he can summon up the courage to do that, he will find himself grown overnight to such stature and authority that he will become Nigeria’s leader, not just its president. Only then can he take on and conquer corruption in the nation.”

In an 2015 article during Shagari’s 90th birthday celebration, Kayode Soremekun, professor and current vice chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, described the various shades of encomiums

on the now departed former president as “grand, if fictitious, terms”, arguing that “a lot of what has been said about Shagari on his birthday does violence to truth and reality”. “ Th e S e c o n d Re p u b l i c kicked off on an optimistic note in late 1979. Despite the pillage of yester-years, Shagari inherited an external reserve of N2.3 billion. In the next four years of his rule, Nigeria would earn a total of N40.5 billion in foreign exchange.

One major style of his government was the weekly meeting of the party caucus at the State House on Ribadu Road. These meetings were attended by the president and other fat-cats of the then ruling (ruining) party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

“As revealed separately by Nwankwo and Omotoso in their respective books, this assemblage of powerful men of the Second Republic administration met every week, ostensibly to critically analyze the state of the nation. In reality, however, the meetings were more concerned with the issues of illegal oil deals and kickbacks from capital projects. These men of power effectively plotted what turned out to be the systematic looting of Nigeria. According to records, they had a willing institutional ally in the defunct Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI). By the 1990s, when BBCI was in its death throes, it became synonymous with the looting of Nigeria in the period under Shagari’s presidency,” Soremekun wrote in the article ‘Shagari and the counter-narratives’ published

Pic by TUNDE ADENIYI.

in BusinessDay. For Buhari to turn around then to describe the same Shagari, in death, as a role model of “integrity” and an exemplary Nigerian smacks of double-speak and questions Buhari’s own claim to integrity – which, of course, is constantly being put to question these days. If it was so, why then did Buhari and his co-travellers boot out the democraticallyelected Shagari administration?

Even Junaid Mohammed, a Second Republic lawmaker, agrees that Buhari’s tribute to Shagari was insincere, although for other reasons.

He told PUNCH, “It’s not sincere. If you’ve contributed so much in bringing down a government and bringing down a man who had nothing to gain, even though he had poor eyesight and was in poor health – he was in his late 60s then – you cannot say, from 1984 till now, you got along well. How did you get along well? No matter what you say about the Shagari administration, he knew how to retire from public service quietly, with a tremendous amount of nobility and self-respect. You have to give him that. In terms of retirement and living a quiet life and garnering more respect, Shagari is certainly one of Nigeria’s most outstanding leaders and I certainly believe the nation will continue to mourn him appropriately.”

That – the fact that after he was sacked from office Shagari retired to a quiet life, thus gaining the respect of many – is perhaps the only consolation for many Nigerians.

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2018 Calabar carnival will tell Africa’s true story - Ayade

Ikpeazu presents N140bn 2019 Budget proposal to Assembly

MIKE ABANG, CALABAR

UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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he Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has said that the 2018 Calabar Carnival would help tell Africa’s true story and also show that the continent has come of age.

The governor disclosed that the continent is now at the epicentre of the world’s development and holds a lot of promise for the future of humanity.

Ayade made this known i n Ca l a b a r d u r i n g t h e flagoff of the 2018 Calabar carnival which is at the peak of Christmas festivities in the state.

The governor, who was accompanied by his wife, Lynda; Presidential hopeful, Oby Ezekwesi; Senator Ita Giwa, as well as current Miss Africa , Congolese Dorcas Kasinde, said the continent has to come together and find solutions to its own challenges.

“We are here to tell the African story ourselves.

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Africans have a platform to use the opportunity of this dance and drama to tell the African story in a way that we know.

“Everything about Africa is taking a global stage and the platform offered by this event is to show that Africans have really mature,” he said.

Speaking on this year’s theme which is ‘Africanism’, the governor said: “Africanism is saying that Afri-

cans believe in themselves and so Africans must come together to find solutions to African problems.

“So, Africanism is saying think, act, conduct and carry yourself as an African. Africa is not colour, faces but the spirit of the heart, goodness of the heart, niceness of character, love for fellow human beings as well as providing a shoulder for your brother to lean on”,

Professor Ayade said.

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Tate Carnival Commission, Gab Onah, said the theme for this year’s festival was chosen to underscore the need for Africans to tell their story themselves.

He s a i d t h i s y e a r ’s event is larger than others and several countries are part of the event including Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Ghana and Lithuania.

Presidency clarifies Dangote’s role in Buhari’s campaign team INIOBONG IWOK with Agency report

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he Presidency has stated that businessmen, Aliko Dangote, was not a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign team, saying that Dangote was never a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while his role as a member of the peace committee disqualified him from belonging to

a partisan party.

Dangote and fellow business mogul, Femi Otedola, were last Friday named among seven members of the advisory committee, the other five names on the list including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; APC national leader, Bola Tinubu; Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan; House of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, and the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole are all politicians.

Clarifying the inclusion, President Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adeshina, explained the inclusion of Dangote in the campaign advisory team.

“It has become imperative to further clarify the status of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, named under the sub-head advisory members in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council announced on Friday, December 28, 2018.

“Africa’s richest man,

not being a card-carrying member of APC, cannot, and is not member of the PCC. He is also a member of the Peace Committee, and thus cannot be in a partisan campaign council,” Adesina said.

The inclusion of the nation’s top two businessmen on the list had generated condemnation from Nigerians across the country; both men were, however, advised to reject the appointment by Nigerians and remain neutral.

PDP campaign kicks as Kogi ‘APC supporters’ destroy Atiku’s billboards

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ome billboards and other campaign materials of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been destroyed in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, The Cable reported yesterday.

The destruction also took place across the three senatorial zones of the state.

Austin Usman, head of media and publicity of the PDP-Presidential Campaign Council (PDPPCCO) in Kogi, said some persons suspected to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were behind the act.

Usman also accused the Kogi State govern-

ment of launching a covert team to destroy publicity materials of the opposition party.

“Information at our disposal clearly indicate that the Kogi State government has commissioned and is funding a covert team solely for the purpose of destroying billboards mounted by the PDP across the state.

“Ordinarily, we will have ignored the report but we are constrained to take it seriously because the grand plan has kicked off, starting from Otokiti along the Army Barracks road and other parts of Koton Karfe express corridor all in Lokoja.

“Whereas the campaign council will only focus on

issues and only important issues which will advance the cause of its candidate, perpetrators of the dastardly act must realize that no group has a monopoly of a capacity to embark on a campaign of calumny.

“We have maintained the narratives, we have remained focused on issues directly linked to unemployment, insecurity, inflation, poverty and the rising disquiet among the federating components which make up Nigeria. But it is only imperative for us to clearly let the APC and agents of the Kogi State government realize that their calculated attempt to stifle the campaign and mobilization efforts of the PDP by preventing

our message of hope from penetrating the grassroots will be resisted by every legal means available to us as a group.

“The APC must realize that their resort to destruction of campaign billboards is an act synonymous with sheer cowardice being fallout of the inability of the ruling government in the state to provide the people with a standard of leadership and governance obtainable in states created at the same time with it. This is by no means the fault of the PDP which bequeathed a buoyant local economy, secured communities and a respected workforce to the accidental government of Yahaya Bello.

overnor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has presented a N139.5 billion budget proposal to the Abia State House of Assembly for the 2019 fiscal year.

Ikpeazu, while resenting the budget tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation’ at the floor of the House, said the 2019 budget estimate has a capital expenditure of seventy one billion, seven hundred and twenty eight million, eight hundred and ninety eight thousand naira, representing 51percent of the budget while recurrent expenditure is put at sixty seven billion, eight hundred and thirteen million, one hundred and one thousand, two hundred and thirty five naira, representing 48.6percent of the total budget. The budget outlay is slightly less than that of 2018 which was one hundred and forty billion, nine hundred and forty-four million, eight hundred and eighty five thousand seven hundred and seventy naira only.

He said that the 20192021 multi-year estimates proposal is carefully packaged in line with International Fiscal Transpar-

ency principles, pointing out that the state keyed into the open government partnership with the aim of enhancing efficiency, promote ease of doing business and service delivery Governor Ikpeazu noted that following the economic down turn in the country, the state government adopted several strategies to appropriately position itself to take advantage of the opportunities brought by the current realities in the country.

The Abia chief executive revealed that the budget proposal which is envisioned to deepen the achievements recorded in the preceding years was packaged in line with international fiscal transparency principles.

He n ot e d t h a t i t i s meant to ensure the completion of the on-going projects and programmes of his administration, among other things.

Chikwendu Kalu, speaker of the State House of Assembly, in his response promised that the House would give the budget estimate prompt legislative action and commended the governor for presenting a budget that is in line with international best practices.

‘Okitipupa oil palm repositioned for better service delivery’ YOMI AYELESO, Akure

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he new management committee of the Okitipupa Oil Palm PLC in Ondo State has declared that thecompanyhadbeenrestructured and repositioned for a better service delivery for its customers.

The palm oil company established over 50 years ago had been in comatose over the years with little or no production following the ineffective handling of the company.

Addressing journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Wale Osomo, a director and chairman of the management committee, said the 12,474 hectares company has suffered due to bad management, adding that the new board was undergoing what he described as corporate restructuring.

According to him, technology would be deployed to further enhance the production level of the palm oil company.

FlankedbyTaiwoAdewole, thechiefexecutiveofficerofthe company,andKayodeAraloye, a member of the management committee,Osomonotedthat four areas were identified for the company to return to profitability. He gave the areas to includefinanceofthecompany,

operations, personnel and the shareholders.

“When we took over this company few months ago, we quickly noticed four areas that neededtobeworkedupon.We discovered that the company was lacking adequate funding, no Internally-Generated Revenue, Illegal harvesters, breakdown of the mills, mismanagement of funds; you could not believe the company does not have a bank for six years. Those working there are not effective and don’t have the interest of the company at heart.

“In the last 16 years, no dividend was declared and we are concernedaboutit.Thesurvival ofthecompanyisparamountto us to make a viable company and compete favourably in the industry.

“What we are doing is corporate restructuring which is going to be continuous. Part of it was to get rid of ineffective and inefficient workers. Over 8.4 million bunches are no lost annuallyanymore.OurIGRhas improved over these months andwearegettingintouchwith our shareholders,” he said.

Headdedthatthecompany was poised to provide employment opportunities and be a catalyst for economic transformation in the area and the state at large.

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News

Investors count losses as equities shed N2.2trn in 2018

…Industrial index worst performing as Vitafoam returns to profitability TELIAT SULE

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ndustrial goods that are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have posted the worst performance among the equities quoted on the main board, with the Industrial Index returning -37.73 percent as at December 28, 2018. This is the worst performance recorded by any sectoral index on the NSE thus far this year.

The equity components of the Industrial Index include Berger Paints, Beta Glass, CAP, CCNN and Cutix. Others are First Aluminium, Meyer, Portland Paints, Dangote Cement and Lafarge WAPCO. While the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) is the best performing stock on the Nigerian bourse, Lafarge Wapco is the worst performing stock.

As at the close of business last Friday, the share price of CCNN closed at N19.95, translating to 110 percent price appreciation year to date. On the contrary, Lafarge Wacpo and Dangote Cement, both of which control about 40 percent market capitalisation, recorded -20.4 percent and -72.2 percent, respectively. Year to date, Berger Paints rose by 1.3 percent; CAP, 2.5 percent, while Cutix, -11.4 percent; First Aluminium, 28 percent; Meyer, -15.7 percent are the laggards. By implication, the share prices of heavyweights such

as Dangote Cement and Lafarge Wapco posted negative returns in the outgoing year, thus worsening the performance of the industrial index.

The NSE AseM Index, which captures the performances of stocks which do not have the qualities to be considered for listing on the main board, recorded the second-worst performance in 2018, posting -26.99 year to date.

Also, the NSE Consumer Goods Index returned -24.35 percent YTD, due to 4.9 percent depreciation in the share price of Nestle,39.2 percent YTD decline in the share price of Nigerian Breweries; while International Breweries, Dangote Sugar, Flour Mills and Unilever shed 44 percent; 23.8 percent; 24.3 percent and 9.8 percent from their prices year to date. The aforementioned stocks account for about 70 percent of the market capitalisation of the NSE Consumer Goods Index.

Next in performance is the NSE 30 Index, which Dangote Cement, Wapco, Nestle, Oando,Access Bank, Guinness and International Breweries, among others returned -19.73 percent year to date. The NSE Corporate Governance Index was down year to date to 18.09 percent.WithDiamondandAccess banks merger reaching advanced stage, the index will be among the top sectoral indexes that will witness adjustment in the New Year.

The only sub sectoral index that

recorded below single digit returns was the NSE Insurance Index. It closed last Friday at -9.62 percent.

Meanwhile, Vitafoam has released its audited annual financial statement for the period ended September 30,2018. The foam manufacturing giant announced a profit after tax of N601.9 million for the period, translating to a significant leap over loss after tax of N127.7 million the firm announced in similar period in 2017.

Revenue grew by 10 percent from N17.7 billion in 2017 to N19.5 billion in 2018. Cost of sales trend-

ed up as well by 8 percent from N12.7 billion last year to N13.7 billion this year, implying that in both years, it cost Viatfoam N70 to generate a N100 revenue.

Operating profit rose by 52 percent to N2.09 billion up from N1.33 billion in 2017. Year to date, Vitafoam share price is among those stocks that closed in the positive territory. It closed at N4 per share to record 33.3 percent year to date appreciation, which makes the stock the 10th best performing stock year to date. By the end of the 2017 financial year, Vitafoam paid

shareholders N0.15 as dividend per share.

Overall, when transactions ended last Friday, the All Share Index of the Exchange closed at 31,037.72 basis points compared with 38,243.19 basis points on the last trading day of 2017, representing a negative return of 18.8 percent. Similarly, the market capitalisation closed at N11.3 trillion compared with N13.6 trillion on the last trading day of 2017, which implies that investors so far this year have lost N2.27 trillion, year to date.

The hard way: Children living on the waters of Makoko in Lagos anxiously waiting as a mobile food vendor dishes their meal. This is a daily routine for these ghetto children who have been forced to act precociously by harsh environment.

Pic by Olawale Amoo

‘We see danger in 2019’ Continued from page 1 would not hold but that the figures may not reflect the aspirations of voters.

Omotola said going by what has happened in the last three-and-ahalf years, his major fears are that the economy would take the hardest hit if the current government should come back to power.

“From what we have seen in the last three-and-a-half years, the economy is at its worst. It is very clear. The government policies have crowded out the private sector-led economy. Government has taken a lead role in doing business instead of allowing the economy to be private sector-driven.

“Last year, I told you something about the economy. I said electricity was not going to improve; you can see it today. I also said that the best the Buhari administration could do is just to maintain where they are and not fall below it, and that’s the best they can achieve. The exchange rate has been stable at N305 and N360 at fraudulent ways.

They are pumping money into it

to maintain that artificial position, now, without being a soothsayer; if Buhari comes second term in 2019; we are going to witness the final battle ground in this country.

“It is going to be the final war zone; because I must first tell you, the opposition will not accept the result; they would go to court. Buhari is not going to have the same privilege that he had that Jonathan lost the election and he just allowed it to go.

“Again, the President is of the opinion that he has not been successful in the anti-corruption drive.

He has learnt from his mistakes.

So, this time, he will pursue total eradication of corruption (I don’t know how it can be possible). That is going to be on his front burner.

As good as that is, it is going to stifle the flow of money; and when this happens, it is going to stifle the economy. Now again, he only has two years to do whatever he wants to do on the economy. This is because, after two years, the next person that would want to become President would begin to beat drum. So, politics takes the front burner again. So, realistically, we

are not going to see a major shift,” Omotola said.

The businessman also noted that part of the major problems of the present government has been the crop of people the President recruited to work with him.

“The problem we see in the country today is that the people Buhari recruited are far from reality and have not got the right knowledge. There is no reform; no activity; there’s no engagement of the people. They are far from it; and that is why we are where we are now. So, there is no clear cut to say that the Buhari administration has performed or will do better even if he wins in 2019,” he said.

Ayodele Kusamotu, a lawyer and chairman/principal counsel at Kusamotu & Kusamotu Law firm (The Greenfish Chambers), expressing same sentiment, said that the current administration was yet to show capacity in harnessing the potentials available in Nigeria close to four years of exercising power.

“We need a catalyst to help us actualise the potentials, and

it doesn’t seem that this present administration is able to do that.

I think Nigeria deserves better than that. So, after almost four years of being in government, we have not seen any significant change that can give one the comfort of saying that this government is the kind of government one would like to continue in power,” Kusamotu said.

On what to expect next year from the poll, he said, “I personally don’t think there will be any election or anything like handover in May next year. I think we may end up with, an interim government. That is my reading of the signs. Electoral bill is not signed; many things are happening – people are moving from one party to the other; so much crisis in the land. In this kind of atmosphere, I am afraid.

“For me, I think Atiku will win on the election day, but the result will have Buhari as the winner. Atiku would win the election but the result would reflect something else, unless of course, our Electoral Bill is signed and those necessary things are done before the elections. That

also reminds me of one of the reasons I left politics.”

A Lagos-based banker, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said that the economy is so challenged that a number of banks are just struggling to stay afloat. He wondered what would happen in the next four years if the current administration returns.

“This is my 15th year in the banking industry. I have moved from one bank to the other and from one department to the other. In all of these years, the last three years have been very traumatic to business. The TSA policy is good, but the implementation has been abysmal.

It is as if they don’t even wish the country good,” the banker said.

“For a country to make progress; for development to happen in a country, you must spend. That is why you see some forward-looking countries providing all manner of jobs to citizens and paying them so that the economy is lubricated.

Here, they gather all the money in circulation and lock it up; a ‘voodoo’ economy. Additional four years of this nonsense, it will be bye-bye to Nigeria,” he said.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 5

News You cannot rig 2019 unless you want war in Nigeria - Secondus tells Buhari …As Wike unleashes foot-solders in ‘operation deliver your ward’

T

Ignatius Chukwu

he People’s Demo c r a t i c Pa r t y (PDP) has formally threatened war in Nigeria should the 2019 elections be rigged. This is as Governor Nyesom Wike has flagged off what he called ‘Operation Deliver Your Ward’ where he demanded each party leader to prove his/her mettle by delivering his/her ward in the 2019 elections or be deemed irrelevant.

The national chairman of the party, Rivers-born Uche Secondus, made the declaration in Port Harcourt when his home governor, Nyesom Wike, inaugurated foot-soldiers that were charged to deliver each ward in all elections in 2019.

The threat by Secondus was captured in an official press statement by the Rivers State government by the Wike media team issued by Simeon Nwakaudu thus: “In his remarks the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said any attempt to rig the 2019 general election will spell doom for the country.”

Quoting the national

Secondus

chairman directly, Nwakaudu stated: ‘He said to Buhari, “you cannot rig the 2019 elections unless you want war in the country “’.

‘He called on PDP across all levels to be committed towards ensuring the party wins. He said while the APC is relying on INEC and Police, PDP Rivers State relies on the outstanding performance of Governor Wike.’

Gov Wike who unleashed the foot soldiers in ‘Operation Deliver Your Ward in 2019’, did this while inaugu-

rating the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council.

Wike urged the party members to work as if they had serious challenge in the elections, directing all PDP leaders to ensure that the party won in their communities.

Wike stated: “Every politician must go to his/her respective community and ward to work for the PDP. Your work is at your respective wards. This time, it is ‘Operation Deliver Your Ward ‘. Once you lose your ward,

you lose political relevance.

Our campaign must be issuebased”.

As if to debunk growing insinuations that he was not keen on the Atiku Abubabar candidacy, Wike urged PDP leaders to work towards the total victory of the party, noting that the council is allinclusive and aimed at ensuring that all PDP candidates emerged victorious.

He charged Rivers PDP members to work towards the overwhelming victory of Atiku Abubakar.

He said that APC is the party promoting violence in the state. “No other political party will win in Rivers State. Any group of politicians who play the ethnic card will lose out in the long run. It will haunt them in the future.

“If you play wayo, you will see wayo. PDP will only support you if you support PDP. God has decided that APC will not rule Nigeria again”, the governor said.

The governor said with the inauguration, the campaign process has started.

He urged all organisations and associations to unite and work for the victory of the PDP.

Ibukun Awosika, First Bank chairman, tasks youth on personal vision for life Bolatito Adebola

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t was an educative and highly impactful forum as the First Bank Youth Empowerment Programme yet again convened on Thursday, December 27, 2018 in Lagos.

Hundreds of young participants received success nuggets for business and life. Remi Banjoko, CEO of Dkb Markets, taught on financial literacy and Maymunah Kadiri of Pinnacle Medical Services educated attendees on mental health.

The highpoint of the youth forum which had DMW singer, Mayokun serenade the participants was the Chairman of First Bank, Ibukun Awosika pieces of advice to the youth. Awosika, sharing life lessons, advised on the need to have a personal vision for life as this afforded her, among other life quality choices, the opportunity to create a furniture company and grow it from age twentyfive years old. She used the opportunity to urge ladies to marry the right person as this is important for their life and business.

“Don’t lose sight of your goals in your business. You need to know what you want and have a vision for

your life and this will lead to you building the right values and choose integrity over mediocrity,” she said.

While answering questions from several attendees, she noted that one needs to get an education to have a steady claim in life and Business.

“Get an education to develop a sustainable success. Keep your integrity.

If you keep your integrity and your character, you will remain consistent and reliable. Don’t determine your goals in life by other people’s goals.

“Don’t ever think people are doing you a favour. Running a small business does not make you inconsequential. Do not allow people to take advantage of you. You need to make a proforma invoice that affords you to get your clients committed.

If you are a small business baker of cakes, do not make cakes unless it has been requested for that way and money deposited because the deposit is the real sign of commitment. You keep your capital and your profit; otherwise you waste your capital. You need your running capital at least even if you don’t make a profit,” says Awosika. She added that for 2019, she will be building the next girl entrepreneurs.

We did not promise to make N1 equal to $1, Amaechi

People without history, origin is a lost nation – Abia monarch

…As APC launches presidential campaign in A/Ibom

UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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hibuike Amaechi, the minister of transportation has denied that the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised to make one Naira equal to $1 when it was campaigning in 2015 to win the presidential election.

Amaechi, who is also the director general of the presidential campaign organisation, similarly denied that the party promised to reduce the price of petrol.

Speaking in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital at the launch of the party’s presidential campaign, the minister said they were no magicians to have made such promises.

He said the election of President Mmuhammadu Buhari would ensure the creation of more employment opportunities in the

country with the construction of railway lines in many parts of the country.

According to him, “Nigeria must change for the better”, saying that the Federal Government has been able to restrict attacks by Boko Haram insurgency to Borno State unlike in the past when many towns and cities in the country were randomly attacked by the insurgents.

Earlier, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said that Nigeria had been yearning for change from corruption, change from laziness and change for development and for a diversified economy.

“Sixteen years of PDP will never come back to this country, we are strongly determined to reverse the course of governance, we are building on a new foundation for the youth and new generation yet unborn,” he said.

He said if the past admin-

Amaechi

istration in the country had concentrated on one project like electricity, it would have been better, warning that if the PDP comes back, it would take the country backwards.

According to him, the country is marching forward for development and economic prosperity, promising that the party would continue to support the fight against corruption in the country.

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ze Bernard Enweremadu, the traditional head of Ngwa land, has said that people without history and origin is a lost nation.

En w e r e m a d u m a d e the assertion in Okpuala in Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State during the 2018 Izu Ukwa/Ngwa Cultural Festival when he conferred a chieftaincy title on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as Odum Gbuhere Uzo 1 of Ngwa land.

The Royal father expressed joy that Ikpeazu’s emergence as the first Ukwa Ngwa governor has paved the way for the appointment of the first Ngwa Vice Chancellor, among other strategic positions.

Governor Ikpeazu, while assuring his support for the sustenance of the annual festival, directed the commissioner for Culture and

Tourism to ensure that 26th December of every year should be set aside for the Izu Ukwa/Ngwa Cultural festival in the state and commended Eze Enweremadu for being a unifying factor for the Ukwa/Ngwa nation.

Reagan Ufomba, chairman of the occasion, in his speech, commended the traditional head of Ngwa land for his untiring efforts in unifying, protecting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Ukwa/

Enweremadu

Ngwa nation, describing the Chieftaincy title on the governor as a confirmation of their earlier declaration on the re-election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Victor Azumara, president general Nzuko -Ukwu Ngwaukwu and Chairman of the 2018 Izu Ukwa/ Ngwa cultural festival, in his address, said that the cultural festival, which was instituted in 1977, one year after the formal Coronation of Eze Bernard Enweremadu as traditional ruler, has played significant roles in helping to revive and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Ngwa land.

He said that the event equally marked the celebration of the origin, unity of Ukwa/Ngwa nation and the 75th birthday and 42nd anniversary of the coronation of Eze Enweremadu as the traditional head of Ngwa land as well as the emergence of Governor Ikpeazu as first Ukwa/Ngwa governor.

6 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 30 December 2018

News Offa community hands over N700m MOPOL barracks to Nigerian police SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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s part of quick response to the recent dastardly robbery attack on the Offa town in Kwara State, the community has constructed and handed over the N700 million ultra modern Mobile Police Force (MOPOL) barracks to Nigerian police.

The 68 Mobile Police Squadron Base solely built by the community was handed over to Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police by the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Okikiola.

Speaking at the official commissioning of the barracks on Thursday, the Oloffa noted that the decision followed the robbery attack on the community and he contacted the IGP who informed him that the incident occurred largely due to the lack of adequate manpower.

The monarch added that prior to the April 5th incident; the issue of security had been a great concern and challenge in his domain and the community, under the aegis of Offa Descendant Union, resolved to mobilise funds to build the barracks to forestall re-occurrence in the town and surrounding communities.

“On April 5, exactly 267 days ago, dare devil armed robbers invaded our com-

munity, went into our banks carted away monies, leaving in their trail sorrow, tears and blood.

“Thirty three members of the community were killed in cold blood, among them a pregnant woman and children, while some sustained injuries in varying degrees.

“The singular event has been adjudged as the cruelest armed robbery and worst case in Nigerian history. What we are inaugurating today is a sacrifice borne out of the sweat of our people. We, people of Offa do most things by ourselves then government support us. We don’t rely on government,” Okikiola explained.

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, at the event lamented that cultism, armed robbery, hooliganism, and all forms of criminality, in recent times, had become hallmark of Kwara State.

He charged the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the entire Nigeria Police Force to redouble their efforts to rid the state of all criminal elements before 2019 general elections.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the police in Kwara State and with what Offa people have done today in giving you the necessary support is to rid not just Offa but the entire Kwara state, of criminal elements, hood-

lums, cultists, armed robbers and all undesirables.

“This is a call to duty by the police in the state to redouble their efforts in ensuring that the state is safe for all. It is unfortunate that the state in recent times has become notorious for criminality.

“Kwara state in recent time has made headlines for wrong reasons. It is either because of armed robberies, killings or acts of cultism.

This is why I believe that the police have been a big responsibility before you to rid this community and Kwara state of all criminals.

Because without security not only won’t there be peace, there will be no development.

“So my appeal to the police especially the run-up to the 2019 general elections is that they must redouble their efforts. You must ensure that every citizen of this state is free to cast his vote and his vote will not only be counted, but his vote would count. And the only way you can assure this is by ensuring that you rid the state of all criminal elements before general elections.

“We are not asking you to do this just because of the elections; we are asking you to do this for all times, because it is very unfortunate today that cultism, thuggery and all sorts of criminality have now become the hallmarks of Kwara.

Africa Volunteer Network raises hope for less privileged children

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ith over 17 million children orphaned in Nigeria , Africa Volunteer Network (AVN) has decided to inspire and work with less privileged children to bring their dreams into reality through the Magic Moment Initiative.

Magic Moment, a flagship initiative of AVN, is hinged on celebrating less privileged children. AVN is a group focused on inspiring and working with less privileged children across Africa, with a goal to help provide for their needs and create a platform that allows them to turn their dreams into reality.

On Saturday, December 29, the group hosted less privileged children to

the viewing of hit box office movie, The Greatest Showman, at Meadow Hall Schools, Lekki, where they were also treated to amazing and interesting outdoor games and activities.

The initiative is focused primarily on motherless and abandoned children living in orphanages, with an objective to inspire and awaken the imagination of these children.

“For us, it is about reminding these children that dreams are a big part of our lives as individuals and although their circumstances may have forced them to lose that belief, Magic Moment would always serve as a reminder for them to keep their dreams alive and work to turn them into reality,”

Mobo Akpene, convener, AVN, said.

“It is also worthy of note that our commitment as volunteers goes beyond the themed event. Our platform, AVN, also works with these kids across established value chains, leveraging our networks and expertise to help them turn their dreams into reality,” Akpene said.

Magic Moment 2018 is in partnership with the Vigilant Heart Charitable Society (VHCS), an orphanage home established by Maria Iriowen Osawemen in 1999.

AVN hopes to extend Magic Moment to more orphanages next year, as more work is done towards creating inspiring moments for the less advantaged children in the society.

Lufthansa Group appoints first female Nigerian general manager sales

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denike Macaulay has been appointed general manager sales, Nigeria & Equatorial Guinea, Lufthansa Group. This appointment takes effect January 1, 2019, according to statements by Lufthansa Group.

Macaulay will be responsible for all the commercial and sales activities of the Lufthansa Group Airlines in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, being the first female and Nigerian to take this position. She started her career at Lufthansa in 2009 as a business analyst for West Africa, responsible for regional results analysis, market and ad-hoc reporting, competitor monitoring and sales planning. In 2010,

she took over leadership of the team as Regional Marketing Manager, directing marketing activities as well as business analysis, pricing and sales support across seven regions in West & Central Africa. Five years later, Macaulay assumed the position of Senior Manager, Customer, Products and Marketing for Sub-Sahara Africa, directing customer relations, product management and marketing activities across Sub-Sahara Africa. In 2017, her position transitioned into Head Sales, Products and Programs, where she was responsible for the development and optimization of sales products, B2B incentive programs, sales promotions and sales

service processes, across the Sub-Sahara Africa region.

“I look forward to a cooperative relationship with our trade partners and continuing the good work of my predecessor in serving our esteemed passengers” says Macaulay, General Manager Sales, Nigeria & Equatorial Guinea, Lufthansa Group.

In her new appointment, Macaulay will be based in Lagos, succeeding Robin Sohdi, who held this position since the beginning of January 2016. Macaulay will report to Philippe Saeys- Desmedt, Senior Director Sales SubSaharan Africa, Lufthansa Group based in Brussels, the new regional Headquarters for Lufthansa Group SubSahara Africa.

RCCG donates health facility, chapel to Kirikiri Maximum Prison inmates KELECHI EWUZIE

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s part of its mandate to, not only meet the spiritual needs of inmates but also their material needs, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide has dedicated Kirikiri Maximum Reference Hospital and a newly renovated Liberty Chapel for the inmates of Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos.

Enoch Adeboye, general overseer of the RCCG, who was represented by Joseph Obayemi, national overseer of the RCCG, while speaking at the bi-annual Holy Visitation Service in Lagos, enjoined the inmates to thank God in all circumstances, remarking that nothing is impossible with Jesus Christ.

Obayemi, who also doubles as a member of the Governing Council of the RCCG, urged the inmates to be hopeful and steadfast that they would regain their freedom someday.

Earlier in his address of welcome, Tunwashe Kabiru, the host pastor of Liberty Chapel, noted that the core of a Christian life is obedience to Jesus’ instructions, Kabiru stated that the biannual divine visitation has always been time of expec-

tations and blessing, adding that in appreciation of what God has been using the General Overseer and RCCG to do for them, they count it a great joy to bi-annually, itemise what the church had done for them and also use the occasion to present new

requests.

He disclosed that in 2010, RCCG Worldwide renovated and equipped National Open University (NOUN) Special Study Centre as well as renovate the Liberty Chapel for the inmates.

Ac c o r d i n g t o h i m ,

L-R: Pastor, RCCG City of David, Oscar Onu (left); deputy controller in Charge of Maximum Prison, Kirikiri, Oluwaniyi Emmanuel Oluwayomi; representative of general overseer Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Joseph Obayemi, medical director, Reference Hospital, deputy controller of Prison, Beatrice Ateniola and Pastor Trevor Akindele, RCCG, City of David after the dedication of the Reference Hospital donated by the RCCG in Lagos.

“RCCG also granted scholarships to students until NOUN recently gave them 100 percent free education, renovated and equipped a computer centre for them in 2012; increase the number of breakfast for them on Sundays, paid medical bill of a certain Brother Ighalo Joel who in the cause of exercising on the field fractured his leg”.

Kabiru further pointed out that the church also provided electricity from Ijere to Navy Town, the extension of “acan make a difference’’ Sunday breakfast to Badagry Prison and donation of Redeemed Dove TV, among others.

In his fresh request, Pastor of the Liberty Chapel, appealed to the General Overseer to help talk to the presidency and state governors to have mercy on the inmates and release them from prison, set up a Half Way Home for them when they are released from prison and the provision of security in around the prisons.

Oluwaniyi Oluwayomi, deputy controller prisons,

in his address said that the event, which is the 8th in the series of pastoral visit, is commendable especially at a time in Nigeria when an average Nigerian does not want to have anything to do with the prisons.

Oluwayomi said that renovation of the chapel and hospital facility has changed the narrative of the Maximum-SecurityPrisons, adding that “this gesture will help the inmates see their stay here as an opportunity for a second chance”.

On the appeal for freedom, he observed that it would be a welcome development for the inmate to contribute to the development of the larger economy.

According to him, “With the skills acquisition training a number of the inmates have undergone, they will be selfreliant and become change agents.”

Tunde Ladipo, Controller Prison, Lagos Command, in his remarks, described the newly dedicated hospital as the best hospital in any prison in Nigeria.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 7

News

2016: Bello presents ‘consolidation budget’ of N146, 730bn in Kogi Victoria Nnakiaike, Lokoja

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ahayaBello,governor of Kogi State, has presented 2019 Budget of

N146,730,042,510 christened “budget of consolidation”.

While presenting his budget, Bello disclosed that even though there is a margin between 2018 and 2019 Budget his administration was working hard to make sure that the state gets rid of poverty and the masses benefit from the dividend of democracy.

Bello disclosed that the proposed 2019 Budget has an estimated outlay of N146,736,042,510, saying the budget outlay was divided into Recurrent Expenditure of N71,841,314,458, representing 48.96 percent and Capital Expenditure of N74,984,728,051 which also represents 51.04 percent.

According to him, the breakdownofthebudgetisas follows Administration was allocated 45,198,834,158 (30.80percent) Economic 51,753,811,012 (35.27percent) Law and Judiciary 7,446,791,251 (5.08 percent) Social 42,336,606,089 (28.85percent) which brings the 2019 fiscal budget to N146,736,042,510.

Bello

He also said his administration has budgeted a total recurrent revenue of N104,341,267,719 consisting of N20,172,740,733 from internal sources, N60972,262,719 as state’s share from the Federation Account, N17,500,000,000 revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT), N2,243,973,366 from Excess crude , N130,893,199 as refund from Federal government, N2,000,000,000 from Non Oil Revenue, N200,698, 829 from Foreign Exchange Equalisation and N120,698,829 from Access Bank charges. The governor also said the Recurrent Revenue for the year 2019 stands

at N104,341,267,675, out of the above figure, the estimated personnel cost for the period is N36,153,682,517 whereas N35,687,63 is overhead coats thereby giving N71,325,314,459 as a total recurrent expenditure for the year 2019.

He further explained that from the foregoing his administration has a total estimated Transfer Surplus of N33,015,953,216 as Capital Development Fund, adding that the estimated Capital Receipts is N42,394,774,835 which he said comprises Capital receipts analysis by economic, Aids and Grants.

However, if the transfer sur-

plus of N33,05,953 216 is added to this amount, his government shall have N75,410,728,051 as fund available for capital development projects.

The governor also said by a combination of budgeting best practices and development partner demands, it is therefore, incumbent on the state to present a realistic and implementable budget going forward, adding that 2019 -2021 multi-year budget is based on conservative and realistic projections.

It could be recalled that 2018 Budget was N151,677,854,494 for both Recurrent and Capital Expenditure; he stated that the total recurrent revenue approved for 2018 was N90,834,787,658 out of which N46,895,199,757 was collected as at the end of August, 2018, representing 51.63 percent performance.

Belloalsodisclosedthatthe approved capital receipts for 2810 was N60,843,066,836 out of which N4,312,376,201 was realised and it represents 7.09 percent performance as at the end of August 2018.

Governor Bello equally said that N66 ,694,526,233 was approved for recurrent expenditure , however, only N28,506,097,331 which represents 42.74 percent performance spent as at August 2018 .

Enugu Diaspora to invest $5bn in local firms …Pledges to partner state government on job creation Regis Anukwuoji, Enugu

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nugu Diaspora Organisation has promised to partner Enugu State government to

revive some moribund stateowned industries to boost job creation and employments.

The President of the Association, Anyobanna Ikeanumba, disclosed this to BDSUNDAY at a Christmas

Living on the edge: While children of the affluent are driven to school in air-conditioned cars, going to and returning from school is a nightmare for these children living in Makoko, a slum neighbourhood in Lagos. Unfortunately, this tortuous life is not about to change soon as the area continues to suffer neglect.

Pic by Olawale Amoo

party tagged ‘Diaspora at Home’ organised for some members of the association who came home from various parts of the world for the yuletide.

He said Enugu Diaspora was aiming to raise about $5 million from their members all over the world for direct investment into some moribund industries owned by the state government.

“We are going to partner with the state government and the right agencies,” he said. According to Ikeanumba, the organisation intends to get involved in the industrial revolution of the state to create jobs and employments and to move the state to another level as part of their social responsibility.

“We have some of our members who are very rich and have all the contacts within and all over the world to bring back some of these industries to life; so we are working to pull them in to begin to work in some of the moribund industries,” he said.

The organisation also said that it does not have limita-

tions on their areas of intervention, saying that it would be spread on various areas such as health, security, infrastructure and education.

“What we do is to pull our resources together and see what we can do in the state,” he said.

Some of the areas they had already intervened include the 120,000 copies of curriculum delivered to the state ministry of education; 10,000 books donated to IMT. He also said that they are coordinating 60,000 books coming from UK. The organisation commended the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the community project program where every community would collect N10 million for project of their choice in the 450 Autonomous communities of the state.

The president, who described Ugwuanyi as peoplefriendly governor, said the VEC programme are direct investment development projects to the grassroots aimed at benefiting the people in the rural areas.

Glo unveils new set of winners in ‘GLOIN60SECONDS’ competition

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lobacom, which prides itself as “The grandmasters of data”, has unveiled new set of winners in its on-going social media talent hunt competition, the ‘GLOIN60SECONDS’.

Globacom listed the new set of winners; s even in number, who emerge in the second draw of the competition to include Doyinsola Hazfeezah Salau (Skit/ Comedy) from Ikeja, Lagos, Chinaza Ezeani (Skit/Comedy) from Enugu, Chinazom Ngini (Music) from Surulere, Lagos, and Onyekachi Madubuike (Skit/Comedy) from Abuja.

Others are Echikodili Patience Okonkwo (Music/ Rap) from Enugu, Olaide Ayode Daniel (Skit) from Ibadan, Oyo State, and Gift Joseph (Skit/Comedy) from Delta State.

According to a statement issued by the foremost telecommunications company, 14 winners had so far emerged out of a total of 56 winners that would eventually emerge in the competition.

It would be recalled that a week earlier, the first set of lucky winners emerged and they included Precious Nwakama (dance) and Ayo Oyindamola Daniel (dance), from Surulere, Lagos, Nina Joy David (music) from Port Harcourt and Odey Daniel (dance) from Calabar. Others are Damilola Joshua (rap music) from Ibadan, Tobenna Aniegboka (skit/magic) from Enugu and Amarachi Oguh (music) from Abuja.

The statement added that “the contestants stand to win N4.8 million in cash prizes in the challenge which runs via social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for eight weeks.”

The GLOIN60SECONDS gives subscribers opportunities to upload a one-minute video of themselves showcasing their talents on their social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and hashtag it on #GLOIN60SECONDS. The video could either be music, dance, comedy, poetry or any other creative ability.

In addition to the upload, participants are expected to follow Glo on any of the company’s social media pages @ Globacomlimited on Instagram, @Gloworld on Twitter and Gloworld on Facebook record and upload the video and register online.

At the end of each week, seven lucky contestants with the highest video likes will win 50,000 each in the challenge which runs between December 10, 2018 and February 3, 2019, making a total of 56 winners, while a grand prize of 1 million naira will be won by the overall winner at the grand finale. In addition, N200, 000 consolation prizes will be presented to 5 runners-up.

The Company explained further that participants could upload as many videos as possible per week, adding that videos would only be eligible for weekly prize in the week uploaded. It, however noted that participants would be eligible for prizes in other weeks if they upload as many videos every week, which would be considered for the Grand Finale entry.

Igboezue raises 7-man caretaker committee in Abia UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

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gboezue International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and one of Igbo socio-cultural organisations, in its bid to strengthen the group in Abia State, has appointed a 7- man caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the organisation.

The group in a letter delivered by Christopher Kalu, the national youth leader to Joshua Ogbonna, publisher of Rising Sun Newspapers, appointing him as the chairman of 7-man caretaker committee of Igboezue International, stated that the organisation did not want any vacuum to be created following the expiration of the term of past executive in the state.

In a letter of appointment dated November 14 and

signed by Everest Ezihe, national secretary of the organisation, it said: “Sequel to the dissolution of the state leadership of our organisation, I am directed by the NWC and NEC to inform you of her resolve to appoint you, Joshua Ogbonna, as the chairman of Abia state seven-man caretaker committee.”

It directed the committee to within three months reposition the organisation in Abia and prepare the ground for conduct of election into various offices in the state which would be supervised by national officers appointed or directed by the national president.

Ogbonna, in his response, thanked the organisation for finding him worthy for the appointment. He promised to, on behalf of the committee, improve on the shortcomings of the past executive.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

CRIME WATCH Insecurity in Rivers:

Bishop walks away from slumbering kidnappers

Why police declined to parade suspected killers of former CDS, Alex Badeh

Unknown gunmen

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IGNATIUS CHUKWU

h e An g l i c a n bishop whose abduction caused uproar in Rivers State walked back home from his slumbering abductors.

The story of the abduction and eventual return of the cleric, Clement Ekpeye, has set tongues wagging endlessly in the oil rich state.

The bishop had reportedly played host and prayed for Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but allegedly began to receive threats, and ended up being abducted.

The abduction, which took place after evening church service on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, had elicited uproar from monarchs and community leaders even as the APC says it is wrong for citizens to be turned into commodities.

In the heat of the uproar, news filtered out that the peace-making bishop had walked back home. As sniffing dogs wanted to know the size of ransom that must have been paid, information came from reliable sources that the man of God simply walked away miraculously from his slumbering abductors at night.

This elicited fresh noise, but this time, of jubilation from many quarters.

The bishop’s ordeal was said to have begun when he allegedly played host to Tonye Cole of the APC and thereafter, life became unbearable with threats

and eventual abduction.

His wife said on radio that the gang came with “sophisticated” guns and three walked into their parlour soon after the man of God returned from evening service after 7pm.

The men demanded for money, but got none, and then phones. “They asked for the car key and my husband said please take the car. They said, no come with us. They ordered all of us to lie down. When I looked through the window, I saw him going with them. I rushed out and asked the guard, he said they took him with them”.

The woman who described the bishop as a peaceful man pleaded with the abductors to return him “unconditionally”.

The monarch and youths of the community have issued several statements, saying this is one abduction too many. They recounted several others but wondered why a rural-based cleric was targeted. The youths said the bishop was behind the successes of the amnesty scheme in the area which led to many armed men surrendering and accepting the Governor Nyesom Wike amnesty. They also said the bishop was non-partisan and straightforward and honest.

APC weighs in “The attention of the Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation (TCCO), has been drawn to the reported kidnap of the Bishop of the Ahoada Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Bishop

Clement Ekpeye. Bishop Ekpeye was kidnapped Tuesday 18th December, 2018 in the Ahoada East Local Government Area by some unknown persons.

“We have learnt that the priest was taken from his residence, beaten and forced into his car by the hoodlums who took him to an unknown destination.

We recall that the gentle and respectable priest whose whereabouts are yet unknown was the clergyman who received, and prayed with Pastor Tonye Patrick Cole, flag bearer of the APC when he visited the area. We have also learnt that since Pastor Cole visited the area, the Priest has received threats from persons at large, claiming to act for, and on behalf of Governor Wike and the PDP. “While we join all wellmeaning Christians and others to pray for the safety and immediate return of Bishop Ekpeye to his loved ones and the Church, we urge the Rivers State Police Command and other security agencies to do the best that they can to rescue him.

“We are however, disturbed that under the watch of this government, kidnapping has degenerated so low that a Man of God who has dedicated his life to the service of mankind can be so brutally assaulted by thugs acting on the orders of their godfathers. The present day Rivers state continues to bring untold hardship on the people of Rivers State.

Despite efforts by security agencies to keep the State safe, highly unsavoury elements disguised as leaders have persisted in their quest to create fear and insecurity.

“Our people are not game to be hunted down and killed neither are they slaves to be sold or exchanged for ransom. Jobs and prosperity cannot be built on the foundations of insecurity. Accordingly, we are urging all men and women of goodwill to rise up against this terror in Rivers State. Enough of this malaise; enough of this continuity. Bring us men of peace.”

The statement was signed by Ogbonna Nwuke, former commissioner of information in the Amaechi era, now head of communication in Tonye Cole campaign organisation.

Conclusion: Just when nobody apart from the police seemed eager to lead the rescue search, the hand of God allegedly showed up. The man walked off while the kidnappers were in deep sleep. This makes it two men of God that went free after abduction. The first, a reverend and founder of a church in Eleme, Godwin Agbaye, walked away in September when the jeep whisking him away to Ogoni on high speed that evening somersaulted. The kidnappers went limp, but the reverend brushed off dust and went back home, leaving the police to sort the rest out.

INNOCENT ODOH, ABUJA

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he police have said that the much anticipated parade of the two principal suspects and the three other gang members, who were arrested over the assassination of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh did not come up last Thursday so as not to jeopardise the on-going investigation.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood made this known in a statement during a press briefing on Thursday even as he noted that the investigation into the killing of the former CDS is being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large.

“On the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris the Joint Police Investigation Team (IGP Intelligence Response Team and Special Tactical Squad) setup by the IGP and mandated to within the shortest possible time to arrest all those responsible for the killing of the former, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh on the 18th December, 2018 in Nasarawa State arrested Two (2) principal suspects who participated in the killing of the former, Chief of Defence Staff on 18th December, 2018, and three (3) other

suspects in connection with the heinous crime.

They are now in Police custody undergoing investigation.

“The investigation into the killing of the former, Chief of Defence Staff is being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large. The parade of the two (2) principal suspects and the three (3) other gang members now in Police custody will not come up today so as not to jeopardize the on-going investigation,” Jimoh said.

The Police spokesman also assured the public that all the suspects will be paraded before the media and the public on completion of investigation into the matter. He added that Nigeria Police Force will not relent nor leave any stone unturned in getting to the root of the killing and bring all perpetrators to justice.

Badeh was shot dead along Keffi- Abuja road following the information that he had some cash on him to pay for additional farmland. He was said to be on his way to his farm.

The 61-year-old Badeh was killed near Gitata, a village on the Keffi – Abuja road. His driver was wounded, while his friend was taken away by the killers. It was learnt that the friend was later released by the assailants after ransom payment running into millions of naira was paid.

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CRIME WATCH Edgal orders arrest, trial of alleged corrupt policemen

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mohimi Edgal, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, has ordered the arrest and trial of four policemen for alleged corrupt practice and shoddy investigation.

The police officers attached to the Ijanikin Division are Inspector Amiete, Sergeant Gbemunu Samuel, Sergeant Afolabi Oluwaseun and Corporal Adigun Omotayo.

According to Chike Oti, Lagos police spokesman, the officers had purportedly arrested one Theodore Ifunanya on December 17, 2018 on the suspicion of armed robbery and in the course of investigation, recovered the sum of CFA 350,000 from him.

“After the investigation, the said Ifunanya

Theodore was exonerated from the allegation. However, when his request for the release of his money was not attended to, he called the Area Commander in charge of Area K Mo-

rogbo, ACP Hope Okafor, who directed that his money be released to him without delay,” recounted CSP Chike Oti, Lagos Police spokesman.

“Meanwhile, the commissioner of police was

briefed that the aforementioned police operatives were not at their professional best while handling the case,” Oti said.

Continuing, the police spokesman said, “Consequently, he directed the head of the Command’s Provost Section to arrest investigate and try the officers involved in orderly room and if found guilty, appropriate punishment will be meted to them.

“The commissioner of police has directed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ijanikin division be issued with a query and if his response is not acceptable, his conduct will be reported to the Inspector General of Police for necessary action,” the police spokesman, added.

Four suspected pipeline vandals nabbed, one declared wanted

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he Lagos State Police Command has recorded a breakthrough in the investigation of the fire incident that occurred on December 19, 2018 at about 2am.

The incident which occurred at Abule-Egba and Agege areas of Lagos saw at least 100 houses, 100 shops and 50 cars go up in flames with the arrest of four suspected pipeline vandals, according to CSP Chike Oti, Lagos police spokesman.

During interrogation, CSP Oti said the four suspects gave vivid account of how the fire that emanated from a vandalised petroleum pipe engulfed a fraction of Abule-Egba community and escalated to parts of Agege area,

destroying properties worth millions of Naira.

“They also mentioned one Hon (Amb) Prince Adedipo Dauda Ewenla as their ring leader,” said the police spokesman said.

“Based on this, the Command extended invitation to him at his last known address but found out that he has fled to Ogun state in order to evade arrest,” he said.

Continuing, he said, “He is hereby advised to come out of hiding and report himself to Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja or to the nearest police station in the State to defend the allegation against him.”

Police commissioner warns against viral photoshopped picture

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he Lagos commissioner of police has warned Lagosians against a viral picture of a police officer bearing a banner on which was written “IS NOT OUR DUTY TO FIGHT BOKOHARAM, WE ARE NOT TRAINED TO”.

According to CSP Chike Oti, Lagos police spokesman, the picture is being circulated on the social media by mischief makers to discredit the Force.

“To put issue in proper perspective, the Command hereby clarifies that the picture is that of the then CSP Yusuf Ajape, former DPO, Ago Okota Police station, taken on November 4, 2017, during the launch of “Change Begins With Me” anticorruption programme at the Police command headquarters, Ikeja,” said CSP Oti. “The Command finds it bewildering, what gain is there for those behind the removal of the original

message which was “BAIL IS FREE”, replacing it with a message that is clearly aimed at demoralising our gallant policemen combating the insurgents in the North-eastern part of the country,” he said.Continuing, the police spokesman said, “Based on the development, the CP has activated the ICT department of the Command to, in collaboration with relevant bodies, fish out the people behind the misinformation for appropriate legal actions.

A ‘bloody’ yuletide

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t ’s b e e n a b l o o d y yuletide across, with news about killings and avoidable deaths.

In the North East, reports have it that the Islamist sect, Boko Haram went on rampage, ambushed a military convoy Monday, on highway linking Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, with Damaturu in neighbouring Yobe State, wasting over 10 soldiers and a police officer.

It was also reported that over 160 personnel, who had just rounded off counter-insurgency training, and were waiting for deployment, sensed danger and absconded, taking their weapons with them.

Although the military apparatchiks have tried to clarify that there were no such things, analysts believe there could be no smoke without fire.

It was said that the alleged fleeing officers were amongst the 2,000 sent on counter-terrorism induction exercise at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School in Buni Yadi.

While some other Nigerians in some other parts of the country were making merry, their compatriots in Zamfara State were in mourning mood.

Why? Some alleged bandits invaded some parts of the state, killing scores.

In fact, the killings are said

to have been sustained in the past few weeks, spanning three different LGAs of Birnin-Magaji, Maradun & Tsafe. It was even alleged that about three people among members of the community protesting the killings were themselves killed by soldiers. The Federal Government is threatening emergency rule in the state as a result.

Within this period, gunmen abducted two Catholic priests attached to St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Umueze Anam in Anambra West LGA. Reports had it that the incident took place at Nneyi Umuleri in Anambra East on their way home to Anam from a meeting.

In Benue State, the Fulani herdsmen sustained their alleged attack as they alleged Ukemberagya Gaambe-Tiev, in Logo LGA on Christmas Eve. The village was reportedly deserted after the attack. They were said to have killed Iorwuese Myaga, a farmer.

Dino Melaye, a Kogiborn senator, cried out that there was a plot to kill him, by the Nigeria Police, but the leadership of the police said he was merely hallucinating and was probably was crying wolf for intended mischief.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Oshodi Transport Interchange reaches advance stage of completion ...as contractor targets Q1 2019

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Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

onstruction work on the Oshodi Transport Interchange that will link up with Murtala International Airport Road, in Lagos, is reaching advance stage, signaling possible completion and commissioning within the first quarter of 2019.

Although initially planned to be completed in December 2018, checks around the project being financed by the Lagos State government showed that the contractor, Planet Projects Limited, is intensifying efforts towards delivering the multi-billion naira project in early 2019.

The Oshodi Transport Interchange is one of Akinwunmi Ambode-led government signature projects in the quest to transform Lagos and bridge the huge infrastructure gap in Nigeria’s commercial cum mega city.

It is coming with three major terminals which are being completed and undergoing fixture of necessary facilities that will give it an international standing.

The first terminal is designed to cater for inter-city transporta-

tion, where all buses going out of the state will take off and drop passengers on return. The second terminal will be solely for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme, that will cater for passengers commuting from Oshodi to Abule Egba, Okokomaiko, Ojo, Badagry and beyond. The third terminal will cater for passengers navigating Oshodi to Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikorodu, among others, as confirmed by

Police keep vigil at Ojota after clash

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nti-riot policemen and an Armoured Personal Carrier (APC) have been stationed to restore peace at Ojota Motor Park in Lagos following bloody clash by transport union members on Thursday evening.

Sources said that a suspended factional leader of a transport union allegedly attacked the motor park with hoodlums on Thursday to reclaim the facility leading to a free-for-all as members loyal to the leadership of the park tried to defend the park from the intruders with machetes, bottles and other weapons.

“The clash started Thursday evening at about 6.30 p.m, many vehicles were leaving the park horridly and there were gun shots in the air and everyone scampered for safety.

“That resulted to the deployment of police personnel from different divisions under Area H,

including anti-riot police officers by the Area Commander, ACP Miller Dantawaye,” a source said.

The park at about 12 noon on Friday, about nine patrol vehicles and one APC were seen stationed at the Ogudu road gate of the park.

Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who spoke said that normalcy had returned to the park, stressing that the leadership of the park was invited for a peace meeting with the Lagos council of the union.

ACP Miller Dantawaye said that the park was partially closed until normalcy returned fully to the area. He said no death was recorded and no arrest made as at press time.

Vehicles at the park are now loading passengers going to different parts of the country under the watch of policemen patrolling the park.

Biodun Otunola, managing director/CEO, Planet Projects.

Currently, the skywalk designed to link the terminal 1 and 2 are being completed. The skywalk enables commuters and visitors to the site to access both terminals.

According to Otunola, the company is targeting to deliver the project in 2019 in what will give Lagosians an efficient and effective public transport system.

“The idea is to give Lagosians access to efficient and effective transportation system, especially those in the lower and middle income brackets who cannot afford to fund their own private cars every day,” said the MD. Speaking on why the project became necessary, Otunola said: “I always feel sad when I see people queuing for buses at Oshodi for hours. Only 21,000 Nigerians use the airport and more than 80

million use public transport daily and no facility for them. If Lagos wants to be the third largest economy in Africa, something needed to be done.”

“There is no part of Nigeria that is not served from a particular spot at Oshodi, when some people say it is a mere bus stop, I laugh, they are not being realistic and not saying the truth.

In western world, they call it terminals, either buses or train terminals with many facilities in place and I know Lagos is getting there very soon. So, it is going to be Lagos gift to Nigeria and the West Coast when it is fully done in terms of facilities, like Wifi, waiting area, ticketing booth, ATM points, loading bay, offices and conveniences,” he said.

The interchange, on completion, will have 18 lifts, six each for the three terminals that will be equipped with CCTVs. The project will also make provision for a mega shopping mall to be built through a Public-Private Partnership, (PPP) agreement at the third terminal. The three terminals will serve 1,000 modern buses. The terminals will also have 1,000 light effects to project the aesthetic of the ambience.

HOS seeks action against mental health challenge in public service

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he immediate past Head Of Service (HOS) in Lagos State, Folasade Adesoye has raised the alarm over the increasing mental health challenge among public servants and the need for enhanced service delivery to the public.

Mental challenge refers to a condition that affects the brain or influences the way a person thinks, feels, behaves and/or relates to others and to his or her surroundings. This could impact negatively on the person’s productivity and the ability to perform his/her given task.

Adesoye, who was pulled out on Thursday, December 27, 2018, after 35 years of service to Lagos, said there was the need to urgent address the issue of mental health among public servants in the state.

She said: “I wish to encourage a health sector stakeholders’ forum to facilitate a holistic discussion of issues affecting the sector in general with a view to devel-

oping a new road map. It is also important that the momentum of ongoing reforms of public service processes and procedures be sustained and aggressively cascaded to the unified local government service in order to maximise its benefits.”

Adesoye also called for adequate funding and effective staffing of the Lagos State’s Office of Resilience City considering its critical role in the state’s long-term environmental sustainability.

She urged civil servants to brace up for the challenges of the future, as the public service is becoming innovative and technology-driven.

“It would be one in which skills, knowledge, creativity, talent, competence and performance would be the primary determinant of relevance, promotion and advancement.

“Therefore, regardless of institutionalised staff motivation and/ or performance reward system, I

encourage you to find time to develop yourselves. Seek knowledge relentlessly, pursue education at all cost and be resilient in spirit, be optimistic about the future and invest completely and absolute trust in God,” she said.

The retired HOS also tasked the civil servants on values, ethos and traditions of honesty, probity, transparency, integrity, hard work and service excellence for which the Lagos State public service is known.

Adesoye charged them to be mindful of the responsibility they have, individually and collectively, towards maintaining the leadership position of the public service, urging them to treat one another with respect, love and compassion, while working as a team.

The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the attorney general and commissioner for justice, Adeniji Kazeem commended the HOS for her service to the state in the last 35 years.

His Muslim counterpart, Moshood Owolabi-Oba, said that prosecution of electoral offenders should be given priority this time around.

Owolabi-Oba said electoral offenders were emboldened to commit more crimes where they escape punishment after committing such offences.

“It is important we ensure that the tendencies of so-called sponsors of electoral crimes do not escape being brought to book.

“The police and military personnel to be used during the elections should not compromise, and should ensure arrest of the thugs as well as their sponsors,’’ he said.

Clerics hold prayer session for successful polls

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ome religious leaders in Odogunyan-Ogijo axis of Ikorodu on Friday held a joint prayer session near the Odogunyan military barrack for success of the 2019 elections.

Drawn from the Christian and Muslim faiths, as well as the traditional religion, the leaders prayed

against violence in the polls.

The parish priest of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Odogunyan, Damian Alonze, said that the 2019 elections were decisive to Nigeria’s progress.

He urged security personnel drafted to cover the polls not to deviate from their mandate.

The cleric urged them not to pursue self-interest of “few unpopular elective office seekers”.

“We all should see these elections as a test of our desire to remain relevant as a voice in global politics and this depends greatly on the credibility of the polls,’’ Alonze said.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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PhotoSplash

Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, fuji icon presenting a cheque of N1 million to Oluwatoyin Obisesan, a winner in the ongoing Trophy Lager Consumer Promotion tagged Honourable Millionaires Promo during a music concert organized by the brand in Ibadan recently.

L-R: Omomene Odike, MD/CEO, U-connect and Gr8jobsng; Funmi Bucknor, managing consultant, U-Connect; Bolanle Ibitola, Director of Resources, United Capital; Ben Afudego, partner, West Africa Advisory Leader | Advisory Services, Ernst & Young; Mabel George, Head, Business Development Division, West, Sigma Pensions; and Omonike Charles-Binitie, Learning and Development Manager, FrieslandCampina Mamco at the Gr8jobsng Project Employ Career fair held in Lagos.

Dorcas Kasinde, Miss Congo, (2nd l), wins third edition of Miss Africa Beauty pageantry contest on Friday in Calabar with a cash prize of $35,000 in Calabar on Friday. NAN

Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, group managing director, CMC Connect (Perception Managers) (r), at his induction as a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), with him are Tony Agenonmen, president of NIMN (l), and Tunji Oyebanji, chairman of the body of fellows (m).

L-R: Ajuma Ademu, modern trade manager, Indomie Relish; Ginny Tewatia, Brand Manager, Indomie Relish; Ado Adams, participant in the Indomie Relish game, and Mary Talabi, Indomie Relish Sales Team Manager, Abuja, during the official launch of Indomie Relish at the Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja.

L-R: Lanre Odupe, Lifebuoy brand manager; ambassador Omawumi, Lifebuoy brand; Eunice Ortom, first lady, Benue State; Emmanuel Shior, executive secretary, Benue State Emergency Agency (SEMA), and Mshelia Jamal, Executive Director Dericks Dim Care NGO during Lifebuoy’s courtesy visit to the Benue State House, Makurdi. recently

L-R: Azma Ahmed, Southeast zonal Chairman, People’s Trust (PT); Olawepo Hashim, presidential candidate PT, and Tony Akiga, chairman, PT Nasarawa State, during a news conference on the campaign agenda of the candidate in Enugu on Friday (28/12/18). 07020/28/12/2018/ Mike Agada/OTU/NAN

L-R: Tokunbo Talabi, chairman, Superflux lnternational Limited; Deremi Atanda, executive director, SystemSpecLtd; Foluso Phillips, executive chairman, Phillips Consulting Limited; Adenike Adeyemi, executive director, FATE FOUNDATION, and Fola Adeola, chairman, FATE FOUNDATION, at the 2018 Fate Foundation Celebration where John Obaro of SystemSpecs Ltd emerged Model Enterpreneur of the year in Lagos.

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Exploiting the wonders of cassava

Publisher/CEO

Frank Aigbogun editor Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja assistant EDITOR Chuks Oluigbo NEWS EDITOR Patrick Atuanya EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIGITAL SERVICES Oghenevwoke Ighure GENERAL MANAGER, ADVERT Adeola Ajewole ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude FINANCE MANAGER Emeka Ifeanyi MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Patrick Ijegbai CIRCULATION MANAGER John Okpaire DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

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

Sunday 30 December 2018

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

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assava is one of the most droughttolerant crops in the world. It can be successfully grown on marginal soils, and gives reasonable yields where many other crops do not grow well. Cassava is well adapted within latitudes 30° north and south of the equator, at elevations between sea level and 2000 meters above sea level, in equatorial temperatures, with rainfalls of 50 millimeters to five meters annually, and to poor soils with a pH ranging from acidic to alkaline. These conditions are common in most parts of Africa and South America.

Sadly, this all important crop has been neglected for long as its potential has not been fully maximized, especially in African countries. However, that is beginning to change as this long neglected but economically viable crop is presently experiencing a positive change of fortune. This, of course, is a welcome development since the crop feeds half-a-billion people in Africa every day, and is also

grown by millions of subsistence farmers in the continent.

In 2012, a major event that boosted the market value of the crop occurred when research revealed that cassava could be one of the most climate-resilient crops for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Equally, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) recently revealed that cassava would become a miracle crop in Africa, if its potential was maximized.

Recent development has shown that cassava is not only a food crop for the production of garri (Cassava flour). It can also be made into bread, muffin, range of cookies and pastries. It can also be used for animal feed, particularly ruminants like goats. Cassava also produces sorbitol which is a highly sought-after component for the industry. It can also be used in the production of industrial starch. This is where the motivation comes in for agriculture based industries as the possibilities for returns on investment are simply limitless.

Cassava is, therefore, a multipurpose crop. Indeed, many have termed it as the next miracle crop needed to unleash the boundless potential of the agricultural sector in Africa. In Nigeria, what is needed to fully exploit the crop’s prospect is for all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to fashion out effective strategy to maximize its potentials. The Lagos State government is already working in this direction as it is collaborating with critical stakeholders to learn more

about the crop.

In order to really get more out of the crop, both the public and private sectors must device means of encouraging local farmers and potential agro-preneurs to develop more interest in the crop.

A private sector investor desires to make profit just as the local farmer. If local farmers are to be encouraged to produce more, the private sector must be encouraged to buy more of their produce.

So, concrete strategies that will stimulate private sector investment in cassava production must be put in place. Government must improve infrastructure, especially access roads to rural areas, where cultivation mostly takes place, to cut cost and enhance profitability.

It is clear that the potential of cassava is enormously exhilarating, but there is an urgent need by appropriate authorities to step up effort that will promote research and other activities that could enhance the full utilization of the crop’s potentials. There is need to mobilise local researchers to work with other researchers across the world to join the Global Cassava Modelling Consortium, where they can share their research to help better understanding of the physiology of the plant, and explore avenues for improving its management and delivering better varieties to farmers.

The old order of spending so much on food importation needs to be reversed. For instance, the federal government spent N98 trillion on the importation of food for four years under the previous

administration. In 2010 alone, the nation spent a staggering N635 billion on wheat importation while another N35 trillion was spent on rice importation as well as N217 billion on sugar importation and another N97 billion spent on fish importation!

Now that federal and state governments in the country have come to term with the urgent need to diversify the local economy is the exact time to pay adequate attention to the unlimited potentials of agriculture as it offers unlimited opportunities for job and wealth creation as well as accelerated economic and industrial growth.

With an array of vastly available agricultural friendly land, we need not look further as cassava cultivation would not only ensure food security but also address the question of unemployment.

Agriculture remains one major sector that could readily take care of youth restiveness as well as unemployment in the country, if only the various authorities concerned could step up efforts in this direction.

Cassava, especially, could be the next magic crop for African countries. Globally, its cultivation is currently undergoing a revolution that will surely turn it into a money spinning venture with huge potential for job creation, empowerment and industrialization. We must do all we could to take advantage of this.

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

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CHRISTINE STEGLING Stegling is Executive Director of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.

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hirty years ago, when the international community marked the first World AIDS Day, we thought we would never turn the tide against HIV. But after millions of deaths and years of fear, we now have effective strategies to prevent transmission and bring testing and treatment to those in need.

And yet, despite the remarkable progress made during the last three decades – or perhaps because of it – we must avoid the temptation to declare the fight against AIDS almost over.

In many parts of the world, the hardest work is just beginning.

Since the turn of the century, many of the advances against HIV were enabled by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a 15-year policy roadmap that made reducing the spread of the virus a top priority. This led to an unprecedented expansion of prevention

GORDON BROWN Brown, former Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, is United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity. He chairs the Advisory Board of the Catalyst Foundation.

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even decades after its adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) remains a beacon of hope for the world, sending out an unequivocal message that an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and that no abuse of human rights can be allowed to continue without challenge.

While illiberalism and authoritarianism is on the rise, it is important to recall that the UDHR – and the covenants and conventions it has inspired – champions every person’s right to life, liberty, and security. Incorporated into many countries’ constitutions, it stipulates that no one should be subjected to torture or to arbitrary arrest or detention. It enshrines the rights to a fair trial, privacy, free expression and association, and freedom of thought in religion and conscience. Moreover, it emphasizes important social and economic rights, such as the right to work and form labor unions.

But the authors of the UDHR – created amid the Cold War politics of the 1940s – could only agree on what rights people should have, not on why these

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HIV and the SDGs and treatment services, particularly in developing countries.

Progress was swift and when the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) succeeded the MDGs in 2015, ending AIDS was no longer a standalone goal. Rather, further progress had become one of 169 targets that the SDGs are supposed to achieve by 2030.

But the transition from a “goal” to a “target,” combined with steep declines in AIDS-related deaths, has lulled us into a false sense of accomplishment.

Today, many argue that AIDS is nearing its end. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

HIV is a complex issue. Biomedical responses are vital to disease control, but if people cannot access medicine or preventive services, even the best-designed initiatives will fail. What’s more, the obstacles to treatment often have nothing to do with health care, but rather, are tied to political, economic, and social marginalization. For example, it can be

difficult to lower rates of infection in countries where gender inequality prevents women from making decisions about when, where, and even with whom they have sex.

To be sure, in many parts of the world, HIV is now considered a chronic disease manageable with medication and lifestyle changes; that fact alone is worthy of celebration.

Nonetheless, millions of people still do not know their HIV status or cannot get the support they need when they test positive. If the world is ever to overcome HIV/AIDS, we must find ways to close these gaps.

Above all, that means integrating the struggle against HIV more fully into sustainabledevelopment planning. When governments work to implement the SDGs in areas like social protection, food security, and gender-based violence, HIV responses must also be part of their plans. Only by linking HIV strategies to the issues that predispose people to infection – such as poverty, education,

and gender bias – can we hope for a future free from AIDS for everyone, everywhere.

We have a long way to go before that happens. For example, just last month in Tanzania, hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people were forced into hiding after a city official in Dar es Salaam warned that a taskforce was being created to identify and punish gay people.

With LGBT groups on the frontlines of Tanzania’s HIV-prevention efforts, any threat to their members’ human rights is also a threat to the HIV response.

Nor is Tanzania the exception. On the contrary, as a recent report by my organization highlights, the situation is especially dire in the Middle East and North Africa, where forced sex within and outside of marriage is pervasive. These coercive and often violent encounters increase women’s risk of exposure to HIV. Those on the frontlines of the AIDS response have always recognized that the dis-

ease cannot be overcome in isolation; rather, it must be addressed through an interconnected set of social, cultural, economic, and legal challenges. That is why activists have spent years working to repeal discriminatory laws, develop education programs to improve sexual and reproductive health, and build networks of supporters who understand that HIV does not discriminate by nationality, sexuality, or economic status. As we continue to tackle the disease, we must not forget the inclusive approach that brought us to this point.

The mantra of the SDGs is “leave no one behind.” At the moment, however, many of those most vulnerable to HIV are being forgotten and will be left behind. Today, HIV infection rates are highest among the poor and socially marginalized, underscoring the fact that as long as the SDGs are unmet, the “goal” of ending the scourge of HIV/AIDS will remain elusive.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70 rights should be regarded as fundamental, let alone how or by whom they should be protected.

At the outset, there were no enforcement treaties, no proper appeal mechanisms, and, until much later, not even basic covenants countries could sign. A creature of its time, the UDHR also says little about the rights of women, the disabled, the LGBTQ+ community, and children. And so, despite major advances over the last seven decades – such as the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN’s Responsibility to Protect doctrine – human-rights abuses continue to be perpetrated at an alarming rate and with virtual impunity.

To make recommendations relevant to a review of the UDHR at 70, New York University convened the Global Citizenship Commission (of which I was chair) under the auspices of John Sexton and Paul Boghossian. Our deliberations were informed by a team of philosophers brilliantly led by Jeremy Waldron.

Beyond enumerating rights, the Commission argued for a new clarity about who should carry out the corresponding duties, and how. Time and again, vetoes or threats of vetoes by the permanent members of the UN Security Council have blocked action. The resulting paralysis has not only permitted massive loss of human life; it has also undermined the credibility of collective security, enabling increasingly

flagrant human-rights abuses. To address this, the Commission’s report recommends that the Security Council’s permanent members voluntarily suspend their vetoes in situations involving mass atrocities and, by implication, allow more scope for the ICC. And, beyond identifying the more detailed responsibilities of governments and international institutions, new mechanisms should be created to ensure corporate compliance with human rights.

It is to the credit of the UDHR’s authors that, unlike the European Convention on Human Rights, a single declaration enshrines not only civil and political rights, but also social and economic rights.

But it is not enough to declare that such rights are important. In South Africa, for example, a modern constitution includes explicit commitments to upholding social rights. Yet the country has found no satisfactory means of enforcing them.

The desperate plight of the world’s nearly 70 million displaced people and over 20 million refugees has just been recognized in new agreements hammered out in December this year. The Commission’s report asserts unequivocally that the world’s refugee protection system should be strengthened, not least by reaching an effective consensus on the balance between the right to movement and the power of states to restrict it – with the longterm objective of a new interna-

tional convention that supports Sustainable Development Goal 10.7, which commits states to “facilitate safe, orderly, regular, and responsible migration.”

One of the Commission’s most urgent sets of recommendations relates to the treatment of children now at risk in the world’s 40-plus ongoing wars.

A new report that emerged this year from the Commission’s work, Protecting Children in Armed Conflict, edited by Shaheed Fatima QC, also calls for radical changes – for schools in conflict zones to enjoy the same effective protection as hospitals; for states to take active measures to prevent sexual violence against children and to prevent child abductions and trafficking, and for a clear declaration that denial of humanitarian access is always unlawful where civilians are at risk of starvation. In the longer term, Fatima recommends that the international community consider adopting a comprehensive legal instrument and civil accountability mechanism for the protection of children in armed conflict.

Former US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt – the driving force behind the UDHR – once declared that human rights begin “in small places close to home, so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.

Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.” And indeed, The Ordinary Virtues by the former

Canadian politician Michael Ignatieff, which grew from a Carnegie study, indicates that even in the world’s most desolate and lawless corners, individuals have a strong sense of their own rights and also, if to a lesser extent, of the importance of treating those close to them with decency.

Yet, even as the world becomes more deeply integrated, millions do not have a strong sense that human rights should be upheld as the universal rights of all. That is why the Commission, citing the work of Fonna Forman, founding Director of the Center on Global Justice at the University of California, San Diego, makes recommendations about how governments might actively encourage and support humanrights education – something few countries currently do.

After all, as Roosevelt pointed out, documents expressing ideals “carry no weight unless the people know them, unless the people understand them, unless the people demand that they be lived.” That simple truth must underpin the world’s agenda for championing human rights now and in the future.

The Global Citizenship Commission report was made possible with editorial help from K. Anthony Appiah, Craig Calhoun, Andrew Hilland, Robert Shrum, Diane C. Yu, and many others. For the full membership of the Commission, see gias.nyu. edu/2016/04/release-globalcitizenship-commission-report/.

We cherish readers’ reactions to stories and articles published in BusinessDay. All such reactions, which must not be more than 250 words, should be sent to bdsundayletter@businessdayonline.com with names and addresses of writers. The star letter every week will be rewarded.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Politics

12 unusual events that rocked Senate in 2018

Despite launching an image-laundering campaign in the outgoing year, the Nigerian Senate dominated the news mostly for bad reasons. In this piece, National Assembly correspondent, OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, looks at 12 unusual events in the Senate in 2018.

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ince the inauguration of the Eighth Senate on June 9, 2015, the nation’s upper legislative chamber has been embroiled in one controversy or another.

Although the leadership of the National Assembly attributed this to the fact that the Legislature is the most misunderstood arm of government, efforts to change the growing negative public perception by organising an Open Week during the third anniversary of the Eighth National Assembly in June 2018 yielded little or no results.

A review of the activities of the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Bukola Saraki showed that there are 12 uncommon events in 2018.

Senators will resume plenary on January 16, 2019 and there are strong indications that the N8.83 trillion 2019 budget presented

by President Muhammadu Buhari will not be passed until after the general election billed for February 16 and March 2, 2019.

And the outcome may also determine whether the budget proposal would die a natural death or take a longer time in passing.

Invasion of Senate chamber and snatching of mace In what appeared like a blockbuster, armed political thugs disrupted Senate plenary on April 18, 2018 in broad daylight and snatched the mace - the symbol of authority. The incident which was aired on live television, happened few seconds after a suspended lawmaker, Ovie Omo-

Joshua Dariye

Agege entered the chamber.

Although the Police recovered and returned the mace the following day, they were unable to prosecute the hoodlums, raising concerns of an insider job.

The testimony by the then Divisional Police Officer in the National Assembly, Sulu-Gambari Abdul before the National Assembly Ad-hoc Investigative Committee that some security officials colluded with lawmakers and National Assembly staff to carry out the attack, landed him in trouble, as he was immediately transferred by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

Invasion of National Assembly by operatives of the DSS and sack of Daura Four months after the April 18 incident, the National Assembly

But in a show of defiance, a member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Boma Goodhead, dared the operatives to shoot her, as she forced her way to the complex before other male lawmakers joined her yet again witnessed another invasion; this time by masked operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The secret police who said they were acting on orders from above, also barricaded the gates to the National Assembly complex and denied lawmakers, National Assembly workers, legislative aides, journalists and visitors access to the Complex.

While PDP lawmakers accused their APC counterparts of plotting to re-open the premises and remove Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu from office, APC legislators accused their PDP colleagues of crying wolf.

But in a show of defiance, a member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Boma Goodhead, dared the

operatives to shoot her, as she forced her way to the complex before other male lawmakers joined her.

The biggest casualty from the incident was the DSS Director General, Lawal Musa Daura who was dismissed by the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

Conviction of Dariye The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recorded the highest number of convictions in 2018 since its creation, having secured 312 convictions in the year under review.

In June, the anti-graft agency secured a high-profile conviction when a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory convicted a serving senator, Joshua Dariye, on corruption charges.

Although the Court of Appeal in Abuja reduced the jail term handed the APC chieftain and former Plateau State Governor from 14 to 10 years, there are other Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) in the Senate facing trial whose cases will be carried over to 2019. They include

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu); controversial senator, Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi); Peter Nwaboshi (PDP, Delta); Buruji Kashamu (PDP, Ogun); David Mark (PDP, Benue); Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra); Abdulaziz Nyako (ADC, Adamawa); Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe); Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa) and Jonah Jang (PDP, Plateau).

Dariye is currently serving his jail term at Kuje Prison, but he still draws his salaries from the National Assembly.

Gale of defections As the cliché goes, ‘there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics but permanent interests’. On July 24, 2018, gale of defections hit upper legislative chamber when 13 members of the APC announced their defection from the ruling party. This was despite their earlier meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari where they pledged allegiance to the party.

However, one of the senators later rescinded his decision, bringing the total number of defectors to 12. Lawmakers who dumped the ruling APC include: Rabi’u Kwankwaso (Kano-Central), Dino Melaye (Kogi-West), Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo-Central), Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara-South), Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna-North) and Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun-Central).

Others are Usman Nafada (Gombe-North), Ibrahim Dambaba (Sokoko-South), Ubale Shittu (Jigawa North-East) ,Isa Misau (Bauchi-Central),

Gale of defections: Buhari Oversleeps These Days – Okorocha

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Politics

Senator Dino Melaye arrived at Zankli Hospital Abuja in a stretcher

Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi-North), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara-North) and Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-East).

On the other hand, PDP also lost one of its Principal Officers when the immediate past Senate Leader, Godswill Akpabio, dumped the PDP and pitched his tent with APC. Saraki’s defection and APC’s failed attempt to remove him as Senate president Despite discharging him of false asset declaration by the Supreme Court, Saraki faced more political battles in the year under review when the Nigeria Police linked him to a Offa Bank robbery in his home state of Kwara which claimed over 30 lives.

Also, his return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caused an upset in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as it was the first time in the nation’s history that two Presiding Officers in the upper legislative chamber would be members of an opposition party.

Attempts by the APC leadership to ask its members to remove him, proved abortive, as they failed to garner the required two-third majority to effect leadership change.

Melaye’s face-off with police The controversial Kogi West senator was mostly in the news for the wrong reasons. Call him the tormentor-in-chief of the Presidency and the ruling APC and you won’t be wrong.

The lawmaker-cum-singer who released his hit single ‘Aje

Kun Iya’ in 2017 to mock the suspension of Babachir Lawal as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), also released more singles in 2018 declaring his love for PDP as well as his tracks for Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and immediate past Senate Majority Leader, Goodwill Akpabio.

The lawmaker, who survived an attempt to recall him from the Senate, faced many legal battles with the police in the year under review. Specifically, he is still undergoing three trials in Lokoja and Abuja and these court cases will spill over to 2019. Some of the charges bother on alleged gun running, attempted suicide and damaging government property and providing false information.

About 40 senators lost return ticket At least, 40 senators will not be part of the 9th Senate (2019 to 2023) having lost their return tickets to contest the February 16, 2019 National Assembly election during the primaries of their various political parties in 2018.

While some senators proceeded to contest the governorship seats in their states, others withdrew their ambitions due to rotational arrangements in their senatorial districts, even as others lost out for their parties inability to meet up with the deadline for submission of candidates, as stipulated in the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended).

Some of the senators that will

Attempts by the APC leadership to ask its members to remove him, proved abortive, as they failed to garner the required twothird majority to effect leadership change

not be part of the 9th Senate are: Ben Murray Bruce, Abu Ibrahim, Abdulaziz Nyako, Ahmed Abubakar, Foster Ogola, Emmanuel Paulker, David Mark, John Enoh, Sonny Ogbuoji and Gilbert Nnaji.

Others are: Fatima Raji Rasaki, Usman Nafada , Joshua Lidani, Sam Anyanwu, Abubakar Kyari, Umar Kurfi, Rafiu Ibrahim, Shaaba Lafiagi, Gbenga Ashafa, Phillip Gyunka, Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, David Umaru, Buruji Kashamu, Lanre Tejuoso, Gbolahan Dada, Olusola Adeyeye, Babajide Omoworare, Ademola Adeleke and Rilwan Akanbi.

Also, other big losers include: Joshua Dariye, Jeremiah Oseni, Hope Uzodinma, Magnus Abe, Osinachukwu Ideozu, Andrew Uchendu, Kabiru Marafa, Ahmed Sani Yarima, Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Baba Kaka Garbai.

Shehu Sani’s revelation on senators’ jumbo pay Since return to the Fourth Republic in 1999, federal lawmakers have concealed the actual salaries and allowances of National Assembly members for fear of backlash from the general public.

But in March, human rights activist and Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Shehu Sani blew the lid on senators jumbo pay.

In an interview with TheNEWS magazine, the outspoken senator disclosed that senators are handed N13.5 million monthly as running cost, in addition to N750,000 monthly salary.

Carryover of budget Attempts to return the budget cycle to run from January to December met a brick wall, as it took about seven months before the record-breaking N9.120 trillion 2018 budget was passed and signed into law.

Consequently, the 2018 budget suffered the longest delay since 1999, having spent 223 days before it was eventually passed and signed into law.

BDSUNDAY reports that the 2016 and 2017 budgets spent 136 and 180 days, respectively.

Our correspondent also gathered that the N8.83 trillion 2019 budget submitted by President Buhari to the National Assembly

on December 19, 2018 would be passed after the 2019 general elections.

Buhari rejects amended Electoral Act, PIGB, others For the fourth consecutive time, President Buhari declined assent to the amended Electoral Act as well as the eagerlyanticipated Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB). The two bills seek to reform the nation’s electoral process and the oil and gas sector.

The development brings the number of bills rejected by President Buhari in the out gone year to 23. Some of the bills include: the Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Bill, National Research and Innovation Council (Est.) Bill, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (Est.) Bill, National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill, National Transport Commission Bill and the Federal Road Authority (Establishment) Bill.

Others are Chattered Institute of Entrepreneurship (Est.) Bill, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill, Subsidiary Legislation (Legislative Scrutiny) Bill, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Amendment) Bill, National Broadcasting Commission (Amendment) Bill, five constitution amendment bills among others.

Strike by NASS workers over poor condition of service For four days, National Assembly staff embarked on strike over poor condition of service.

The workers under the aegis

of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), earlier made a peaceful protest at the National Assembly Lobby and prevented lawmakers from sitting. It took the intervention of the National Assembly Management to order security agencies to ensure adequate security within the Complex before President Buhari could present the 2018 budget to both legislative chambers.

Lawmakers cheer, jeer at Buhari during 2019 budget presentation The year 2018 would not be complete without the controversy that greeted President Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19.

There was chaos, disorder, pandemonium and utmost confusion during the budget presentation, as lawmakers were divided along party lines, cheering or jeering at the President as he spoke.

Trouble started when APC lawmakers chanted ‘Sai Baba’, as President Buhari entered the chamber, even as they cheered him intermittently during his presentation.

But things got out of hand when PDP legislators booed the President, with some shouting ‘It’s a lie’, ‘Propaganda’ when he made certain claims.

The incident elicited divergent reactions from Nigerians.

While some viewed the lawmakers’ behaviour as uncalled for, others felt it showed the beauty of democratic system.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Politics

Key political events that shaped 2018

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CHUKS OLUIGBO & INIOBONG IWOK he outgoing year 2018 was a very eventful one, politically and otherwise. We here bring you some of the events that defined Nigeria’s political landscape in 2018.

Buhari declines assent to 2018 Electoral Act Amendment Bill President Muhammadu Buhari early in December once again declined assent to the 2018 Electoral Act Amendment Bill and returned it to the National Assembly. It was the fourth time the president had withheld assent to the bill.

Briefing State House correspondents, Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, said that the President in line with the constitution had communicated his decision and returned the bill to the National Assembly.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has taken decision on Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018.

In accordance with his power under the 1999 Constitution and has communicated that decision to the Senate and House of Representatives in accordance with the law,” Enang said.

Buhari’s refusal to assent to the bill elicited many reactions, with many accusing him of unwillingness to conduct free and fair elections in 2019. Many also called on the National Assembly to veto the president.

Buhari commissions new rail vehicles, dry port in Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari began the year on an optimistic note as he on January 2, 2018 officially opened Nigeria’s first Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kakuri on the outskirts of Kaduna. This came shortly after he commissioned new rail vehicles, consisting of 10 coaches and two locomotives, for the Kaduna-Abuja train service at Rigasa train station.

The dry port, the first of its kind in Nigeria, was created and designed to receive cargoes from Apapa Port in Lagos through the railway. It was also designated as port of origin for exports and port of destination for imports and was designed to accelerate the implementation of the Federal Government’s economic diversification policy by providing importers and exporters located within the nation’s hinterland, especially industrial and commercial outfits, access to shipping and port services without necessarily visiting the seaports.

The new rail vehicles, on their part, were procured mainly to reduce the stress the large volume of passengers on the Kaduna-Abuja rail route have to go through. The overwhelming number of passengers on the

This came shortly after he commissioned new rail vehicles, consisting of 10 coaches and two locomotives, for the KadunaAbuja train service at Rigasa train station

President Muhammadu Buhari

Adams Oshiomhole route and the presence of only one coach serving these millions of passengers paved way for all manner of corruption, including ticket racketeering and other sharp practices.

Both projects, it was said then,

have the capacity to massively open up not only the economy of Kaduna State but also those of its neighbours and a large chunk of the North. The dry port, specifically, is planned to serve other states north of the country

as well as neigbouring countries of Chad, Niger, Cameroon and the Central African Republic. It is an expansive container terminal accessible by both rail and road and is equipped with modern cargo handling equipment and tools to facilitate quick delivery and turnaround time and is built to handle more than 29,000 containers per annum.

Other commissioning would follow along the way, including the new terminals at Port Harcourt Airport and Abuja Airport, even though the functionality of those projects is still in question.

Many now see the commissioning of projects by the Buhari administration as a mere campaign tool.

Obasanjo writes Buhari, asks him not to seek re-election in 2019 On January 23, former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote an 18-page letter to President Muhammadu Buhari. In the letter titled “The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement”, Obasanjo asked Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019 but to consider a deserved rest at his age.

Obasanjo, who ruled the country 1999-2007, expressed disappointment in Buhari, whom he incidentally supported during the 2015 presidential election against former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former president called for a coalition of well-meaning Nigerians to salvage and redeem the country and said he was ready to be part of that coalition.

He noted that national interest was being sacrificed on the altar of nepotism by the Buhari administration.

The relationship between Obasanjo and Buhari has since degenerated, while the former president has joined forces with the PDP to defeat Buhari in the 2019 general elections.

Obasanjo endorses Atiku for president After a long and apparently acrimonious relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar, his vice president for eight years, and after Obasanjo had told journalists that God would not forgive him if he supported Atiku’s presidential aspiration, the two men eventually reconciled.

After Atiku emerged as presidential candidate of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he and other leaders of the party paid a visit to Obasanjo at his Abeokuta home.

At the event, Obasanjo, who addressed Atiku as Presidentto-be, said he had reviewed his stance on not backing his former vice for the presidency of Nigeria, adding that he believed Atiku had “re-discovered and re-positioned himself” and is now good enough to enjoy his support in the next election.

2018 budget delayed, eventually passed The 2018 budget turned out to be the most delayed in 19 years. The budget, which Nigerians thought would take a paradigm shift from the traditional practice of delay in passage, failed expectations, marking the longest budget passage since Nigeria exited military rule to a democratic rule in 1999.

Saraki, Dogara, others defect from APC to PDP Many called it a tsunami.

Yes, it hit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with all the force it could muster. By the time it was over, the core of the nPDP members, a bloc in the party which defected from the

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Politics legations that she used a forged certificate to avoid the country’s mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

An online media had broken the news of Adeosun’s fake certificate and had followed up with further reports, forcing an investigation by NYSC and others that revealed that the certificate was forged. In a statement, Adeosun said she felt bound to resign after the investigation result became known.

“This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign,” she said.

This was after months of speculation in the media, which led to calls for President Buhari to dismiss Adeosun from his cabinet.

Ambode loses second term ticket Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State got a raw deal in the hands of his political godfather, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

The prosecution alleged that Aborishade was murdered during the PDP’s visitation meeting that held at Igbosuku Village, EtiOsa Local Government Area of the state

Obasanjo

Atiku Abubakar PDP to give birth to an alliance which established the APC in 2014, was gone. The defectors were Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara, among many other members of the National Assembly.

Masked security operatives invade National Assembly In the wake of the defections that were witnessed in the country’s two major parties this year, the National Assembly Complex was invaded by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Police Force (NPF), denying some senators and House of Reps members access into their chambers and causing chaos within the premises.

The move was seen as an attempt to intimidate lawmakers to enable the impeachment of Senate President Bukola Saraki

who had then just defected to the PDP. The PDP lawmaker representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce, had alleged that the APC lawmakers were planning to appoint Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Senate President.

“The front gate was blocked

by DSS and police, the plan is to allow APC senators entry. Senators who will install Akpabio as the Senate President and impeach Saraki and Ekweremadu,” Murray-Bruce said.

The invasion subsequently led to the sack of the boss of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) by then Acting President Yemi Osibanjo.

Adeosun enmeshed in NYSC certificate scandal, tenders resignation Kemi Adeosun, former finance minister, earlier in year resigned her appointment over al-

Senate Presiden, Bukola Saraki

and the APC as he was denied the party’s governorship ticket for a second term in office.

Since 2003 when former governor of Anambra State, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, was denied a second term ticket, no sitting governor in Nigeria has suffered a similar fate.

However, Ambode, who was accused by his party chieftains of not carrying them along in his administration, lost his re-election bid to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who had the backing of Tinubu and party leaders to replace him in controversial direct primaries.

This was followed by strong protests from Ambode’s supporters who had mobilised several politicians, social and religious groups months to the gubernatorial primary to endorse the governor for a second term in office.

Salvador incarcerated, defects to APC Moshood Salvador, former Lagos People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, was arrested and subsequently prosecuted over the murder of the party chairman in Apapa Local Government Area, Adeniyi Aborishade.

The prosecution alleged that Aborishade was murdered during the PDP’s visitation meeting that held at Igbosuku Village, EtiOsa Local Government Area of the state.

Fouad Oki stages parallel APC state congress in Lagos For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1999, the political influence of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Lagos State was challenged by a chieftain of the party in the state, Fouad Oki, who staged a parallel state congress, accusing the Tinubu-led faction of manipulating the ward and local congresses to favour some individuals and holding congress in 20 local government areas and the 37 LCDAs which was against the electoral law and guidelines for the congress.

Oki had accused the party of impunity and supporting illegality perpetrated by the Tinububacked faction of the party in the

state, stressing that the congress held by his faction at the Airport Hotel was the only legitimate one recognised by the party.

Herdsmen, Boko Haram killings continue unabated The herdsmen and the Islamist insurgents Boko Haram continued their killing spree in the outgoing year, despite the government’s assurances that Boko Haram had been technically defeated. The plains and plateaus of North-Central Nigeria remained killing fields, Benue remaining the worst hit. In all, the Federal Government did not seem willing and able to rise up to the occasion to defend the people.

Fayemi stages a comeback in Ekiti Kayode Fayemi, a former Minister of Solid Mineral Development and the then candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), last July won the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State. This was amidst protests by his main challenger and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olusola Eleka, who accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the election result in Fayemi’s favour.

There were reports of largescale vote buying by the two leading political parties in the election across the state. The chief returning officer of the election and vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Idowu Olayinka, announced the final results, stating that Fayemi had polled 197,459 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Olusola Eleka of the PDP, who scored 178,121 votes. Fayemi had previously governed the state between 2010 and 2014 but lost his re-election bid in 2014 to Ayo Fayose of the PDP, another comeback governor.

APC WINS controversial Osun gubernatorial election Last September, Gboyega Oyetola, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State governorship election, defeated his closest rival, Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the election that ended in controversy. The first round of the election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), necessitating a rerun in some polling units in four local government areas of the state, after which the APC was said to have carried the day.

Others Other events that shaped the outgoing year include the emergence of Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, as national chairman of APC; Vice President Osinbajo’s launch of Trader Moni across markets in the country; the crisis that rocked the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) following the hijack of its primaries by moneybags, especially in Imo State; Atiku’s choice of a running mate for the 2019 presidential election, which generated a lot of tension in the South East; among many others.

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Politics

How conflicting promises cast ruling party in bad light Zebulon Agomuo

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few days ago, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stoke controversy when he charged the Yoruba nation to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari for a possible return of the power baton to the South West geopolitical zone in 2023. Osinbajo was quoted as saying that a vote for Buhari would guarantee the return of power to them next year.

His statement expectedly drew flaks. He received scathing criticism from the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and many other Nigerians.

Critics observed that the same promise had been made to the Igbo nation of the South East geopolitical zone, who has not “tasted” power since the return of the country to civil rule in 1999. It would be recalled that sometime this year, Ken Nnamani, a former Senate president, who decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP, had led other Igbo politicians in the APC family, including Jim Nwobodo, to see President Muhammadu Buhari in the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. It was said that the essence of the meeting was primarily to extract a promise from the chief occupant of the villa, what the fate of the Igbo would be after their support in 2019. Buhari was said to have given his word that he would ensure that power moves to the South East in 2023.

This promise has been re-echoed at various for a by many APC apparatchik in desperation for a block vote of the South East.

It was also on this basis that Atiku profusely promised to do only one term of four years to enable the Igbo nation have a bite on the apple in 2023. Atiku had reasoned that he needed to make it a campaign point by stating it clearly, to erase any doubt that he would play the monkey after he must have done four years.

It must be stated that power shift is alien to Nigeria’s constitution, but a gentlemanly agreement put in place by the PDP government that ruled the country from 1999 to 2015. The aim is to accommodate the interest of heterogeneous people of Nigeria, to avoid maginalisation of any part of the country. Under the power rotation arrangement since 1999, it is only the South East geo-political zone that has not had the opportunity of presiding over the affairs of the country as President. It is against this backdrop that the two major parties now court the Igbo nation.

It was equally against this back-

Osinbajo

drop that the statement credited to the Vice President annoyed many Nigerians.

Already, there are subtle battles within the APC over which of the ethnic blocs in the south would take the presidency in 2023. While the south-east is angling for it on the basis of equity, having not produced a president for the country since the return to democracy in 1999, the south-west, it was learnt, would leverage on its dominance and influence in the party, and would be seeking the support of the south-south to get the APC’s presidential ticket.

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment while addressing a meeting of the APC stakeholders in Enugu, August, this year, had said that Ndigbo needed to vote for President Buhari to brighten their chances in 2023.

“I am over 67 years and getting to 68. I cannot deceive myself at this age. President Buhari will win the 2019 election. There is no doubt about it. Our people (Ndigbo) should vote for Buhari so that we can produce the Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.”

But speaking thereafter in October during a town hall meeting on infrastructure in Ibadan, Oyo State, Fashola, charged his kinsmen to vote to return Buhari to power in 2019 in order for the

presidency to return to the southwest in 2023.

The minister had addressed the people in a Yoruba language which was translated thus: “Your child cannot surrender her waist for an edifying bead and you will use the bead to decorate another child’s waist. A vote for Buhari in 2019 means a return of power to south-west in 2013.”

Meanwhile, the former Lagos State governor is intensifying campaign for Buhari ahead of the 2019 presidential election with the setting up of a campaign group to secure at least 4.5 million votes for Buhari.

A source told our correspondent that although the campaign group known as ‘PMB 2019,’ is canvassing support for Buhari’s reelection; it is also a grand political platform with an ambitious post2019 plan.

Leading the group in Lagos is Oyinlomo Danmole, a former commissioner for home affairs. It is being set up in the 20 local government areas, 37 local council development areas, and 347 wards across of Lagos State.

Accusing Osinbajo of mischief, members of the PDP Presidential Council and the Director of the Campaign’s CUPP/Inter-party Directorate, Sen. Ben Obi, said the statement credited to the Vice President was insensitive.

Osinbajo had in Ibadan recently

postulated that President Buhari will hand over the presidency to the south west after completing his two terms of eight years in office. Obi in a statement in Abuja, berated Osinbajo for asserting that the presidency will revert to the South West after Buhari in 2023, saying, “the PDP will win the 2019 presidential election in which case Osinbajo’s reckless and morally outrageous scenario will never come to pass.”

He said: “The mere thought of making that insensitive declaration after Obasanjo’s eight-year presidential tenure and Osinbajo’s four years as vice president, in the context in which power is yet to rotate to the South East, is the height of political intolerance and mischief-making”.

Also reacting, the Eastern Peoples Front (EPF) described the statements coming from the top echelon of the South West as “vexatious, provocative and an affront to the people of the South East whose turn it is to produce the president of Nigeria when power returns to the south.”

Ken Emechebe, national coordinator & leader, EPF said: “We are not unaware of what this insidious campaign is all about. It is a devious blackmail aimed at arm-twisting the Igbo into voting for Buhari. But the plot is dead on arrival.

“Osinbajo’s revelation that Buhari promised to hand over power to the Yoruba is instructive. The implication is that any Igbo vote for Buhari is a wasted vote.

“We want to make it clear to the day dreamers from the south west that the political destiny of the Igbo does not rest in the hands one man or any individual, be it Buhari or any other person. The Igbo know what is best for them and will make their choice without intimidation or blackmail from the Osinbajos and Fasholas of the South West.”

In its reaction, the PDP, through Kassim Afegbua, its Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, said the APC was engaging in “power-hawking” and that the promise by the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to both the South East and South West that they would produce the President in 2023 had exposed the “insincerity and desperation of the ruling party in the run-up to the 2019 general election”.

It recalled that the Vice President had charged leaders of the South West to support Buhari’s re-election so that the Presidency could return to the zone in 2023.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, had also recently told the APC members in the South

East that President Buhari would hand over the reins of power to the South East, if it supports his re-election bid.

And that some months ago, Raji Fashola and Chris Ngige, at separate town hall meetings, also assured Southwest and Southeast of the presidency diadem in 2023.

But Afegbua said with the doublespeak by the Presidency and the ruling party, it was obvious that Nigerians cannot take President Buhari and his party seriously ahead of the February 16 election.

According to him, “In its desperation to hang on to power despite its abysmal failure so far, the APC and the Presidency have resorted to trading with the lure of 2023 presidency, promising both the South East and South West, respectively, the 2023 presidency in exchange for votes.

“Giving out two promises has exposed the insincerity and dubious intention of the Buhari-led Federal Government with the people of the South East and South West geo-political zones, with empty promises of bequeathing power to the two zones at the same time in 2023.

“Two principal officers of the same government cannot be fooling Nigerians with vainglorious promises all in the name of reelection. Such discordant tunes by the first and second citizens of our dear country have exposed lack of synergy, and display of double standard and doublespeak by chieftains of a government that has continued to display wanton desperation to hold on to power at all cost in the face of monumental failure.”

“How can the President be promising south-easterners the Presidency when his Vice President is also promising south-westerners same position in 2023, all in the name of 2019 re-election?”

Afegbua queried.

He alleged that “This is a clear show of deceit, desperation, crass insincerity and hypocrisy of the highest order. This is a clarion call on south-easterners not to trust such carrot being dangled before them as it has become obvious that this government neither fulfills promises nor keeps any covenant.

“The president cannot, on the one hand, be playing God by decreeing which zone he intends to bequeath the reins of power, while his Vice President, on the other hand, is also promising his South West zone of same position.

“This is a typical feature of power-hawkers, in their desperation to hoodwink buyers to patronise their morbid products. The Nigerian public must wake up to this doublespeak and vote out this inconsistent government in 2019.”

Sunday 30 December 2018

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Politics

Insecurity is a huge threat to next year’s polls - Salawu Taiwo Salawu is one of the political sons who went through the political tutelage under of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu. Salawu is a former councillor at the Ibadan Municipal Local Government, and personal assistant and special adviser to the then Council Chairman Akinyemi Aboke. In this interview with AKINREMI FEYISIPO, Salawu, who was a staunch member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but recently joined the African Democratic Party (ADP), talked about the era and demise of Adedibu, Buhari administration, Oyo politics and chances of former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, in 2019, the threat being posed to the 2019 polls by insecurity, among other issues. Excerpts: There are recent killings in Borno and Zamfara States. How would you react to this? his is a sad development again, just as the 2019 elections are less than two months; this might be a threat to the next year’s polls. There is the need for a new approach in the fight against insurgency while the President Muhammadu Buhari should as well overhaul security architecture so as to effectively tackle emerging threats and challenges facing the country. I think it is time we all rise collectively to stop this senseless killings of innocent souls because this is getting out of hand. This year, many people have been killed also in Benue, Plateau, Yobe, while vices like kidnapping, armed robbery, etc still stare the country in the face. The way things are going, insecurity poses a huge threat to the successful conduct of the general election next year.

So, it has become very necessary that government should do everything within its powers to address this issue urgently.

What is your assessment of the Buhari administration in the last three and half years?

The present government is a failure, all that they promised before the 2015 elections, they have not fulfilled. The expectations were high when the government came in power over three years but it has performed below expectations with their change mantra. Even when Buhari came in 1984 in army uniform he did not achieve anything.

This government is calling itself progressive. Are they really progressives? As a progressive you must implement free education, free health care as it is done during the Obafemi Awolowo era.

What do you have to say about Ajimobi’s government in Oyo? The ruling party in Oyo State is a government of noise and propaganda. It was shout of change, change without achievements. Look at where I stay at Akala Way for good seven years now, government didn’t do anything there, a lot of roads were not rehabilitated or maintained which led to many vehicles being damaged; they were doing dual carriage way where people did not even reside.

Go to the hospitals, did they buy drugs or give free medical

T

Taiwo Salawu

treatment? On education, it is zero; if not because of people who protested, most of the schools might have been privatised now. The outgoing government’s policies, programmes and projects are best described as anti-people which leave our people in pain and despondency.

How will you describe the late strong man of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu?

Yes, the late Baba Adedibu was my father and mentor; I was his political son because I went through his tutelage. But his name will continue to reverberate in Oyo State politics because many players passed through him also in one way or the other.

His demise affected the fortunes of the PDP and politics generally in the south west.

Oyo State politics cannot have the same colour it had in the days of the strongman of Ibadan politics because things have changed. His death has a lot of impact on the political system of Oyo State.

Since his demise, have you seen PDP recording any success

in Oyo State? At his 3-Day fidau prayer when he died, I was interviewed and I said that time that PDP may not record any victory any more, then the prediction has come to fulfillment; this is as if PDP died with Adedibu.

Following his death, the political camp has scattered as many of his associates have moved to other parties and pursuing their political ambitions differently and some of his disciples have deserted his family.

Although death is inevitable, Adedibu’s case will not be the first even when Obafemi Awolowo died, they organised a birthday for him in the first year, many people attended it, second year just core loyalists were there, people believe in what they can achieve from you.

The same thing happened to former President Olusegun Obasanjo; many people used to attend Ibogun Day when he was in power, look at it these days, how many people now attend?

Even President Muhammadu Buhari, if he leaves office today, most of his so-called friends or

loyalists will not be there again. I will eternally be grateful to Baba Adedibu for what he did for me and my twin brother, Kehinde, but some of his core loyalists still go to his residence at Molete regularly to say hello to his family, especially, Bosede his wife.

Why did you join ADP now and what are the chances of Adebayo Alao-Akala in the election?

I joined the ADP because I have trust in Akala. We have been together during the APP days. He was Chairman, Ogbomoso Local Government, during his 11 months when former Governor Rashidi Ladoja was impeached and his four years as governor between 2007 and 2011, he appointed my late twin brother as SA of sports.

His credentials are superb and he has a lot of achievements to show for it compared to other candidates. Oyo State must be governed by somebody who has acquired an experience unlike some of the contestants now who have not even contested or won a councillorship seat

and now they say they want to be governor.

Oyo people are not foolish.

Ibadan people have ruled the state for almost 17 years and 2months; do they remember the renovation of ancient Mapo Hall or Ade Oyo Hospital? It was during Akala’s first regime that these were renovated and rehabilitated. It was during his tenure that the Erunmu Dry Port started.

Although, I will vote for Atiku Abubukar, we were together in SDP, PDP those days; I am 100 percent sure that Akala will win the governorship election in Oyo next year.

I believe Atiku will perform when elected, just as former President Goodluck Jonathan did. Some the achievements include creating additional 12 universities; 101 presidential special scholarships for innovation and development, increase in O’ Level credit pass in Maths and English, sponsoring lecturers for postgraduate studies at home and abroad; 51 polytechnics were rehabilitated; there was double increase on education allocation and road infrastructure within the country, among many other achievements.

What is your advice to the Nigerian electorate, INEC, government and politicians as the 2019 general election approaches?

Nigerians should use their PVCs wisely and not sell to any politician. With what happened in Ekiti and Osun elections, the electorate should not sell their votes. The INEC should maintain its role as independent umpire while President Buhari should ensure that the 2019 elections are free and fair as he promised the international community and Nigerians. The politicians should eschew violence and play the game according to the rules and should not play it as if it were a do-or-die affair. For the youths, they should not allow themselves to be used by politicians for thuggery, violence or election rigging because of those people going around with money to entice them. These politicians and their rich godfathers have their own children abroad as we speak now and those of them, whose families are still here, will take them away as we get closer to the elections. So, the youth should be very careful and vigilant.

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Politics

Buhari launches Presidential campaign, promises better deal …We did not promise to make N1 equal to $1 - Amaechi ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has launched his campaign for re-election in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, promising that if re-elected Nigerians will never regret voting him into office for a second term.

Buhari, who received the flag of the party from Adams Oshiomhole, the party’s national chairman who also presented the party’s flag to four governorship candidates of the party from Cross River, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom State said if elected, he would address the problem of unemployment among youths in the country as well as continue in the fight against corruption, address the economic situation as well as the worsening insecurity in the country.

He said the fight corruption has yielded dividends with several property across the country being recovered adding that with the return to the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the country has witnessed transparency in governance.

According to him, though unemployment remained a challenge in the country, the Federal Government is working to address the problem, adding that his administration has achieved food security in the country as farmers have been encouraged to see farming as a veritable venture.

Buhari

“We have collected property, we have returned Treasury Single Account (TSA), Nigeria will be informed on how much has been recovered, from who and what it be used for,” he said.

In his speech before presenting the party’s flag to Buhari, Adams

Oshiomole, the national chairman of the party urged the party supporters not to vote for the main opposition party in the country, saying that its presidential candidate has promised to privatise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to him, the party’s presidential candidate does not have the freedom to travel to any part of the world whereas Buhari has the liberty to visit and speak in any country.

“Are we ready to sell the NNPC, PDP has promised to privatise NNPC, we are not ready for it,” he said.

Among the party’s governorship candidate that received flags were Tonye Cole for Rivers State, Nsima Ekere for Akwa Ibom State, John Enoh for Cross River State and Great Ogboru for Delta state.

He thanked the state chapter of the party as well as the party in the zone for the launch of the campaign and assured that they would not be disappointed for re-electing him.

Earlier, Ini Okopido, chairman of the party in Akwa Ibom State thanked the campaign organisation for launching the presidential campaign in the state and promised that the party would win in the next year’s election.

Chibuike Amaechi, the minister of transportation has denied that the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised to make one Naira equal to $1 when it was campaigning in 2015 to win the presidential election.

Amaechi, who is also the director general of the presidential campaign organisation, similarly denied that the party promised to reduce the price of petrol. The minister

said they were no magicians to have made such promises.

He said the election of President Muhammadu Buhari would ensure the creation of more employment opportunities in the country with the construction of railway lines in many parts of the country.

According to him, “Nigeria must change for the better”, saying that the Federal Government has been able to restrict attacks by Boko Haram insurgency to Borno State unlike in the past when many towns and cities in the country were randomly attacked by the insurgents.

Earlier, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said that Nigeria had been yearning for change from corruption, change from laziness and change for development and for a diversified economy.

“Sixteen years of PDP will never come back to this country, we are strongly determined to reverse the course of governance, we are building on a new foundation for the youth and new generation yet unborn,” he said.

He said if the past administration in the country had concentrated on one project like electricity, it would have been better, warning that if the PDP comes back, it would take the country backwards.

According to him, the country is marching forward for development and economic prosperity, promising that the party would continue to support the fight against corruption in the country.

Afenifere leaders in slanging match over Buhari’s re-election bid Iniobong Iwok

I

t appears that leaders of the Nigeria’s Southwest geopolitical zoneare on one another’s jugular over who to support from the array of the several presidential candidates in the next year’s presidential election.

Currently, the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has been split into two camps by the leaders, with one expressing its support for Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid, while the other is opposing it.

Afenifere is led by Ondo Stateborn elder statesman, Reuben Fasoranti, who assumed the position in 2008 after acting in similar capacity for four years, after the demise of its former leader, Abraham Adesanya and its Deputy Leader, Bola Ige. The group under Fasoranti has consistently canvassed for an urgent restructuring of the country, saying that the current structure was responsible for Nigeria’s inability to realise its potentials.

The group equally, consistently expressed dismay with the leadership style of the Buhari administra-

tion, saying that itwould only give itsbacking to any of the presidential candidates thatis in support of its demand for restructuring of the country.

But a splinter group, recently emerged, which appears to be working for the re-election bid of President Buhari, and it seems to be polarising Afenifere, dividing leaders of the region in order to achieve its aim of getting the region’s support for the incumbent President’sreturn bid.

The group headed by former Senator, Ayo Fasanmi, after a recent meeting of delegates and elders from the six Southwest states in Ibadan, said it was opposed to the demands of the Fasoranti-led camp, and that it was in support of the re-election bid of President Buhari and Vice- President, Yemi Osibanjo.

The group further threatened that any other group that fails to support and work in line with its declaration would be treated as usurpers and renegades.

Some of the notable Yoruba figures at the meeting included former Oyo State governor, Omololu Olunloyo; Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, Tajudeeen Olusi and Abayomi Finnih, Adeleke Adewoyin, Biodun Ogunleye; former Oyo State Dep-

uty Governor, Iyiola Oladokun and Ayo Afolabi.

“We are now telling the Yoruba people and the whole world that Afenifere, as enunciated and enacted by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is still intact and we are going to support President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 presidential election,” the group said.

“We have decided to host the whole Yorubaland in Ibadan on January 29, 2019. It is to proclaim the support of the Yorubaland for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

“It is also to tell the whole world that Afenifere created by Awolowo before his death is still intact as a progressive movement and any Afenifere person who is not in the progressive is not part of us,” Spokesman of the group, AkinFasae, stated.

However, Fasoranti and several leaders of his group in an interview with BDSUNDAY dismissed the Fasanmi-led group, describing them as impostors and accused a chieftain of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of being behind the group.

“That report is not true, I am the leader of Afenifere; there has not been anytime that we met to

adopt Buhari for 2019 election.

Fasanmi and his group are impostors; where has he or his group been all thiswhile? The way they are going about it shows that he is sponsored by some individuals for their personal gains,” Fasoranti said.

Spokesman of the group, Yinka Odumakin, wondered where the group had been when the region was under attack by Fulani herdsmen, describing them has self-seeking politicians who were sponsored by Tinubu.

“They are Tinubu’s seasonal Afenifere leaders; men he put forward during election period, to say they are Afenifere. Where have they been when the Southwest region was under attack by the Fulani herdsmen? The Yoruba are not fools? Let Fasanmi come out and stand when we are talking.

We can’t join issues with them because they are jokers,” Odumakin said.

According to him, “The masquerade behind this entire show is Bola Tinubu, who has plenty of money. Why is he hiding under Afenifere? Haven’t he and his people been disparaging Afenifere? Why has Afenifere suddenly become attractive to them?

Media officer of the Fasanmiled group, Awa Bamiji, in an

interview with our correspondent, disclosed that the Fasanmi group was the recognized Afenifere in the region by the different state governors in the region who were equally members of the APC, stressing that most members of the Fasoranti group had not won election in the region.

“We are the real Afenifere, the other group are not recognised; how many governors in the Southwest know them?

How many of them have won elections before in Yoruba land?

When the time comes, we will know,”Bamiji said.

However, a pundit and founder of Voters Awareness Initiatives (VAI), Wale Ogunade, dismissed the two groups, describing them as old politicians who lacked political relevance and were incapable of winning election in the region.

“They are not politicians, they are group of old people who have come together, thinking they will take the space and capitalise on it. None of them has won election in the Southwest before; the Yoruba’s know their leaders including Obasanjo who said he was now Afenifere renewal, we know our leaders. The era of fooling our people is over; we are now wiser,” Ogunade said.

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Laolu Senbanjo and

his canvas on bottle

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Life&Living

Skinny, slim, fat, what does it matter?

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Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

oes the size of a woman really matt e r t o m e n ? Th i s question has lingered in the minds of women for a very long time.

Just as most people would say it is difficult to know exactly what women want, it is just as difficult to know what men want and what exactly pushes them to ‘put a ring on it’.

I thought about writing an article on this controversial topic after a picture of a man proposing to a really fat (obese) lady went viral on social media. Although a lot of people found it funny, especially when the man, who was quite small statured tried to carry his fiancé who was about four times his size. But that got me thinking, does the size of a woman really matter to a man?

Remember when you were younger and people would say all sorts of things like; you need to lose weight to look attractive to men and even married women and mothers nowadays will join the gym, forming #fitfam life just

to become ‘slay queens’. But as some of my friends will say “who slay queen help?” which literary means how does being slim and trendy benefit you in any way?

So many plus sizes, big or fat women are getting proposed to all over the world, while the so called fit or slim women are growing old without a husband.

Although most of the men I asked about their preferences say that they would want a slim wife, the practicality in today’s world shows that even though men are hardwired to care about looks, other factors including character, pedigree, confidence, morals, religious background, achievements and others will most likely outshine physical structure and looks when it comes to determining whether or not the woman is fit to be chosen as a life partner.

I have also realised that the age of the man is a factor to consider when analyzing his preferences.

Most young people, male or female, will say that they are not interested in larger people. I also think the idea that people could never be physically attracted to someone that is not fit tends to

go away as people get older and more mature.

It is also important to note that

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Give the gift of self-care this season or keep this Flori Roberts Shea Nut Body Butter for yourself as a treat, after all the holiday season is all about giving!

Cuir Vetiver Gift Set Behold, an aromatherapy set specifically designed to relax and brighten up from Yves Rocher. Despite its enriching combination, the products go for as low as N25,450 instead of N45,450 which is its actual worth. With a unique combination of an incredible infusion of Tuberose with essential Oils of Vetiver and Patchouli in a floral-woody elixir, this rollerball set is a must-have for your loved ones. This set includes, Eau de parfum So Elixir Bois Sensuel, So Elixir Bois Sensuel Perfumed Shower Gel and So Elixir Bois Sensuel Perfumed Body Lotion.

Enjoy unprecedented sensuality and the elegant freshness of Vetiver combined perfectly with the clear leather notes of Caribbean sandalwood and Cedar essence. Sold for just N17,500, Cuir Vetiver’s perfumed shower gel and Eau de Toilette envelops the body in woody and leathery notes. Its botanical active agent neutralizes body odor, all day long.

Murad Merry and Glowing

Flori Roberts Luxury Lipstick Shopping for someone who loves

vivid rich colours? They’ll go crazy for the Flori Roberts Luxury Lipstick!

Ambre Noir Set Intensity of dark woods, sensuality of amber in this Amber Noir kit.

Treat yourself with these oriental woody notes of Ambre Noir Eau de Toilette and Ambre Noir hair and body shampoo. Its delicate and creamy lather leaves your skin and hair pleasantly scented.

These products are exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

none of the 10 men I interviewed said that they would find a skinny girl attractive. Most of them tend

to opt with ‘slim’, stating that they needed their woman to have some flesh and curves.

Asked if he’d rather go for super skinny or fat, David Omoru, a 29 year old business analyst said; “I would rather go for fat o!”

“I need to have flesh to hold on to in my woman. Fat is something we can always work on. But very skinny is not attractive in any way,” Omoru said.

I recently got addicted to an Ndani tv series called “skinny girl in transit”. In the show, Tiwa a young , plus size girl who is constantly battling to lose some w e i g h t . I n t e r e s t i n g l y, t i w a ’s younger sister, Salewa is slim and attractive, however, she finds it difficult to find a boyfriend while men keep flocking around Tiwa, her older sister who is fat.

It is important for every woman, whether skinny, slim or fat to know that their number one priority should be self love and confidence. Confidence is an attractive quality in itself and trust me, it really does radiate.

Cece Olisa, a lifestyle blogger says; “Don’t wait on your weight to live the life you want.”

Expensive life on the fast lane

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Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

s The Federal government increased the price of levies and duties payable on imported vehicles from 20% to 70% last year, would the hopes of driving exotic luxury cars by a lot of Nigerians be dashed?

Fast cars such as the Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari, Lamborghini Veranta and Maybach Ladauret, to mention a few have always been very expensive to buy and maintain, but regardless of this fact, the love for fast cars keeps growing . As far back as 1987, the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner coup was sold for a whooping sum of $8,700,000 and according to US financial magazine Forbes, a Bugatti is still one of the priciest cars in the world. A Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is priced at $2 million and ranked as the second most expensive car in the world after a Koenigsegg Trevita which goes for $2.21 million. Even with the implementation of higher import duties on cars having to pay over 70% charges, that is, about 35% duty and 35% vat on the original amount excluding retailer’s commission, insurance and other hidden charges, a lot of Nigerians will do anything to own these exclusive cars if they can afford it.

So many automobile lovers have concluded that exclusivity is equal to value. Therefore, it is believed that these luxury cars are worth whatever price tags are attached to them. Regardless of the fact that most countries including Nigeria have road speed limits and these cars are rarely pushed to their top speeds, which tend to be in the neighborhood of 250 miles per hour

(402 kilometers per hour), because in most places it is illegal or unsafe to do so except on Germany’s Autobahn, which has an advisory speed limit of 80 miles per hour (129 kilometers per hour) but no strict upper limit on how hard you can press the accelerator.

Top Gear, a British television series about cars is said to be the most widely watched factual television program in the world. This shows how much love people all over the world have for good cars. Car racing has always been very popular. Formula 1 car racing started as far back as 1950 and today, tickets to watch formula 1 races are sold out within hours. The most popular video games sold in the world are those that include some form of car racing game.

The love of luxury cars in Nigeria is evident on the roads of Lagos and Abuja. Take a trip to areas on the island such as Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki and feed your eyes with the type of cars Nigerians are driving, ranging from Jaguars to Ferraris, Range Rovers and all sorts of expensive cars especially on Sundays when most luxury motor lovers take their cars out on leisure rides as the roads are freer on Sundays. Little wonder why luxury car retailers and dealers are thriving so much in Nigeria.

This answers the question in the first paragraph, Nigerians who can afford to buy these expensive cars will continue to buy them, even if they would only be used as fashion accessories and decorations in their well stocked garages. And those who are not able to afford these cars either due to the increased import duties or for some other reasons will never stop loving and admiring fast cars.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 23

Life Memories of the Xmas

Richmond Gate Estate, Lekki - Where your neighbour is likely a celebrity! …Tuface, Ay, Tiwa Savage, others organise Xmas party, bond with neighbours

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ichmond Gate Estate by Haven Homes in Lekki is rightfully best described as the ‘Beverley Hills’ in Lagos. Neighbours at the Estate in Lekki built by the Nigerian’ leading Lifestyle connoisseur, Haven Homes, held their Estate Christmas party in Lagos recently.

The annual event was organised by the estate’s residents to promote friendship amongst residents. The chairman if the Residents Association, Afolabi Oke explained to our reporters that in an estate where many residents are top celebrities and VIPs who have excelled in renowned industries, it was important to create a night of music, jokes and entertainment to crown the year. The grand event was anchored by MC Pencil and performances were led by celebrity co-residents like 2face, Ay Comedian, Dr Sid, Tiwa Savage, Banky W, among others.

Tiwa Savage had thrilled her neighbours’ kids at the Children’s party held earlier in the day.

Speaking at the event, Tayo Sonuga, managing director

L-R (- Front)-Tayo Sonuga, CEO, Haven Homes Limited; Ace Comedian AY; Musical artiste Banky W; Ufuoma Ilesanmi, GM and husband, Seyi Ilesanmi; L-R (back)-Annie Idibia; Afolabi Bankole, chairman, Estate Residents’ Association; Musical artiste Dr. Sid and Lanre Tella (squatting) at the Xmas Party organised by the developers for the residents of Richmond Gate Estate ( RGE ).

Haven Homes, disclosed that the company’s goal is to create a luxurious, peaceful and safe environment where celebs, VIPs, expatriates and other influential members of the society can live peacefully and cohabit peaceably with their neighbours. “That is what we have currently at Richmond Gate Estate,” he said, adding that, “Our estates are designed to give comfort that is devoid of status but is also very affordable by all who desire the serene atmosphere all round”.

Sonuga further revealed that Haven Homes was the developer that pioneered the spectacular contemporary designs that have now dotted the capital’s landscape.

“We specialise in creating homes that model after the rich, luxurious, western aristocratic homes previously only seen in movies, very obvious reason why our celebrities are at home here with Haven Homes,” Sonuga said.

Ayo Makun, aka Ay comedian, who recently moved into his

L-R: Musical artiste 2Face, Ufuoma Ilesanmi, general manager, Haven Homes; Tayo Sonuga, CEO; Musical Artiste Banky W sharing the thrills at the party.

second home he bought within Richmond Gate Estate, noted that his joy knows no bound seating and chatting with his neighbours in an environment that is homely without rattling and bustling after working hard all day. He enjoined more Nigerians to come join the train as they are building an inclusive environment that will impact individuals and contribute to economic and social development. 2Face, aka 2Baba, was also present with his lovely wife, Annie.

2Face couldn’t find words to describe his peace and joy for having found such a tranquil

and friendly estate to live with his family. Banky W confirmed he has joined the growing list of celebrities finding haven at Richmond Gate Estate and he also used the occasion to enjoin the residents of the need to come out and vote with their conscience at the forthcoming general election in 2019. Haven Homes is the Real Estate subsidiary of Haven Global Resources Ltd, a firm registered as a limited liability company in Nigeria and has been building affordable luxury residential homes since 2006 and has since won multiple awards.

Tosin Adejuwon: The trajectory of a brand expert

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osin Adejuwon (born May 29, 1985) is a marketing communications practitioner with over 7 years’ cognate experience in Public Relations, Media Planning, Brand Management and Advertising. An astute media strategist, Tosin has developed and implemented effective PR and Media campaigns for clients across various market categories and sectors.

He has a reputation for helping clients ‘win’ by providing unmatched Public Relations/media strategy while his campaign analysis and robust reports provide transparent and measurable results. Tosin currently serves as Head, Media Buying, Planning and Public Relations at Bluebird Communications Limited, a leading marketing communications agency that delivers value to its stakeholders.

Education Tosin Adejuwon attended Awori College Ojo (1996-2002). He proceeded to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago

Iwoye, Ogun State (2006-2010).

Tosin Adejuwon is currently studying to obtain a Master’s Degree in Mass Communication (Public Relations and Advertising) from the University of Lagos.

Career: In 2009, Tosin Adejuwon was an intern at Vanguard Newspapers as a judicial reporter where he reportedandcoveredmanyhigh-profile cases and pegged front-page news stories. During his mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Benin-City Edo State, he served in different capacities the most prominent is the Press Club Community Development Service (CDS) where he was President. In 2013, He he joined SilverBullet PR (a member of the NOVELPOTTA Young and Rubicam group) as a management trainee. In his relentless pursuit of marketing communications excellence, he was moved to NOVELPOTTAY&R, the parent company of the group in 2014 as a Brand Executive, where he was responsible for providing leadership and strategies to Clients’ thoughtthrough and innovative brand

and marketing communications solutions. In June of the same year, Tosin joined Bluebird Communications Limited as an executive, Brand Management, Media and PR. In 2017, he earned his stripes and became the head, Media Buying, Planning and Public Relations at Bluebird Communications Limited till date.

Certification In 2013, he became an Associate Member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria(APCON).

Personal life He is married to Oluwafunke Adejuwon, a banker, fashion designer and CEO of TED Fashion House.

They have two children. Adejuwon is a Christian, together with his whole family.

Awards and recognitions -Fresher of the Year, Mass Communication Department – 2006.

-Certificate of Service, NYSC Press Club, Benin-City, Edo State.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Arts Laolu Senbanjo and his canvas on Belvedere bottle

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OBINNA EMELIKE n 2007, Laolu, Senbanjo, a Nigerian visual artist, developed a unique style of art, which he coined “Afromysterics”. As an artist who plays a lot with African themes and traditions in his works, he used Afromysterics to explore the mystery of the African thought pattern.

As well, the artist also sees everything as his canvas and applies his mantra, “Everything is My Canvas,” to mural designs, fashion partnerships, live art events and installations.

But whatever the canvas is, Laolu signs his signature on it with unique African patterns that are stunning. Recently, the artist exerted his creative ingenuity on bottle; a rare canvas that left lovers of art and clients wondering on the breathtaking pattern and artistic design on bottle.

The design and pattern set well on the new limited-edition of Belvedere Vodka bottle, which was unveiled at Moet Hennessy office in Victoria Island, Lagos on September 25, 2018. Even from a distance, the stunning design delighted the eyes and enticed vodka aficionados to go for the 2018 Belvedere limited-edition bottle designed and handcrafted by the award-winning performance and visual artist who is popularly known as ‘Laolu NYC’.

The iconic design is adorned with sharp edges that signify a fusion of the water and rye that gives Belvedere Vodka its distinct dimension and taste.

The bottle’s skin-sense texture reacts to UV lights and the charcoal colouring has complex pat-

Laolu, designing the bottle

Laolu speaking during the unveil in Lagos

terns inspired by Laolu’s Yoruba heritage.

It is obvious that with an artistic vision to reveal the beauty within each of his subjects, the new limited-edition bottle visually brings to life Laolu’s interpretation of the complexity, nuance and character of the Belvedere liquid.

Speaking on the design, Laolu explained, “It has been an interesting journey working on the new limited edition bottle and seeing it come to life is a dream come true. I am always glad to showcase the Nigerian culture on anything, using art to represent people, culture including the remarkable beauty embedded inside Belvedere Vodka. This bottle brings to life a lot of things the vodka brand stands for such as the rye, the pristine water

and the basic things that makes Belvedere what it is and being able to put that on a bottle is so overwhelming”.

On his inspiration for the design, the Brooklyn USA-based Nigerian born performance and visual artist, singer, songwriter, musician, human rights lawyer and activist, said, “As an artist I get to share my soul with people around me, my environment and the world and I am able to channel my experiences like my journey as a human rights attorney and as a Nigerian”.

“The Belvedere bottle design came from that inspiration, as well as, doing a lot of research about what Belvedere is at its core, like the rye and the pristine water. The bottle is an amazing blend of my art and bringing to life what Belvedere stands for

– and I get to be a part of giving back to society, which means a lot to me.”

On the other hand, the superpremium vodka brand has a rich heritage in the history of Polish vodka-making that dates as far back as 600 years. Since its establishment, the brand has always aimed to be at the forefront of innovation while staying dedicated to its legacy, heritage and high-quality standards. Hence, Laolu visually expressed the true essence and image of the brand with an amazing blend of art revealing the magnificence that lies within the new limitededition bottle.

However, it is the creative ingenuity of the artist that drew the attention of Belvedere Vodka to his works and consequent engagement in branding deal.

According to Rodney Williams, president of Belvedere Vodka , “When Laolu paints a subject, each design is unique to what he believes depicts their inner beauty. This phenomenal message is seamlessly in line with our mission to reveal the unexpected beauty in life”.

“Also, as a social advocate and former human rights attorney, Laolu’s philosophies align with our commitment to community and creating positive action in the world; in this case, the programme supports the (RED) organisation and the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa , a cause we have been supporting for eight years”.

Aside the unveiling of the limited edition, Laolu, who was happy to be home last September, was involved in a series of activities including a celebration of the bottle unveil at top hotspots in Lagos and Abuja, an art master class and grand fashion inspired soiree where the Lagos Dreamscape painted by Laolu was unveiled.

Truly and evident with the 2018 Belvedere limited-edition bottle artwork, Laolu’s main artistic medium is the skin. The Nigeria-born artist is best known for his body-painting featured in “Lemonade’’, Beyoncé’s Grammy Award-winning visual album.

He has graced the cover of the Washington Post, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, BBC, CNN, and NBC. In addition to Beyoncé, artistes and celebrities including Alicia Keys, Swiss Beatz, Seun Kuti, Tony Allen, Alek Wek, and Danielle Brooks are among his collaborators.

Chinua Achebe Cultural Centre coming to Ogidi community

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lans have been concluded to build a world class heritage centre to be named ‘Chinua Achebe Cultural and Event Centre’ at Ogidi in honour of Africa’s best-selling literary giant, Chinua Achebe. This was made public during an address delivered by the traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe (Pharm) Alexander Onyido, Ezechuamagha 1 of Ogidi, during the reinstatement and induction ceremony of the Ogidi Social Club of Nigeria in Lagos.

The traditional ruler mentioned the cultural heritage as one of the priorities of the community while addressing the indigenes at the event which held at the Ogidi Civic Centre in FESTAC Town, Lagos.

At the colourful ceremony,

which heralded a grand display of the deep cultural heritage of the Ogidi people of Anambra State, the Ogidi Social Club, set up primarily to promote love, unity and the spirit of progress among the indigenes initiated a fresh start with reinstatement and induction of old and new members in Lagos after being moribund for almost 25 years.

In his welcome address during the event, the patron and coordinator, Chief Obi Iloabachie, called the event an epoch-making one. He said: “We welcome you to this epoch-making event, which is the reinstatement and induction ceremony of the Ogidi Social Club of Nigeria, Lagos branch.

Today marks an important milestone in the history of the Ogidi Social Club of Nigeria, Lagos branch. Lagos

branch was inducted on 20th February 1982. After the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola political saga in 1993, the branch went comatose. After many years in limbo, Lagos branch is today reinstated with over forty youthful

new members. Glory be to God, who made this possible. We express our gratitude to God Almighty and to our grand patron, Igwe Uzo Onyido, who in spite of his tight schedule came to grace this occasion.”

Chinua Achebe, the late Nigerian/African literary giant

The Central Executive Committee of the club in its message at the event urged Ogidi people everywhere to resuscitate the club in their domains in the interest of Ogidi community. “We use this opportunity to urge all other branches like Umuahia, Warri, and the ones in the North, to emulate the example of the Lagos branch. We are coming to a stage when all the branches of the club in Nigeria and the Diaspora will join hands with the Igwe, who has been doing well in directing the affairs of the town as regards Ogidi developmental projects for the benefit of our people at home.”

The Chinua Achebe Cultural Centre will among other things serve as a resort and resource centre for knowledge and leisure.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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Arts Festive with the arts OBINNA EMELIKE

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f you are a lover of the arts, especially visual, there are many engaging works to see and artists to appreciate this festive season.

There is no lack of galleries to visit as some are within your vicinity.

To enjoy the festive holiday with the creative minds and hands among us, all you need do is ask around for galleries, google for information and step out to see what the galleries offer.

But one place to be is Omenka, a leading art gallery on 24 Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi.

At the gallery, visitors enjoy a fine selection of works of established and emerging contemporary Nigerian and international artists working in diverse media.

The good thing about visiting the gallery is that it is located just by the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and hence offers fresh breeze amid tranquil atmosphere.

It also host a restaurant overlooking the ocean and under

tree shade.

You can also visit Temple Muse. Located on 21, Amodu Tijani Close, Victoria Island, Lagos, The Temple Muse offer curated art exhibitions and bespoke events, set within the beautiful setting of an in-house gallery, champagne bar and poolside, which are designed to further inspire visitors. Corpo-

rate gifts, luxury hampers and a wedding gift registry are also available in store within the gallery.

As well, SMO Contemporary Art, which specializes in showcasing contemporary art in non-traditional exhibition spaces, focusing on established and emerging artists based in Africa and the Diaspora, is also an outfit to check

for quality visual art exhibitions even this festive season.

One of the foremost exhibition spaces SMO Contemporary uses is The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi.

You can visit the boutique hotel to see breathtaking artworks, especially the ongoing exhibition titled ‘The Contemporaries II’ showcasing the works of Kainebi

Osahenye, Kelani Abass and Kenny Adewuyi.

The exhibition, which runs until January 15, 2019 presents strong visual narratives and powerful figurative abstractions, which explore historic socio-political narratives, the dignity of labour, technology, and the environment vis-a-vis unbridled consumerism.

You must not take a room at the premiere luxury boutique hotel before you fete your eyes on the creative works of Nigerian artists because The Wheatbaker is at the forefront of promoting contemporary Nigerian art with its robust and innovative art exhibitions all year round since it opened its doors in 2011.

Besides these galleries, you can visit Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, National Museum Onikan, Alexis Galleries, among others to fete your eyes on creative ingenuity of master visual artists and emerging ones.

Just give it a trial and you will delight in doing that. I wish you a happy new year with the arts!

Olusola’s new book teaches you what school doesn’t teach you DESMOND OKON

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othered by the abysmal state of the education sector, serial entrepreneur Segun Olusola has launched a book that provides solutions to education-based problems both on the individual and general levels.

First launched in the United Kingdom, the book ‘What School Doesn’t Teach Us’ talks about choosing a career, formal education, the significance of informal education, diverse skills, innovation and creativity, communication, portfolio building, mentorship and internship – considered as issues faced by students around the world.

Also, having observed the perennial lack of (or poor) financing in the sector, Olusola aims to create a surging drive for spending in the sector through the book. He also intends to push for a change in the curriculum through various efforts.

“My book is about what school doesn’t teach us. Anywhere you in go in the world, you will see there is a market gap between the students and the lecturer. For example, in Nigeria most parents tend to tell their children what to

study in the university, and when they finish studying that thing, they realize, ‘This is not for me’,” Olusola said.

“Same thing in the United Kingdom. The students pick a subject at a particular time hoping that they love that subject, when they go to college of the university, they realize that that is not what they really want to do, and when they get to work, they don’t do what they studied.

So we have graduates who are supposed to be in a particular field but they are not in that field,” he said.

Olusola said he was moti-

vated to write the book after seeing that enough spending is not going into education, and companies and institutions only focus on entertainment, fashion and sports for corporate social responsibility programmes. Even the government’s budgetary allocation to education over the years has been meagre, indicating that the sector is not receiving enough attention as the leading source of human capital development capable of driving sustainable economic growth.

Olusola said the reason he came to launch the book in

Nigeria was to drive home the need to invest in education, informal and formal, and in the intellectual capability of students. He said the book would benefit people in America and in the United Kingdom, but it would be more beneficial to Nigeria as a country.

“I want to push the fact that government needs to spend more on education.

So the plan is for our educators, the government, the politicians, the individuals, companies to say we need to invest more in our education,” he said.

Adebola Olubanjo, chair-

L-R: Oba Albert Adebose Mayungbe, Erinshiba III, Odemo of Isara; Segun Olusola, book author, and Ladi Balogun, non-executive director, FCMB (UK) Ltd., at the launch of Olusola’s ‘What School Doesn’t Teach Us’, recently.

man, Sobanjo Group, who was also one of the keynote speakers at the launch, said the book would help the educational sector in Nigeria.

“It will also help the individuals that are going to school especially, and the parents who are sending them to school to see the need for the children to have more than just formal education. They need to know the skills that the children need to have.

So, if the children are going to school where the skills are not being taught, during their holidays, and spare time, their parents could help them fill the gap between what they are getting in school and what they will need in life,” Olubanjo said.

Dele Tejuosho, founder, Wifi Combat Academy, said he wished he had the book growing up as it would have prepared him for his own future.

“It talks about learning, continuous learning, because we’re now in the digital economy and it’s taking over every market sector. So whether you like it or not, you have to upgrade yourself in technology. So you have to know how to use the technology tools.

It’s either you use technology to create or use technology to empower whatever your vocations are,” Tejuosho said.

The Alternative Gospel by Psalms David

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ormerly known as Zbyte in the secular world, Onukwugha Onyekachi Stanley has not only turned around with his music but also his name.

Now known as Psalms David, Stanley is a full-fledged gospel act with a brand new song, ‘Ginikachi’ with its video currently enjoying rave reviews across different platforms.

Explaining how his musical journey started, the calm bespectacled dude, said, “I started out as a secular artiste with the name, Zbyte and I was under Premier Records.

For me, I see music like fashion, just the way everybody sees it. But I think my switch to gospel music was a transformation that just occurred as I didn’t really plan it and I think it’s divine.”

Stanley who plays Afro hip-hop said that though his content in gospel is different but the flow remains the same as he insists that what is unique about him is that he has no replica of what he is or does.

On challenges as a gospel artiste, said: “I think so far a mark has been made that we need to jump in the music genre. What matters most

now is meeting up and of which I am working towards and as you said it is a challenge and not a problem. As I see everything that is a challenge as something I can overcome and I guess that is why I am putting more efforts.”

With an Australian tour in view among other projects lined up, Stanley is not too pleased with the gospel genre as he blurted, “Sorry to say this, I think the gospel genre is empty but with some big names and I think the secular world is big with big names and they are maintaining it a whole lot. Being someone that moved from secular to gospel I’m trying to put some fame in it and give gospel a new look and get the opportunities I’m gearing for.”

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Entertainment

Star Lager keys into Lagos culture with ‘Aro Meta’ statue …kicks off One Lagos Fiesta white cap chiefs and it is the most iconic symbol of welcome, honour and hospitality in Lagos.

Tapping into the traditional Lagos lifestyle, the Aro Meta connects to brand’s core message of bringing people together to enjoy the brighter life.

Star is the premium beer brand that welcomed Lagos into the brewing and enjoyment world when it was introduced into the Nigerian market on June 2, 1949 as the first indigenouslybrewed beer in a market that was dominated by imported brands.

“Star Lager has always been a proud supporter of the iconic Lagos heritage and this year we have something special planned and we can’t wait to unveil it,” said Sarah Agha , portfolio manager, National Premium Brands, NB Plc.

ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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ne Lagos Fiesta, proudly sponsored by Star Lager, has been monumental with the brand celebrating the state’s culture and heritage.

The Lagos Countdown, now One Lagos Fiesta , began on December 24 at five designated locations around the state and will end in the wee hours of December 31.

The eight-day event which witnessed amazing performances from Olamide, Wizkid, Davido, Pasuma, Sunny Ade, Mr Real and a host of others, will also usher in the new year.

Speaking about Star’s support of the event, Emmanuel Oriakhi, marketing director, NB Plc, said, “Star Lager is committed to providing the best entertainment offering to consumers as we continue our support of One Lagos Fiesta. We take pride in this partnership and our goal is to continually upgrade experiences for our consumers as we promise bigger and better experiences in the future.”

The star of the fiesta It was not just a star-studded event with A-list artistes performing their biggest hits.

One outstanding thing was the massive 58-feet tall Aro Meta statue with a Star LED screen base. While 58 feet is a lot, until you see it, you would not

Unforgettable spectacle of culture, arts and music in Ota

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igeria’s golden premium quality lager, Goldberg Lager Beer, thrilled consumers and music lovers with an unforgettable spectacle of culture, arts and music, as they hosted a memorable faaji event for shoppers present at Shoprite, Sango Ota, on December 24, 2018.

The event was an avenue to supply entertainment, excitement and energy and featured special appearances from Nigeria’s biggest fuji performer, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, and the undoubted crowned king of Nollywood, Odunlade Adekola.

Excited music fans and brand loyalists thronged the Shoprite premises to enjoy a night of music, arts and culture as they witnessed the energetic performances from veteran fuji acts and a host of others.

“Delivering highly engaging

and memorable moments to our consumers nationwide is something we take immense pride in and we are confident of this defined effort to keep upgrading their experiences at all our events,” said Emmanuel Oriakhi, marketing director, Nigerian Breweries Plc. “To mark this beautiful season of yuletide, we have put together this Unlimited Faaji event and a host of other exciting activities for our consumers to celebrate the season right until the new year as we are truly delighted to be part of the festivities,” he said.

In the quest to continue deepening customer engagement in Nigeria, Goldberg Lager has provided the ultimate experience for consumers to celebrate the yuletide with unlimited faaji.

Goldberg is a premium quality lager beer that is brewed to golden standard by the NB Plc.

understand the beauty of the structure.

The most astounding thing is that Star Lager built these statues entirely out of Star crates; over 3,000 of them!

This remarkable work of art has automatically become the most photographed artistry at the event, featuring countless attendees.

Why the three Lagos white cap chiefs (Aro Meta)?

Aro Meta popularly called the “three wise men” is an art deco statue of three Lagos

What else to expect?

480 hours of fun and entertainment at the five key select locations for eight days and people can celebrate the holiday season at any of the select locations: Agege Stadium, Ikorodu Town Hall, Badagry, Epe, Marina and Eko Atlantic.

Other fun activities include games arena, Live EPL match viewing, and the Star Happy Hour.

The 8-day celebration is one of the ways Nigeria’s commercial capital and Africa’s Mega City, Lagos, brings all of the past year into one rousing celebration.

“33” Export rewards 33 friends with Boxing Day gifts

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igeria’s No 1 Friendship Beer, “33” Export on December 26 rewarded 33 lucky friends with Boxing Day gifts.

This initiative was borne out of the desire to remind its consumers on the reason for the season and the true essence of Boxing Day. Contrary to some opinions, the origins of Boxing Day lie not in sport, but in small acts of kindness.

It is generally believed and accepted by many that the name derives from the giving of Christmas “boxes”, but the precise nature of those boxes and when they were first dispensed is disputed.

One school of thought argues that the tradition began in churches in the Middle Ages.

Parishioners collected money for the poor in alms boxes, and these were opened on the day after Christmas in honor of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose feast day falls on

December 26th.

The beer brand took to its Facebook page to announce the competition on Christmas Eve, and users were asked to simply nominate a special friend they would like to gift a Boxing Day surprise.

The selected 33 winners were delighted, and took to social media to share their excitement,

while thanking the brand for making the festive season extra special and rewarding.

One of the lucky winners who preferred to remain anonymous said, “I felt really special. Knowing that my friend nominated me to get a Boxing Day gift makes me feel really proud and thankful.

“33” Export has really put a smile on my face this season.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 27

Kiddies Mary had a Little Lamb

by Nursery Rhyme Mary had a little lamb, Little lamb, little lamb.

Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow.

And ev’ry where that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went.

Everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day, School one day, school one day.

It followed her to school one day, Which was against the rule.

It made the children laugh and play, Laugh and play, laugh and play.

It made the children laugh and play, To see a lamb at school.

So the teacher turned him out, turned him out, turned him out.

So the teacher turned him out, And sent him straight away

Lift Every Voice and Sing

by James Weldon Johnson

Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the Stony the road we trod, places, our God, where we met Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope un- Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the born had died; wine of the world, we forget Yet with a steady beat, Thee; Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand. our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that True to our God, with tears has been watered, True to our native land

Director and Proprietress of King Emmanuel Nursery and Primary School Ayobo, Anthony and Nike Baiyewu with the students of King Emmanuel Progressive College during their musical concert held recently in Lagos.

FRSC, IFC seek pupils’ involvement in road safety issues Ngozi Okpalakunne

T

he Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety C o m m i s s i o n ( F RS C ) , Hyginus Omeje, has stressed the need for the government to deepen road safety rules in the primary school curriculum.

S p e a k i n g r e c e n t l y i n La g o s d u r i n g t h e I n d o m i e Fa n Club (IFC) Road Safety Quiz Competition, Omeje affirmed that such step will ensure that school children learn road safety rules early in life for survival.

Omeje, who was represented by FRSC Deputy Corps Commander, Olalekan Morakinyo, said when the children are taught road safety rules at a tender age, such knowledge will remain with them till adulthood, a situation, which he said, will help to curb road accidents in the future.

“One of the major reasons for our partnership and support of the Indomie Fan Club Safety Quiz Competition is to help towards deepening general safety knowledge among the pupils and to also use them as agents of change in our society, especially as the festive season approaches,” he added.

The Indomie Fan Club Road Safety Quiz Competition is expected to assess the level of under-

standing of road safety protocols by the pupils of the various IFCsupported schools after months of enlightenment on road safety rules by officials of the corps.

Twenty-seven IFC-supported schools drawn from all the local government councils in Lagos participated in the elimination stage of the competition held at the FRSC Sector Command, Ojodu Berger, Lagos. Out of the four schools that made it to the finals, Kings Crown School, Surulere, came first. Doncas Private School, Ikotun, came second, while First Baptist School, Kosofe, came third with Paragon Nursery and Primary School, Shomolu, coming clinching the fourth position.

The Coordinator of the IFC, Faith Joshua, stated that Club believes in educational development, safety and harnessing of

the special talents of children who will someday become resource persons in the society.

According to her, the IFC road safety quiz competition aimed at evaluating the pupils’ understanding on the dos and don’ts of road safety.

Winners and representatives of Kings Crown School Surulere, Ifeonye Emmanuel and Adebambo Deborah applauded IFC for its continuous support to pupils and promised to be good ambassadors to the Club and FRSC. The competition was organised

by IFC in partnership with the Lagos Sector Command of the FRSC, Lagos.

IFC was established in 2005 with the aim of creating an environment of learning, fun, excitement and bonding for children between the ages of 5 to 12.

Story of the four companions

A

t the foot of the Rainbow’s mountain, there lived a donkey. His master, the farmer, made him work day and night. One day, the donkey thought, “I have a deep voice and I can sing. Why should I work for the cruel farmer?

Instead I can make a living singing and entertaining people in the nearby town.”

So, the next day, the donkey set off to town. Just as he was on his way, he met a dog. “My master has driven me out,” cried the dog.

“You bark so rhythmically,” said the donkey. “You can join me. We will go to the town and entertain people with our singing.”

The dog liked the idea and they started walking together. A few miles away, they met a cat. “My master does not give me anything to eat,” sobbed the cat. “Oh, you

mew so melodiously,” said the donkey. “Join us! We shall go to the town and entertain people with our singing.” The cat too joined them.

A little ahead, they met a hen.

“My master wanted to sell me off, so I ran away,” she said. “You cluck so sweetly,” said the donkey. “Join us! We shall go to the town and entertain people with our singing.”

The hen agreed.

Now all the four animals headed for town. Soon, it was nightfall and the four companions came across a house. Curious, they peeped through a window, to see if anybody lived there. The donkey placed his front legs upon the window sill, the dog climbed on top of the donkey, the cat sat on the dog and the hen perched upon the cat. The donkey said, “Let us sing

for the people of this house. They might provide us with food and shelter.” And so, they all began to sing together. The donkey brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the hen clucked.

Now, it so happened that the housebelongedtotwothieves.When they saw the strange sight and heard the horrid noise, they screamed!”

Help! Help! There’s an awful beast at the window, they yelled, thinking that all four animals was one big beast!”

Thethievesranoutofthehouse,never to return again.

“Ah! They cannot appreciate good music!” said the donkey.

But, look what they have left us.

There is so much wealth here that we don’t need to go to the town and work!” The four of them were thrilled and lived happily together for a very long time.

28 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 30 December 2018

This Life ‘How the saying, ‘it’s always darkest before the dawn’ fulfilled in my life’ and that gladdened my heart.

I was posted to Benue State for my Youth Service where I taught in a secondary school like most of the Corps members. I had fun in the state because Corps members, especially teachers, were treated very nicely. I got free foodstuffs delivered to my room on a regular basis and since I was also given a free room to stay, I was able to save some of my monthly allowance.

Youth service ended quietly just as it had started and we travelled back to our respective states. But, some Corps members tarried for a while.

Back home, I went to my school to see if I stood a chance of securing a lecturing job and that was when it dawned on me that I had been building castles in the air. I was advised to enroll for my Masters to stand a better chance after which I would proceed for my PhD. And where was I supposed to get the funds from? Scholarships came to my mind and I began applying while I was hunting for jobs. To keep body and soul together, I accepted a teaching job in a secondary school and was paid a paltry N20,000, which was barely enough.

After staying at home for a little over six months without securing a better job, I decided it was time to leave my comfort zone. I travelled to Port Harcourt and had to put up with a course mate for three months.

It was tough and nothing came out of it. I submitted my CV

W CHINWE AGBEZE

hatever your pain may be, there will always be sunshine after rain. But if you want to see sunshine, you have to weather the storm.

My name is Chukwuemeka Nwankwo and I am a chemical engineer in one of Nigeria’s choicest Oil and Gas firms. But my life wasn’t always easy. I struggled through life and my future looked pretty bleak.

The first ten years of my life were fun but everything took a twist when I lost my father at the age of 11. My mother who earned so little working as a teacher in a primary school went through difficult times while raising me and my four siblings.

First, we were moved from the private school we attended to a public one in our neighbourhood. Then, the number of times we ate daily and the quantity dropped. Paying the bills especially the house rent was not easy for my mother as well.

The second child and first son in a family of five children, I have an elder sister and three younger brothers.

My elder sister nursed the ambition of becoming a nurse and we all believed she would make a great nurse because she nursed us all.

However, shortly after her secondary school education, a suitor who promised to help her achieve her dreams came along and she got married.

Apart from the fact that the man promised to fund her higher education, my sister agreed to marry him so as to make light the burden my mother was going through. Also, she hoped to support the family financially because her husband, Nnamdi was financially stable.

But when the kids started rolling in, the entire story changed forever. My sister supports us from time to time but that was not something we could bank on.

Life was so tough for us that my mother had to do odd jobs just to put food on the table.

Taking care of four boys was no easy task and seeing how hard she struggled, I vowed not to let all that go in vain.

I completed my secondary school education the same time with my mates and got myself a job working at a nearby supermarket. With the little I was paid, I helped my mother take care of the family and saved part for my university education.

Af t e r w o r k i n g f o r t w o years, I enrolled for extramural lectures and wrote JAMB. I passed on first attempt and was offered admission to study Chemical Engineering at one of the Federal Universities in the country.

My m o t h e r p a i d f o r m y tuition fees but to survive in school, I knew I had to do something to rake in funds. I had some money saved, so I decided to venture into the fairly-used clothes business, popularly known as ‘Okirika’.

I would go to the New Market at Aba very early on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays before the retailers declare the ‘Okirika’ bags open.

After picking some “grade 1” shirts which I was certain students would love, I would wash and starch them, after which I iron and package them neatly in transparent nylons.

Besides cloth sale, I made some money tutoring students. In all these, I never failed to create ample time for my studies which was paramount. Most

times, I studied at night and I also realised that by teaching others, I gained more intellectually.

Life in the university was not all smooth. There were ups and downs. Times when patronage was abysmally low and because my cash was tied down, I could not afford to feed or buy basic necessities. I hate to bother my mother because she had enough on her plate.

It was challenging catering for my three younger brothers and me. My mother supported me but there were times she couldn’t and I had to fend for myself.

So, there were times when I did not know where my next meal was going to come from and I was faced with the temptation of doing something illegal but, I chose not to.

My joy knew no bounds the day I graduated from the University with a First Class Honours. As the best graduating student, I learnt that the chances of employing me to lecture in the school was high

”

But when life became very tough and I felt like giving up, I began to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Some of the top companies I applied to months earlier reached out to me

”

both manually and online to different companies but after several interviews, I wasn’t called to resume work.

When my friend got married, I had to look for somewhere to stay. But since I had not secured any meaningful job at that time, I decided it was best I travelled home and I did.

I stayed at home for a month and travelled to Abuja where one of the students I tutored in school accommodated me.

I repeated all I did in Port Harcourt and even went the extra mile. I accepted poorly paid jobs while I prayed for a better one but it appeared my prayers were not answered because everything remained the same or even worse.

After I failed to secure a good job in five months, I felt I had overstayed my welcome and I made up my mind to go back home. I wasn’t the type who kept close friends in school but I was known in school because I tutored students and sold shirts in hostels.

Leaving Abuja, I decided to head to the land of opportunities instead. Getting to Lagos, one of my customers in school who admired me a great deal housed me. I promised to leave when I secured a job but he said I could stay as long as I wanted.

Even in Lagos, the story was not any different and before long, frustration began to set in. Many who knew how good I was in school and others who saw my impressive qualification said I must be under a spell or curse. Initially, I felt insulted by those comments but with time, I began to share the same belief with them. It was as if I was destined to suffer for long or ever. Those who I was more qualified than got great jobs and I was left with the dirty jobs. This was depressing but I still persevered.

But when life became very tough and I felt like giving up, I began to see light at the end of the tunnel. Some of the top companies I applied to months earlier reached out to me. It was interviews after another and in the end; I had an array of job with mouth-watering offers to choose from and I selected the best paying one.

I have been on this job for four years now and life couldn’t be any better. My mother and siblings are all doing fine. I am working towards getting my PhD and have a supportive wife and lovely son. I doubt if all these would be possible if I did not persevere in the midst of the storm. The storm was heavy but I weathered it and now, I am enjoying the sunshine.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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Politics 2019: Nigerians still waiting for real presidential campaigns Zebulon Agomuo

T

he question on the lips of many Nigerians is whether the presidential campaigns have actually kicked off.

The talk in town is that nothing is happening in that regard.

According to a list recently published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), about 59 persons would be contesting for the presidential seat. But not many of them is being heard of, in terms of mounting their campaign, including the sitting President Muhammadu Buhari of the All progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking re-election, except an array of posters and billboards.

Nigerians are used to too much noise during electioneering campaign with political parties moving about in long convoys, blaring their jingles. It has always been so until now.

In 2015, the campaigns were hot.

The presidential candidates held rallies in different zones and states across the country.

With the look of things and with the presidential election slated for February 16, less than two months from now, it is not certain that the presidential contenders would visit all the states within the period left before the D-Day. Pundits have said that parties are being careful about spending money, given the serious monitoring by the Federal Government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“I think that generally, there is no money and some people believe that the EFCC can use this avenue to detect monies that politicians cannot account for (unaccountable wealth), judging by the same way the EFCC is tracing owners of some properties said to have been built with stolen funds, especially those belonging to people outside the ruling party,” an analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

“Generally, the economy is in bad shape.

One way of measuring this is the number of people asking you for financial assistance these days. I have seen a four-fold increase in those asking me for help even though they do not know what my earning capacity is. It is a clear indication that there is a problem in the economy,” the pundit further said.

An economic expert, who spoke with BDSUNDAY asking not to be named, said that it was worrisome that less than two months to the presidential election things are very difficult in the country.

“Usually, during electioneering campaign anywhere in the world, parties and candidates spend money; this money circulates in the system by boosting economic activities.

This is an unusual situation we are seeing; you know, during election, some printing businesses enjoy patronage; event planners; transporters and other small businesses boom, but that is not the case here. We are seeing a situation where the system is being starved of funds, creating opportunities for all manner of electoral fraud,” the expert said.

According to him, “If you say people should not accept bribe money to vote for candidates, you must have to provide a better alternative for the people to generate money without relying on handouts. This vote-buying thing thrives simply because people are poor and need money by all means. This is why the trader-moni has come handy this time around. But, what in real truth would ten thousand naira do for a trader?

Muhammadu Buhari

Atiku Abubakar

Obiageli Ezekwesili

Kingsley Moghalu

Omoyele Sowore

Olusegun Mimiko

But for such category of traders who are already poor, at least ten thousand naira can take care of their families’ feeding, at least for two days.”

Except the two major contenders- the APC candidate, incumbent President Buhari and PDP’s, Atiku Abubakar- nothing from other presidential candidates except occasional mention on the pages of newspaper and chanced appearances on television screens.

Even at that, while Atiku is making appearances at zonal levels across the country, Buhari is yet to kick off anywhere.

Recall that following the lifting of ban on November 17 by the INEC for the presidential campaigns, President Buhari had on the following day, Sunday 18, launched his policy document tagged “Next Level” inside the Aso Rock Villa. The next day, Monday 19, Atiku Abubakar released his policy document christened ‘Making Nigeria Work Again’, on a live facebook appearance.

Against expectations in many quarters, the campaigns have been very lethargic to the extent that many Nigerians can’t seem to feel the election in the air.

A youth leader with one of the parties told BDSUNDAY that the reason for the low-key campaigns was money.

“I think it is about money. I am a youth leader in our great party. I will not mention it for some reasons. There is no money. It is only APC that is in power that has the money to do elaborate campaign. You can see their campaign billboards all over the place. They put their hands in the public purse to fund their campaign. But I think that is the extent they can go; if anybody is expecting President Buhari to tour the zones and states; that would not happen this time around because the man has got no stamina to do so.

“They will saturate every nook and cranny of the country with posters and billboards.

They have all the money and they threaten every other person with arrest and with EFCC; that’s why you see that nothing much

is happening.”

Tony Ama, a public affairs analyst, said he believed that the issue of money may have hampered the campaign of former vice President Atiku Abubakar.

“I am not sure there is money for Atiku to prosecute his campaign. The governors that would have raised money for him are also struggling for their own re-election. The odds favour the party in power because all they do, they do with public fund. That’s why you see everywhere flooded with their posters and billboards,” he said.

“Again, the ruling party appears to be applying the instrument of intimidation using the EFCC; wherever they see the opposition spending money they imagine that it is stolen money. Don’t also forget that the banks are very careful these days. In the past, it was the banks that used to repatriate money for politicians during election. It appears the banks are very cautious these days. The Bureau de Change operators, who also used to help politicians, are no longer keen on doing so; this is because the noose appears to be tightened on their neck,” he further said, adding that “the saddest aspect of it all is that it is negatively impacting the economy. The other day, the President lamented that the economy has collapsed; then the question that should follow is, why seeking a return to power; is it until Nigeria sinks?”

Unlike in the past when some individuals and groups spent their money to support a candidate of their choice by addressing press conferences; placing paid advertorials in newspapers, radios and televisions, today, such groups and individuals are relying on the presidential candidates to “mobilise” them.

Today, there are hundreds of groups purporting to support some of the presidential candidates; they are only interested in churning out press releases which they send to the social media or to the email boxes of media people whose contacts they have. They never acknowledge the use of such materials; their target is to receive huge allocations

from the candidate they are in support of.

A trained psychologist who works with one of the federal health institutions told BDSUNDAY that she was not surprised that the campaign this time around has been low-key.

“I have followed campaigns in my life as a 50-year-old. I saw what happened in the days when Chief Obafemi Awolowo contested under UPN and Nnamdi Azikwe under NPP. Nigeria shook with jingles, and flyers were all over the place- that was even in the 80s.

“I also witnessed what happened from 1999 to 2014; but what is happening now is quite different and does not help the economy. The atmosphere is tensed up. People are already apprehensive of what the 2019 elections hold.

The government of the day is instilling fear in everybody. It appears the sitting government has seen this election as a do-or-die affair which is unfortunate and it is trying to, by all means, muscle the opposition.”

“The unfortunate thing is that they seem not to realise that what they are doing now; the evil seed they are sowing today will show in the next few months; by then they will be lamenting that the economy is gone,” the psychologist who refused to give her name, said.

She also blamed the people she regarded as “pretenders in the race,” of distracting attention instead of aligning with stronger candidates if their aspiration is to move the country forward.

“Honestly, I do not see the rationale behind the motley crowd that parade themselves as presidential candidates. I have thought that the likes of Kingsley Moghalu, Oby Ezekwesili, Omoyele Sowore and Fela Durotoye would have aligned forces with any of the two major contenders, if their motive is a better Nigeria. Does it mean they did not know they cannot win presidential election, at least this time, in Nigeria?”

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Investigation

Inside Abia where abandoned constituency projects thrive Part 2

BDSUNDAY, today, publishes the concluding part of the corruption rot on how federal constituency projects are left uncompleted, abandoned and left to waste in various communities in Abia State. Last Sunday, the newspaper began the investigation conducted by our Investigative Journalist, Chinwe Agbeze, who spent two weeks in some of Abia communities to ascertain the decay. Up till present, responses are still being expected from some of the top officials concerned.

O

Completed but not in Use k w o k o, Nk p o r o road in Ohafia LGA, where a solar borehole was to be constructed is a sorry tale in critical need of attention. The borehole water project, captured in the2017zonalinterventionscheme at the cost of N10 million, was reportedly declared completed.

But somehow again, it reappeared in the 2018 budget for the same amount. This time, it is tagged an uncompleted project probably in need of being completed.

Upon a visit to the site on August 31, 2018, BDSUNDAY reporter learnt that a generator-powered water scheme, which was yet to be commissioned, was provided for the village in the first quarter of 2018.

The initial plan, it was also learnt, was that a solar borehole was to be constructed, but the villagers requested for a water scheme instead.

Commenting on the developments, Prince Uka, Okwoko community secretary, said: “We have what is called Nkporo soil in geography. There is no depth you will dig that will make you to get water underneath the ground. Even the deputy governor of this state, Ude Oko Chukwu, who hails from Nkporo, does not have a borehole in his compound.”

Investigating deeply, it was observed that the site of the water scheme is overgrown with weeds, showing a clear indication that it hadn’t been used in a long while.

Uka, however, said that their water scheme is working fine.

He explained that the water scheme is generator-powered and requires fuelling. But because they don’t often have the money to fuel it; they are making do with rain water for now. “By October when the dry season sets in, we will start pumping water again for about three hours daily. We pump stream water into a reservoir where it is treated and distributed into two small-sized tanks for our use and it often lasts for one week. This is for drinking only. But we go fetch for other uses from the stream. But most residents still drink the water from the stream despite others washing and bathing in it,” he said.

However, the Okwoko Nkporo traditional ruler, Eze Nwankwo Uka, said the water scheme cannot serve the entire village unless one more, at least, is added. Residents of neighbouring villages fetch water from here and we cannot drive them away.”

Interestingly, this project under review is of one those re-budget-

>>

Gully erosion in Bende LGA, which recently crashed part of a building, seen as disaster waiting to happen - Pictures by ChinweAgbeze ed for in the 2018 fiscal year. So, ram-shackled. sor’s submission, told the reporter BDSUNDAY contacted Uko Nkole, The bridge project, which was that they began works on the bridge House of Representative member proposed for N30 million, was recently in August 2018. And speakin-charge of the project on Decem- contracted to Messrs Hi-Mansion ing in line with the construction ber 13, 2018, to know why the 2017 Limited. On a visit to the site on Sep- worker’s leak, road users underproject recurred in 2018 budget. tember 1, 2018; construction work- scored the need to expedite work Nkole’s stammered response: ers were seen grading the surface. on the bridge as it had, in recent “The project has not been executed.

When quizzed, Igwe Ezelu, proj- times, led to the loss of many lives.

Em em, I mean, it has not been ect supervisor, told BDSUNDAY A motorcyclist called Kalu, who awarded. If the borehole was con- that the bridge project was flagged frequently plies the road, also said: structed, it will not be rolled over. off on May 18, 2018, and construc- “Just last month, a bus loaded with And if a project is not procured in tion commenced three weeks after. passengers plunged into the river. a particular year, we roll it over to He said it was initially planned to be Sadly, none of them survived.” the next year. And I hope you know rehabilitated. But on realising that it Another motorist who daily that 2018 budget has not been was in ruins and could be injurious to drives along the route lamented implemented,? he quipped. On that users’ lives; the plan was upgraded that no work was done on the note, he declined answering further to construction. bridge for several months. He notquestions.

Reminding him that this was ed: “The construction workers just On-going butSlow Road Works three months down the line, he said: park and jettison their work tools Just like most of the road works “Initially, the target was to finish the and caterpillars there. No works in Abia State which BDSUNDAY project in four months. But due to are done for several months. In fact, reporter had toured, the road lead- weather challenges, we are thinking many people had died. The bridge ing to the bridge that connects of finishing by November 2018.” needs to be completed fast.”

Arochukwu and Ohafia, popularly A construction worker, presentMeanwhile, Ezelu, who also known as ‘Omenuko Bridge’, is also ing a different view of his supervi- said he once witnessed an accident that claimed one person’s life on the bridge; was freshly called on December 13, 2018, to get update information on the project to know if it had been completed.

His response: “We are done with the piling of the bridge. But now, we have lack of funds’ challenges. Our target was to hang the bridge by November/December, 2018, but we are yet to receive the money being expected from the ministry.”

The views of House of Representative Uko Nkole, was sought on the bridge project. His response was that he reported what he saw to the works ministry sequel to appraising the jobs done. Then added: “In all, N200million was allocated for the On-going but slow road works on Arochukwu-Ohafia bridge project. Although, I am unaware of

the actual amounts released as the monies were disbursed in phases.

But on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, the ministry instructed the contractor to halt works on the bridge. So, it is assumed that the challenge isn’t only about funding. The main problem is that the contractor did a poor and shoddy job which is unacceptable because we will have to subject the job to integrity test. That’s the stage we currently are.”

Non-existent projects According to findings, the importance of constituency projects is no trifling feat to the socio-economic prosperity of a nation’s polity. Hence, massive sums of money are allotted annually to ensure that these basic infrastructures are duly put in place. It can then be understood why the populace are often crestfallen when these basic amenities are not provided, especially as promised during electoral campaigns.

For three federal constituency developmentalprojectstobeimplemented in Bende community, a whooping N75million was allotted for -a primary healthcare centre (PHC) with a solar borehole projected at N45million, a PHC staff quarters projected to cost N20million, and a solar borehole for N10 million; in their locale.

Alas! Locating the sites of the three N75million projects was another Herculean task. After curiously and rigorously searching for the sites; they still could not be located. It was indeed a mirage trailing the monies within the small community. Eventually, BDSUNDAY reporter beckoned on Patrick Ude, Chairman, Bende Council of Traditional Rulers, to direct her to the sites in order to ascertain the status of respective projects.

But rather then help, his response further compounded the invisibility of the non-existent constituency projects in that area.

Ude said: “Should there be such projects in this place; I’m supposed to know. But I don’t know where the FG or whoever are doing such for us in the whole of this small community, situate their projects. Even the solar borehole you mentioned, I don’t know where they are sinking that.”

Impulsively, Ude, putting his phone on speaker tune, called a man named Gabriel Elendu, Chairman, Bende LGA, to verify if he was aware of such projects.

Surprised, Elendu echoed: “Federal Government projects?”

Ude replied in the affirmative.

“Is it not that one Senator Mao Ohuabunwa is building?” Elendu

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BDSUNDAY 31

Investigation queried.

“Where?” Ude asked.

“In Bende,” Elendu responded.

“But he is not building it,” Ude said questioningly.

Elendu then disclosed that the project “is not on-going yet.” Ude asked if the proposed site for the structures was actually in Bende.

To this, Elendu replied: “Yes, in the headquarters.”

As soon as the telephone conversation was done with, Ude volunteered to take the reporter to Bende maternity, the proposed site for the projects.

Now on site, Ude said: “This is where Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, is supposed to build the health centre with the solar borehole, pointing to a dilapidated maternity centre. You see, I initially asked them to either renovate this health centre or build another one. They said they will build another one. Now as you are witnessing, they have not merely started.”

The rundown ancient maternity centre, BDSUNDAY learnt, was built about 1952 and 1954. Since then, it had been serving the people of Bende. Presently, it has become a totally sick health clinic, begging for healing.

From its caved-in ceilings to the delivery couch and the midwife’s residence, everything in the maternity centre shows no sign of wellness.

In fact, the condition of the health centre is so bad that a snake was reported to have sneaked in unaware and bitten a midwife on duty one afternoon.

Bemoaning the ugly situation, Ude said: “The sad aspect to all these is that the politicians would stay wherever they are, and keep lying that they have started works, finished works, done this and that; whereas, they didn’t do anything.

The midwife bitten by a snake said the ceiling almost killed her mother when she visited. “My mother was in the room when I called her. Immediately she stepped outside, the whole ceiling dropped on the floor. The worst aspect of all this is that, both staff and patients now use bucket to defecate and throw inside the pit.

The midwife said she was quite hopeful when the National Primary Healthcare Development

Abandoned and forgotten PHC inside Bende LGA Agency (NPHCDA), said they wanted the pictures of the centre urgently. Without wasting time, “I paid a photographer N5,000 to snap the pictures which I delivered to them promptly. Sadly, till present, nothing had been heard and done afterwards...”

As she talked, Ude, visibly livid, cuts in: “The politicians only used the pictures of the maternity centre for political campaigns. The last time the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) politicians came here; they snapped pictures of the maternity claiming that immediately they enter, they will come and renovate and make it a modern maternity centre. But they did not win and so, they have never returned here.

“However, Mao Ohaubunwa, who later won, had promised that within his first month in office, he would come and fix it. But rather than do that, he has brought his poster again. Oh, he thinks we are fools. He should just know that he is not going. He cannot go again,” Ude stressed angrily.

Just like others, several calls and messages had been made and sent to the direct mobile line of Nnenna Ukeje, Bende Federal Constituency Representative, to tell us what she knows of these projects. However, up till the time of this report, her response to BDSUNDAY’s quests information about the three projects are yet to be responded to.

Ecological Disaster Waiting to Happen Some residents of Bende LGA narrated how they were gripped with the fear of losing their lives and modest property to BDSUNDAY. They said that their homes, situated

not far away from the LGA headquarters, were almost submerged by a gully which had already buried another building in the vicinity two years before.

The occupants told BDSUNDAY that once the danger stare them in the face; they saw the signs of death and gloom, they packed away from that location without a second thought.

Ude, speaking for the residents who lost a part of their house two years before, said: “There was nothing the owner of house could do other than go back to the remaining the part of the building that was still standing. He had nowhere else to call home.”

off anytime.”

In the course of further interrogations, BDSUNDAY learnt that the erosion had been wreaking havoc in the community since 2010 when the FG awarded the contract to Arab Contractors.

“Arab Contractors came in 2010, did whatever they considered their works and ran away.

Then, after some time, the FG still re-awarded the contract to Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), but the agency abandoned the project without seeing it through since April 2017.

“These caterpillars (pointing) have been here since last year.

When they get about N2million,

Abandoned generator-powered water scheme at Okwoko, Nkporo That was in 2016. Now in 2018, the gully is about ravaging whatever little of the house left for the family. The victim of the erosion, Onyinyechi Iroha, said: “Our parlour and two rooms close to the corridor of the remaining part of the house are condemned. The kitchen was also swallowed by the gully.

“However, when the contractors came for inspection, they said our house was on the map.

But when they started work, they didn’t include our house. While we were still asking them why our home disappeared; suddenly, they stopped coming and abandoned the work since last year.”

Iroha also added that two days before BDSUNDAY reporter’s visit to their community, “My son fell from the house into the gully and got a swollen face. We didn’t know someone fell. It’s the loud noise we heard that made me go there. I thank God he did not land with his head.”

Recalling how the disaster happened to her home in particular in 2016, Iroha said they had gone to church on a Sunday only to return home to see that part of their house concealed under the ground. “Now, the doors cannot open. It gets creaky, cracking and extending with each use showing it could fall

they will come and work. When the money finishes, they stop. This has been our predicament,” Ude said.

The signboard close to the site shows that Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is the client company for the project while the contractor is Ginscon Construction Company Limited.

Abandoned and Forgotten Still inside Bende LGA is an uncompleted health centre with a staff quarters, constructed and abandoned by the FG over five years ago. The buildings, which are now overgrown with wild bush almost its height, has become home to rodent and hoodlums and also serves as playground for children. It’s also nearly a dumpsite as massive debris and empty cigarette packs littered its floor. Ude, who by now serves as both fixer and tour guide into the different areas of the community, offered more explanations.

“Federal Government does whatever they like and go away with all these so-called projects.

They leave them incomplete and nobody can ask questions. And really, who do we ask? And it is certain that if you are able to check their records, they will write, ‘completed’!

Then, the person supervising it will just approve the release of final part of the payment as it had been in Nigeria,” Ude said, shaking his

head in disappointment.

Continuing, he added: “The health centre is not the only deserted structure inside this LGA. There is the borehole project abandoned

by NDDC, a telecommunication centre, and several others.

“They claim to build the telecommunication centre from Abuja and abandoned it. It has not worked for one day. The contractor has collected his money and gone for more than five years. And now, as you can see, thick grass has taken over,” Patrick Ude, Chairman, Bende Council of Traditional Rulers, said with a heavy heart.

Ministries Unaware of Projects On the need to ascertain the credibility of the Federal Constituency Projects being investigated; BDSUNDAY contacted the State Ministry of Sports in Umuahia, to obtain more information about the sports centre at Ukwa West.

In a meeting with the Abia State Sports Commissioner, Martins Okoji, who looked evidently surprised, and said: “I have not heard about such a project. If it was on, we would have the file here. It could be they have not started it.”

Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Sports Minister on Media, Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, said she is also unaware of such federal constituency project.

In her words: “I don’t know about such. I think it could be one of those constituency projects initiated by members of the National Assembly. You probably have to ask the Reps in charge of that area.”

When BDSUNDAY called Uzoma Abonta, House of Representative member, Ukwa West/ East Federal Constituency, calls to his line were not picked.

But upon receiving a message from this reporter requesting for information on the Sports Centre project, he called back immediately and said: “I have not done any zonal intervention project on sports or anything near that at all. So, I don’t know anything about that project.”

Getting to the State Ministry of Education, BDSUNDAY reporter met with the Education Commissioner’s Public Relations Manager, Chris Ogbuehi. He said that his boss had long stopped granting interviews to focus on his campaign.

He said: “We don’t have much of FG presence here. So, whatever projects they do, they use to hide them. We never know what they are.”

He then referred the reporter to the constituency office of Mao Ohuabunwa, the Senator representing Abia North, along Bende Street, Umuahia. He was unavailable. His constituency manager, Ndubuisi Eke, was also not on ground to receive the reporter. The office was locked and his number, didn’t get connected either.

Since then, the bid to hear directly from Mao Ohuabunwa, for his own side of the stories, is yet to yield any positive result.

Back in Lagos, this reporter has not relented in her efforts to reach Mao Ohuabunwa. However, he too, has not responded by picking his calls or replying to the messages sent to both of his lines.

This investigation was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICR.

32 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Special Feature How conflict stalled the project – Majomi,. .

Continued from page ?? individual (or body) the investor or government starts investing. In this situation the investor puts himself in a position of risk. The conflict entrepreneur finds it is easy to extort because he knows that the investor, having committed funds, will find it very hard to exit.

So, they have to cooperate and pay out money. But, with the MCRIA, they will determine from the onset if the place is right for him to proceed with the project, because the MCRIA will predict the possibility of such conflict entrepreneurs emerging in any given community.

Now that the MCRIA model has been unveiled to the media and civil society organisation (CSOs), what should be next?

Well, I think that the media and the CSOs should be active in promoting the importance of host community engagement as a principal investment activity. Let me first of all say that the MCRIA has already been imbedded into a government programme, the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), which seeks to monetise gas flares. That the Nigerian Government has recognized the importance of a Bankable Host Community Engagement Strategy is commendable and gives some hope. I think it is also important that the host and impacted communities themselves demand that both government and investing companies adopt an appropriate methodology for engaging them to ensure peace and inclusiveness. Therefore, this should be promoted by communities themselves where the leadership should demand that such tools be used.

Is this MCRIA community-specific or just in a policy; are there communities where this will be deployed on pilot basis or experimented?

Like I said, the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programmme (NGFCP), perhaps the Nigerian government’s most robust domestic gas-based monetisation scheme (till date), has adopted it. The programme seeks to monetise about 180 gas flare locations within the Niger Delta. This can be considered its pilot, for all intents and purposes. However, we expect that, with time, the government will come to realise that such tools are an essential enabling component to successful national industrialisation and development.

How terror killed $20bn Ogidigben Gas Park project …Okowa hobnobs with ‘new investors’, calls for re-start of project IGNATIUS CHUKWU

T

he shrill call in Ju n e 2 0 1 8 by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for resumption of action on the $20billion Odidigben Industrial Gas Park project may have attracted reactions from several former insiders on the way forward or even backward.

Some have warned that the so-called ‘new investors’ parading round the corridors of government could be fraudsters who may break the hearts of the state government and the people of the state in the near future. Such insiders say the so-called investors cannot reactivate Odidigben nor do they have what it takes to bring back the project.

Another set of insiders however have outlined what it may take to reactivate the dream but feared that Ogidigben’s reactivation is not anywhere possible in the immediate future, going by what happened and the facts on ground.

Governor Okowa had called for speedy take-off of the Ogidigben Industrial Gas Park, stating that the gas sector holds a lot of prospects for the economic development of the country.

Understanding Ogidigben project Tagged the Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP), Ogidigben, the project will cover 2700 hectares with fertilizer, methanol, petrochemicals, and aluminum

Ifeanyi Okowa, governor, Delta State plants located in the park that has already been designated as a Tax Free Zone by the federal government which is driving the project in conjunction with oilproducing communities in several states in the Niger Delta through a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) model.

Under the plan presented to Okowa by the consortium to the Acting President, about $20Bn would be invested to develop the Gas Revolution Industrial Park, and generating 250,000 direct and indirect jobs in the process.

Th e i n d u s t r i a l p a r k would be a cluster for several industries in one location benefiting from an efficient, cost-competitive and abundant supply of natural gas, proximity to a deep sea port and centralised utilities, & services such as uninterrupted power, world class telecommunications and processed water, according to reports after the meeting with the governor in June, 2018.

The park, originally conceived by NNPC, is located about 60km from Warri, and is about one km away from the operational base

of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

It will be connected to over 18 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves in fields such as Odidi, Okan, and Forcados, located within a 50km radius. It is equally planned that the park will be connected to Nigeria’s most dominant gas pipeline network-ELPS, enabling supply of gas to and from the park.

Terror: Terror however, reared up when the Ijaw and Itsekiri resurrected their ageold rivalry and warlords emerged to fight on each side. It was gathered that a prominent warlord who later won the heart of then president Goodluck Jonathan had threatened hellfire should Jonathan step on Ogidiggen soil. It was further gathered that a demand of $30m was made to allow the president come there and that the terror held up the groundbreaking until a huge amount in dollars was flown to the militant.

After the incident, the investors from Saudi Arabia allegedly fled, saying if private warlords held such power, the investment was not safe. Since then, Ogidigben went dead.

MCRIA to the rescue?

A researcher and lecturer in the Niger Delta University (NDU) in Wilberforce Island in Bayelsa State, Zibima Todenyefa PhD, has concluded a research and created a model that has revealed why Ogidigben and other mega projects in oil communities crash and how they can be handled better in future. Called the Macro Conflict Risk Im-

pact Assessment (MCRIA) tool, the researcher with the Stakeholders Network for Democracy (SDN) said the model would help bring back fleeing investments by resolving a critical question of bankability of project proposals which seeks to create engagement model for host communities.

Fresh hopes from Vice President’s office?

The Acting President (Vice president) was keen in resolving whatever was the bottleneck for Ogidigben to resume but insiders and this gave rise to a flurry of actions and the descending of hawks but insiders say the VP’s office may have lost steam due to warnings and loss possible loss of confidence; hence, Ogidigben remains a lost dream. Sources say the presence of the Delta State government and the office of the VP would create an impression that action was being taken. The insiders wondered how any company would convince people they are going to raise $25Bn to put there.

The source warned that those pushing the agenda may want to get government funds and disappear.

They warned that some of the companies mentioned to come from China and South Korea are no investors; the one said to be pushing from Dubai may merely be forex boutique operators with huge question marks.

One source further warned: “Ogidigben is fraud waiting to happen”.

Sunday 25 November 2018

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BDSUNDAY 33

Focus

Global warming: severe consequences for Africa

New report projects greater temperature increases

R Dan Shepard

ecord global greenhouse gas emissions are putting the world on a path toward unacceptablewarming,with serious implications for development prospects in Africa.

“Limitingwarmingto1.5°Cispossible withinthelawsofchemistryandphysics, butdoingsowouldrequireunprecedented changes,” said Jim Skea, cochair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III. But IPCC, the world’s foremost authority for assessing the science of climate change, says it is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5° C—if, and only if, there are “rapid and far-reaching transitions in land, energy, industry,buildings,transport,andcities.”

For sub-Saharan Africa, which has experienced more frequent and more intense climate extremes over the past decades, the ramifications of the world’s warming by more than 1.5° C would be profound.

Temperature increases in the region are projected to be higher than the global mean temperature increase; regions in Africa within 15 degrees of the equator are projected to experience an increase in hot nights as well as longer and more frequent heat waves.

The odds are long but not impossible, says the IPCC. And the benefits of limiting climate change to 1.5° C are enormous, with the report detailing the difference in the consequences between a 1.5° C increase and a 2° C increase. Every bit of additional warming adds greater risks for Africa in the form of greater droughts, more heat wavesandmorepotentialcropfailures.

Recognizing the increasing threat of climate change, many countries came together in 2015 to adopt the historic Paris Agreement, committing themselves to limiting climate change to well below 2° C. Some 184 countries have formally joined the agreement, including almost every African nation, with only Angola, Eritrea and South Sudan yet to join. The agreement entered into force in November 2016.

In December 2018 countries met in Katowice, Poland, for the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)—known as COP24—to finalise the rules for implementation of the agreement’s work programme.

As part of the Paris Agreement, countriesmadenationalcommitments to take steps to reduce emissions and build resilience. The treaty also called

Farmers planting during a rainy season in Dali, North Darfur, Sudan. Photo: UN Photo / Albert Farran

for increased financial support from developed countries to assist the climate action efforts of developing countries.

But even at the time that the Paris Agreement was adopted, it was recognized that the commitments on the table would not be enough. Even if the countriesdideverythingtheypromised, global temperatures would rise by 3° C this century.

According to the IPCC, projections show that the western Sahel region will experience the strongest drying, with a significant increase in the maximum length of dry spells. The IPCC expects Central Africa to see a decrease in the length of wet spells and a slight increase in heavy rainfall.

West Africa has been identified as a climate-change hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with resultant impacts on food security.

Southern Africa will also be affected.

The western part of Southern Africa is set to become drier, with increasing drought frequency and number of heat waves toward the end of the 21st century.

A warming world will have implications for precipitation. At 1.5° C, less rain would fall over the Limpopo basin and areas of the Zambezi basin in Zambia, as well as parts of Western Cape in South Africa.

But at 2° C, Southern Africa is projected to face a decrease in precipitation of about 20% and increases in the number of consecutive dry days in Namibia, Botswana, northern Zimbabwe and southern Zambia. This will cause reductions in the volume of the Zambezi basin projected at 5% to 10%.

If the global mean temperature reaches 2° C of global warming, it will cause significant changes in the occurrence and intensity of temperature extremes in all sub-Saharan regions.

West and Central Africa will see particularlylargeincreasesinthenumberof hot days at both 1.5° C and 2° C. Over Southern Africa, temperatures are expected to rise faster at 2° C, and areas of the southwestern region, especially inSouthAfricaandpartsofNamibiaand Botswana, are expected to experience the greatest increases in temperature.

Perhaps no region in the world has been affected as much as the Sahel, which is experiencing rapid population growth, estimated at 2.8% per year, in an environment of shrinking natural resources, including land and water resources.

Inga Rhonda King, President of the UN Economic and Social Council, a UN principal organ that coordinates the economic and social work of UN agencies, told a special meeting at the UN that the region is also one of the most

environmentally degraded in the world, with temperature increases projected to be 1.5 times higher than in the rest of the world.

Largely dependent on rain-fed agriculture, the Sahel is regularly hit by droughts and floods, with enormous consequencestopeople’sfoodsecurity.

As a result of armed conflict, violence and military operations, some 4.9 million people have been displaced this year, a threefold increase in less than three years, while 24 million people require humanitarian assistance throughout the region.

Climate change is already considered a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing problems, including conflicts.

IbrahimThiaw,specialadviseroftheUN Secretary-General for the Sahel, says the Sahel region is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with 300 million people affected.

Drought, desertification and scarcity ofresourceshaveledtoheightenedconflicts between crop farmers and cattle herders, and weak governance has led to social breakdowns, says Mr. Thiaw.

The shrinking of Lake Chad is leading to economic marginalization and providing a breeding ground for recruitment by terrorist groups as social values and moral authority evaporate.

Culled from Africa Renewal

34 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Interview

How conflict stalled the project – Majomi, gas expert Interview an exclusive interview with Charles Majomi, a gas expert and consultant, the strategy advisor said:

I

What is your pedigree in the gas sector? currently advise government on ways to grow the gas sector in a manner that impacts our national development and energy security.

However, I have been involved in many gas projects over the years. Most significantly, I was involved in the multi-billion dollar Ogidigben gas project, also known as the GRIP project, located in Delta State.

I was previously in Saudi Arabia and came back here to Nigeria with a Saudi investment company, Xenel Industries, which was to be one of the anchor-investors in the Ogidigben Industrial Park in Delta State. It was a partnership with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

You are using the term ‘was’, is it not an ongoing project?

No, I think for many reasons, the project will not materialise for now, or in the near future.

Have the investors pulled out?

The main original anchorinvestors are no longer interested because the conditions for investment are far from adequate. (Violence is the problem).

The Delta State governor recently called for the project to be fast-forwarded. Looking at the call, it looks like he wants the FG to come and complete it. Is it as simple as that?

Few things, in life, are beyond the bounds of possibility. Nigeria is a gas-rich nation, with a bit of crude oil, so on paper. Of course it should happen. However, I would have to say that it is unlikely to materialize unless a number of critical enablers required for an Oginigben to be successful are addressed and dealt with. For one, the government and/or private sector must develop the enabling infrastructure to bring gas to the location where the Ogidigben Park is to be sited; and that has not been done. You have to dredge the sea port to enable vessels large enough to export the finished products from the Park in economic quantities that has not been done; an investor requires the assurance that the host com-

Charles Majomi munities living in the areas where the investment is to be made are not going to agitate, this is far from the situation on-ground.

Was Oginidgen supposed to be for export of gas again like NLNG, or for local consumption?

The intention of Ogidigben was to process rich gas in the Escravos region to provide essential industrial feeds-stocks to support world-scale propylene and ethylene plant to produce plastics. The plastics originating from these plants would, in turn, have provided the essential ingredients for the creation of a plastics value-chain that could have supported the manufacturing of items essential for local production of popular consumer items and industries such as car manufacturing where hard plastics are required.

Another investor was to produce urea or fertilizer, which is essential for increasing the yield in agriculture. The other element, methanol, is used in organic synthesis, as a fuel, solvent, and antifreeze. The take-off of the Ogidigben industrial park, as originally conceived, would have ensured that value is added to our gas resources and would have created several hun-

dred thousand jobs, while ensuring Nigeria becomes the regional hub for petrochemicals.

What can you pick out as the key thing that went wrong?

While there was a general fail on all the pre-requisite items I mentioned, previously, I think the most critical failure was that attributed to the conflicts started by the host communities. That failure was due to a resurgence of acrimony and grievance that had preexisted between the Itsekiri and Ijaw peoples living in that region. This was heightened because the investment was very large. And when you make it public that you are bringing a large investment to an ethnically complex host community, without a thorough and independent host community engagement strategy on the table, you can expect this type of failure. If you recall, President Goodluck Jonathan was to open the site but the fact that a man named Tompolo (Government Ekpemupolo) an Ijaw (militant) leader claimed he was not able to assure the president’s safety from violence during his visit, due to issues related to the naming of the project (Ogidigben is an Itsekiri name) and

because of historical land disputes. (It was no longer the secretly agencies that would guarantee security?)

Goodluck Jonathan, the sitting president of Nigeria at the time, was unable to come to site for the proposed ground-breaking.

This also, effectively, ruined the project because the perception the investors had, thereafter, was that the host community com-

If you look at the trajectory to violence, in many host or impactedcommunities where investments are being contemplated, you see that the pathway to host community conflicts follows almost the same trajectories

ponent was not properly understood; and that the government was unable to quell the potential for violence in the future.

To tie out the Tompolo angle, he eventually became a right hand man to President Jonathan, so why didn’t that relationship help Ogidigben to bounce back?

While I can’t comment on whether or not he did become the President Jonathan’s right hand man, as you say, we were extremely surprised that a militant warlord could hold such sway. Also, given that both the President and Tompolo are from the same Ijaw ethnic group, and that this ground-breaking was being featured as a major aspect of President Jonathan’s presidential campaign, we were extremely surprised and disappointed. Moreover, because that singular act of defiance contributed massively towards de-marketing the Niger Delta as a destination for gas based investments.

Back to the communities: Do you think what happened in Oginigben is an isolated case because a lot of us think it is happening in the Niger Delta?

No, it’s no isolated case at all. There is a number of other cases, not only is it happening but is playing out in the same fashion. If you look at the trajectory to violence, in many host or impacted-communities where investments are being contemplated, you see that the pathway to host community conflicts follows almost the same trajectories.

These almost predictable pathways to project meltdown are becoming known to investors many of whom, sadly, no longer see the Nigerian Government as a de-facto host community interface.

Something must be done because you can model the financial risk associated with such pre-requisites to Bankability such as the delivery enabling infrastructure and such things, but you can’t model the uncertainty associated with historical and current grievances that drive community conflict, unless you have a system

of independent host community engagement before any funds are invested.

So, you are saying because of absence of bankability of engagement process with host communities in the Niger Delta, that is the real cause of failure to attract foreign investors; that it is no more ordinary violence but this has led to projects not being bankable?

What I am saying is that the potential for Bankability of large scale oil and gas projects in the Niger Delta are seriously threatened by the potential for host community conflict. And that, till now, this element has not been properly addressed.

So, how can MCRIA play any role in this matter?

Well, the MCRIA you refer to is an acronym for the Macro Conflict Risk Impact Assessment (MCRIA) tool. The tool outlines a concise methodology for investors wishing to make investments into such communities. It outlines a methodology for engaging with ‘Host and Impacted Communities’ and for understanding and analysing the probability of conflict coming about in any particular community, as a result of an investment. Should the probability of conflict and violence be determined as high, the tool also provides a variety of bespoke mitigation strategies for the investing company. The tool allows an investor, before a penny of capital is spent, to assess the risk element associated with the potential for violence in a manner that is understandable to Banks.

Do you think conflict entrepreneurs found in these areas both openly or not will allow MCRIA to be deployed in a given community?

Let me define conflict entrepreneurs; they are individuals or groups that seek to exploit genuine current and historical grievances in a community to drive conflict in order to elicit illegal rent through extortion from either the state or the investor. My take is that if MCRIA is applied, the possibility of this actor emerging in the life circle of the project will be low.

They emerge because there is something to feed on and because, for them, driving a community into conflict is a way to extort money from those who would rather have peace. What usually happens is that in the absence of host community methodology, an investor will just get into the community and meet whoever they are told is the community leader. After concluding some agreement with this

Continues on page ??

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BDSUNDAY 35

Interview

‘Why African gas demand is growing rapidly for domestic and foreign use’ NJ Ayuk is a Cameroonian-born managing partner of Centurion Law Group, a pan-African corporate law conglomerate that specialises in energy, extractive industries and the financial sector.Headquartered in Malabo,Equatorial Guinea,Centurion has offices in five countries across the continent.In this interview,Ayuk, who has been active in the structuring,negotiation and implementation of natural resource projects in sub-Saharan Africa,with extensive experience in advising both international and local companies and governments,spoke on the outlook for the African oil and gas sector in 2019,among other topical issues.Excerpts:

Y

ou’ve become one of Africa’s most prolific energy deal makers at a relatively young age.

What ignited your interest in law in the first place and what drew you to a career in energy law?

As a student at the University of Maryland, I was mentored by Dr. Ron Walters who was Jesse Jackson’s deputy campaign manager and he shaped my belief in justice. He laid a strong emphasis on believing in the teachings of Charles Hamilton Houston that a lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite on society.

Each one of us has a mandate to use our education to impact communities and to also promote economic growth and empowerment.

I paid a lot of attention to the energy sector because I felt most of Africa’s problems came from a contact fight with the waste of our natural resources, lack of power for many local communities and lack of training and education in communities that were resource rich. Even more apparent was the fact that Africans were not part of any kind of deal making structure. Simply, Africans were not at the table or even in the room. Then you ask yourself why the Western boys should have it all? Why can’t Africans be part of this economic empowerment?

I knew nothing about the oil and gas sector but I knew had skills and I had a great legal and business education and I could fit the pieces together. Plus, I just had to work harder than anyone else! I knew that in a sector where you didn’t find a lot of Africans, I was both a risk and an opportunity but I had no doubt I will beat them all.

I like to compete and win. I just knew if I got into that ring then I was going to come out on top.

Many African business firms and governments were always getting screwed by big oil companies. Big companies come in with certain arrogance; looking down on little folk which only fuelled me to beat those opposing counsels who were trying to rob Africans of their resources.

You’ve built Centurion Law Group into one of the most successful Pan-African commercial law practices with offices all across the continent. Tell us about the series of events that led you to establishing the group?

I grew up in an environment where I was thought to feel proud of who I am and my community.

Despite of the injustices that existed around me, I was lucky to have parents that reminded me of my role in society. You grew up knowing what was expected of you and being reminded not to stand by idly. I was taught to question everything. My experiences are evolving expression of my deepest-held beliefs and my desire to see a better Africa.

Earning a Juris Doctor in the US and the law school experience also shaped me to think a lot about economic justice. This then evolved to

NJ Ayuk ensure that justice and corporate profits can work hand in hand especially in the energy sector and Africa.

I felt that I could do more than just draft contracts. My MBA put my energy into building something. Simply, me becoming an entrepreneur is an extension of my childhood teachings and my educational experiences.

When I had a chance to work on oil and gas matters, it was sad that there were not many Africans negotiating big-ticket deals or big contracts.

African owned energy companies, state companies and governments and even the foreign companies used and worked with only European and American firms. A lot of people were getting screwed and walked over.

I was stunned but I also saw a huge business opportunity. I knew I had to learn the ropes of oil and gas plus I was really determined to make a difference. I knew the secret was good old-fashioned hard work. And, I understood no one would give me a break so I would have to work double and be ready to take some hard punches from detractors who felt I should be working for them and not leading discussions.

The African legal space had no set up to support African oil men and midsize western firms wanting to do business on the continent. It certainly had no set-up to support lawyers or any kind of advisors. I understood that adding value to international and regional businesses and giving them more value would help my firm

grow. Starting out with this concept, I wanted a loyal base. But more importantly, I wanted score some big victories because the rest would be history and this is exactly what has happened.

We started with one office, then expanded into many African offices and affiliates across the continent.

At the same time we also pushed for partnerships in the US, Canada and Europe and it paid dividends. I understood that I had to share and in some instances I would have to earn less but I knew once I had my team properly trained, I would get my fair share in the deals.

I loved the idea of Centurion Law Group because I wanted to drive a clear purpose with my work. I didn’t want to make choices in a vacuum.

Starting Centurion was an opportunity to use the law to make someone’s life better. It was also about self-reliance; it affords me a chance to accommodate my contrarian nature by confronting those who think they understand my duty better than I do.

What sort of year has 2018 been for M&A in the African oil and gas sector and what’s the outlook for 2019? Has the partial recovery of the oil price improved the deal environment or is volatility a cause of concern for investors?

Stability in the oil market is good for Africa. Uncertainty and volatility is a lethal disease in this industry and it is really bad for investment. OPEC’s historic ‘Declaration of Cooperation’

led by an African son Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo literally saved the oil industry and many African projects and countries from going into extinction. Lest we forget that most oil states are over reliant on oil and their economies take a dive when the price of oil falls.

You continue to see a resurgence in the industry with a lot of deals happening. There are more bidding rounds for new licenses. Most importantly there are a lot of projects being sanctioned that had earlier been put on ice. Rig counts have gone up and also service companies are acquiring small African firms. Overall this is good especially as more jobs are being created for the everyday African.

I see a lot of quality deals closing during this quarter as the sub-$50 oil price risk is largely over. Africa is benefiting from an increase in the oil price, decreasing valuation gaps and improving market sentiment. I expect this to continue into 2019 with an even increased access to capital markets and value chain integration and there are very good prospects for blockbuster deals in 2019. These are exciting times and buyers have plenty of choices to rapidly deploy capital around Africa oil projects.

What are some of the most daunting challenges facing oil and gas exploration activity in Africa today, and what are you doing in your capacity as one of Africa’s top energy lawyers to confront those challenges for your clients?

Exploration is a difficult, capital intensive and risky business. Africa has made progress but the constant lack of an enabling environment in many countries is a problem. Corruption, huge lack of infrastructure and human resources have slowed growth during a time when the industry should be picking up at a rapid pace.

Exploration programmes are being slowed by regulatory uncertainty and we have to admit the numerous delays in passing market driven laws is problem. It is not a doubt that the much-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill in Nigeria has slowed exploration activity in onshore and offshore areas and most importantly gas monetisation.

I lead the African Energy Chamber which is the largest industry association in Africa. I make it a point to push governments on these issues all the time. Government has to listen to private sector and civil society. There is also a responsibility that lies with the oil companies and especially African companies in the industry and state oil companies. We must build better organisations and run better businesses. Private sector has to partner with government and to create jobs and grow domestic opportunities.

African businesses have to understand that it is about delivery and getting the job done. Always look at your ROI. All the glamour does not count.

Keep your eyes on your money. You have an obligation to make profit but also close the gap between struggle

and success.

You’ve done a lot of big deals recently, including advising Nigerian Junior Oranto Petroleum in the acquisition of 4 oil acreages in Niger Republic. Can you discuss some of your milestone moments?

I think am proud being able to advise companies and governments on some of the best oil acquisition deals. Negotiating different type of oil and gas and mining contracts in more than 17 African countries is something I look back can only be thankful for. Lobbying OPEC member states to gain entrance for Equatorial Guinea and Congo Brazzaville is something that is good because it takes you out of your comfort zone and you need to have your A-game on. I also believe our work on regulatory changes and advising and drafting new regulations that are good for both the industry and the government is something that I take pride in.

Despite this, the best milestones for me is taking on big scary oil companies many years ago and besting them in court. They treated people poorly and I had the guts to demand justice for poor Africans and we got it. Their arrogance would not let them be part of any solution, so I knew I have to drag them to court and wrestle with them. Most of us want this beautiful oil industry to change the way it does business and show respect—and we have done just that.

To some of the oil companies I was the devil because I stood for African states and African businesses and employees; I really saw it as a badge of honor especially when I knew I was standing up for the little guy. The underdog doesn’t normally have a chance. The system is designed to be against them and I was not going to let anyone bully nor shame me into not fighting back. Companies have gone after me personally, but I’ve got a Teflon view of things and we always beat them back fairly. In Sunday school they taught me how to deal with people and to treat people fairly and that’s something I practice today.

I knew that suing raises interest of the other side faster than you would think so I have no problem suing and negotiating at the same time. I don’t lose sleep over it unless the law is immoral, which I believe it is not.

How do you anticipate the energy market in Africa changing in the coming year?

I am bullish. The OPEC-NonOPEC agreement has been a major success. The oil industry responded to price fluctuations pretty much exactly as predicted a year ago. African gas demand is growing rapidly for domestic and foreign use. Gas has been and will continue to be the fuel of choice to replace coal-fired power plants. Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Angola, Mozambique, Gabon, Tanzania, Congo and many African countries sit on a lot of gas.

Your head will spin if you get the right figures of the reserves.

36 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Interview Migration can be a catalyst for economic growth – Ashraf El Nour

Migration is at the heart of every discussion on sustainable development in Africa today. Experts paint a more complex picture than the too-common images of young African migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Who in Africa is migrating, how and where to? Africa Renewal’s Zipporah Musau sat down with Ashraf El Nour, the Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office to the UN in New York to find out more. Here are some excerpts:

G

ive us a brief overview of migration in Africa currently. Who is migrating and where to?

Overall, migration in Africa is dominated by Africans moving within Africa. They move mostly to neighbouring countries, or within the same region. Africa’s share of global migration, which overall stands at 258 million, are 36 million people of which 19 million move within the continent and 17 million move outside Africa.

is money to be made from the smuggling and trafficking of humans. Governments are being urged to do more.

What economic gains do they bring to host countries?

Migration has always been historically positive and plays a constructive role as a catalyst of economic growth, a driver of population dynamics around the world and a blender enriching world culture and human heritage and civilizations.

Migrant workers across all skill ranges fill labour market gaps, promote trade and investment and bring innovation, skills and knowledge to both host and origin countries. If you look at the recent report by the McKenzie Institute [International], migrants contributed roughly $6.7 trillion to the global GDP output in 2015, which is $3 trillion higher than they would have produced had they stayed home. The other benefit is the remittances. In 2017 the World Bank estimated that remittances by migrants globally stood at $596 billion, of which $466 billion went to developing countries, including Africa. Remittances to sub-Saharan Africa accelerated 11.4 % to $38 billion in 2017.

Migrants also contribute to the transfer of knowledge and the enriching of civilization. If you look at a place like New York, which has been built on the backs and brains of migrants, you will see the positive contributions migrants have made to this diverse and global city – from people to food to culture, art and economic output.

What does that mean?

It means African migration is predominantly pan-African, with about 53% of total movements originating from Africa and staying within the continent. That shows that African countries can simultaneously be source, transit and destination countries. Africa has one of the busiest movement corridors, the fifth largest in the world. There are migratory movements that have been well-established for many years and connect migrants with destination countries because of historical, linguistic, religious or cultural ties. An example is francophone Africa and France. Migration out of the North of Africa started post–World War II, when people were invited as guest workers to help with the postwar rehabilitation and reconstruction. Over time Algerians, Moroccans, Tunisians and others established a presence in Europe, mainly in France and Belgium.

Some migrants from countries in East Africa such as Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia move to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. And South Africa is a magnet for migrants from surrounding countries such as Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe who go there to work in mines.

Tell us about non-Africans moving into Africa.

What are the major migratory routes?

Most of the contemporary movement in Africa is structured around three or four migratory routes. First, we have the Horn of Africa migratory route, which is the most dominant in the East African region. It starts from the Horn—Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea—then goes through Sudan into Libya and then across the Mediterranean to Italy or Malta. Source countries in the Horn of Africa are either in protracted conflict situations, like Somalia, or demographically have a larger number of young people, like Ethiopia.

The second is the West Africa route, starting from countries such as Nigeria, the Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, then going through Niger to Algeria, then predominantly to Libya. Agadir is the main connection point from where they move to Libya.

The third route is from East Africa to South Africa through Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi, with South Africa being the magnet.

The fourth is the Gulf of Aden route. Here we have people coming from mainly Somalia and Ethiopia, going to Djibouti (which is at the tip of the Horn of Africa) as a transit point to Yemen.

Who in Africa is migrating most?

These routes are populated by young people.

About 60% of people in irregular migration are young people, many of them under 20 years

and some unaccompanied. The rest fall into the 25 to 35 age bracket.

Are there more men or women moving?

Of the 258 million migrants globally, about 48% are female. Within Africa the percentage tends to drop a little bit, but we could safely say 45% of all African migrants are female. We are, however, seeing an increasing “feminization” of the process because some women are participating as breadwinners, seeking employment in new places. It is no longer like before, where men would leave home and women would stay behind.

We have seen images of migrants in the Sahara Desert…

These are mostly nonorganized movements facilitated by smugglers and human traffickers. They don’t go through internationally recognized borders. It’s a big business targeting young people who cannot easily get passports, visas or tickets, and the only other option is to look for recruiters who promise them a job and organize the smuggling from one country to another, from one group of smugglers to another.

In the process the migrants are put at risk and some of them are even kidnapped for ransom.

What are the numbers of those missing?

The human cost during these movements is becoming unbearable. If we look at the figures since the beginning of this millennium, more than 60,000 people globally have lost their lives while migrating.

What main challenges do migrants face?

One is the “commodification” of migrants.

Migrants becoming a commodity in the hands of smugglers and human traffickers as they pay for the journey. Human trafficking and smuggling is becoming a big business in Africa, and law enforcement cannot cope because it is lucrative and there are more people getting into this field.

Again, with many women and girls on the move now, gender-based violence (GBV) is becoming rampant, something that certainly worries us. We are also seeing situations where migrants have their body organs harvested. In short, there’s loss of dignity, lack of migrants’ rights and there is a protection deficit. Beyond that, we are worried that the public denouncement of migration drives a narrative that is very toxic—there’s xenophobia, stigmatization of migrants and a decline in the public’s trust in their government’s ability to manage migration.

Because governments in many countries are not engaged in the way they should be, organized crime is coming into the mix also. There

IOM estimates that 2.3 million non-African migrants have established themselves in Africa.

The majority of them are of Asian and European descent. Some of the Europeans migrated after World War II and settled in Africa—South Africa is a good example. There is also a large number of Asians, predominantly Indians, brought in during the colonial time to construct railways.

Most recently we have the Chinese. The China model of investment brings not only the money but also people to do the job.

What can Africa gain from the Global Compact for Migration?

First, Africa can really pride itself on the fact that the first ever globally negotiated migration document was adopted on African soil, thanks to the Moroccan government’s generosity to host the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Marrakech on 10 and 11 December 2018.

Throughout the negotiation phase of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), African Member States engaged actively in the process and developed a common African position on the GCM, with an emphasis on respect and dignity of migrants and respect of sovereignty of countries to manage their own borders and determine who comes in. The GCM offers a comprehensive framework to address migration in all its facets.

Culled from Africa Renewal

Sunday 30 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 37

Tribute Dakuku Peterside: Celebrating a wonderful leader Vincent Obia

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irthdays come around once a year, but summoning up the ingredients to make it a memorable time for the celebrant takes a long time and effort. Dr. Dakuku Peterside launched this effort some decades ago. He was only 29 when he came into public life.

And he came with a lot of hope and promise.

“My greatest ambition in life is to always make a difference wherever I find myself, and to also help others make a difference,” Dakuku says. “I shall pursue this desire as long as God gives me life and opportunity.”

As he turns 48 tomorrow, the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says, “I am thanking God for the wonderful opportunities He has given me to serve humanity.

My prayer is that He will continue to afford me the strength and wisdom to take every opportunity He brings my way to do good.”

A man of fierce determination, the drive to succeed and inspire change has been among the most remarkable features of Dakuku’s public life.

He came to NIMASA in 2016 with ambitious reforms, from staff orientation to maritime industry operations and laws. Today, the reforms are yielding good fruit and the effects are there for all to see. Both staff of NIMASA and industry stakeholders are agreed on the fact that the agency, which was virtually rundown, has been given a new lease of life.

At NIMASA, Dakuku hit the ground running. He launched a quick response operation, Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP), aimed at returning the agency and the maritime sector to the path of growth

BOOK REVIEW Title: WHY I LOVE MATHEMATICS Author: EZEOGU OKECHUKWU (B.Sc. Mathematics (Edu), PGD Computer Science)

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ifferent people are endowed with different competences. While some of these competences are innate (nature), some are acquired through nurture.

While Mathematics is a subject that gives many students goose pimples at the mention of it, some others are comfortable with and take delight in it. Okechukwu Ezeogu belongs to the latter group.

Ezeogu is a Bachelor of Science holder in Mathematics (Education) from the University of Lagos. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Computer Science of the University of Benin.

He has taught Mathematics in various schools and to individuals. Ezeogu was a volunteer lecturer, Eko-Project, of the Lagos State government schools.

The Mathematician is the author of Computer books ‘ABC of Computer’ and ‘Are You Computer Literate?’

His latest book (a handbook) ‘Why I Love Mathematics’ is targeted at beginners, introducing the concept called BODMASBracket of Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction.

Mathematics is like playing football game.

Many people are excited when it comes to the game of football. Mathematics also

and sustainability. That was followed by an expanded strategic repositioning and restructuring initiative captured under five pillars, namely, Survey, Inspection and Certification Transformation Programme; Environment, Security, Emergency Search and Rescue Transformation Initiative; Digital Strategy Reforms; Capacity Building and Promotional Initiatives; and Structural and Cultural Reforms.

To build staff capacity and create new work ethics, the Dakuku-led management introduced a series of professional and leadership trainings called the Knowledge Transfer Sessions (KTS). Under the programme, scheduled teaching and learning activities are organised all the year round where in-house resource persons mentor staff on various professional and leadership themes to try to enhance their competences.

Under Dakuku, NIMASA has achieved a lot in the discharge of its duties ofadministering maritime safety and security, seafarers’ standards, maritime labour, shipping regula-

makes me to be excited. Most times, football players use their legs to dribble and fire shots.

At other times, they use their head to head the ball. When the ball gets out of the borderline, they use their hands to do the throwing. Some of the best goals are scored by the knowledge of mathematics, when the ball is kicked at an acute angle to the goal post!

Similarly, in mathematics we play with numbers, letters and symbols. Look at the following example: a2 means 2 is the superscript of a, or 2 is the index of a, a2 means 2 is the subscript of a, Ö9 means the square root nine, 4! means the factorial of 4, ± means plus or minus, ≠ means not equal, < means less than, > means greater than, ¾ stands proper fraction (three quarter), 4/3 stands for improper fraction (four over three), 2 1/5

tion, promotion of commercial, coastal, and inland shipping activities, and pollution prevention and control measures in the marine environment.

NIMASA has reviewed downward the freight rates benchmark, in response to operators’ yearnings, and this has helped to boost shipping and foster a harmonious regulatoroperator relationship. The review has resulted in over 30 per cent rise in cargo activities this year, compared to last year’s figures.

The administration has championed a Change of Terms of Trade for the affreightment of Nigerian crude oil from Free on Board (FOB), where the country has virtually no control over the distribution of its crude oil, to Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF), which favours indigenous operators.

It has intensified training for seafarers under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme. Last Thursday, Dakuku announced in Lagos that no fewer than 500 seafarer cadets will be placed on various vessels by January, to undergo their mandatory sea-time training. This would bring to over 1, 000 the number of cadets that have undergone such training.

As part of efforts to enhance shipping, the Dakuku leadership of NIMASA is negotiating a special interest rate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for acquisition of assets by indigenous ship owners.

Under the Survey, Inspection and Certification Transformation Programme, Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations have been conducted at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, leading to the issuance of different categories of CoCs to successful candidates. In 2017 alone, NIMASA issued

stands for mixed fraction (two whole number, one over five) etc.

I have met many students who said that they do not like mathematics and from my interaction with them, it is either they did not have an experienced mathematics teacher and therefore, did not have the basic knowledge or they have hatred for mathematics. I have had many graduates who avoided mathematics in time past. In the course of teaching them computer, they still encountered mathematics while studying Microsoft Excel. So there is no way you can avoid mathematics.

In this book, I have set out Ten Guidelines which I will call Ten Commandments of mathematics. In the Bible, God gave man the initial Ten Commandments, which if a man keeps, he/she will not have problem with God and his fellow men. In this book, if you keep and apply these initial commandments, you will not have problem with mathematics, and you will fall in love with it.

The book is arranged in ten chapters (referred to as ten guidelines), very easy to read and comprehend.

The first chapter admonishes readers ‘Do not accept that it is difficult’; second chapter, ‘Understand the basic elementary rules of computation’; three, ‘Make Use of the formula’; four, ‘Apply the theorem’; five, ‘Apply the laws’; six, ‘Solve as many problems as possible’; seven, ‘Practice with a partner’; eight, ‘Avoid distractions’; nine, ‘Do not see the answer before solving a problem nor depend on exam malpractice’, and ten, ‘If you lack wisdom for Mathematics, ask God.’ The author is currently the CEO of Shalom Ventures which renders computer services and training; mathematics coaching and consultancy.

3,752 certificates to successful seafarers, which represented a 149 per cent increase from the CoCs issued in 2016.

The agency leased six fast intervention security vessels under the maritime security strategy project, and this is already making impact. Port State inspections rose by 10.53 per cent in 2017, up from 475 in 2016 to 525 in 2017. Flag State inspections are also experiencing an upswing, from 77 in 2016 up to 98 in 2017, representing a 27 per cent increase.

The increase has continued in 2018.

The Dakuku administration has launched an effort to ensure effective maritime domain awareness and better compliance enforcement through the establishment of a satellite surveillance control and command centre with coverage capacity of up to 312 nautical miles from the coastline (approximately 100 nautical miles off our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)). The system can detect vessels with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off as synthetic aperture raider (SAR) images, which can be interrogated immediately by near point of sight patrol/enforcement boats.

The system has facilitated effective enforcement of maritime regulations. It has helped to preserve cabotage trade for indigenous operators by identifying and differentiating Ship-To-Ship (STS) operations that take place at the secured anchorage and offshore locations from cabotage trade to avoid foreign domination of the trade under the guise of STS. Accordingly, there has been an increase in indigenous participation in cabotage vessels manning, ownership, building, and registration with the agency’s zero tolerance on the granting of manning waivers.

The agency has introduced an electronic software for vessels monitoring and investigation, and improved interface with the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), leading to a harmonised marine vessel categorisation standards and delivery of a common database.

Ship registration has been on the rise since the current management took over.

About 125 vessels have been registered this year, as against 94 vessels registered in 2017, representing an increase of 33 per cent. The number of Nigerians manning vessels has also increased. About 2,840 Nigerian officers and ratings were recommended to be placed onboard cabotage vessels in 2018, as against 1,789 Nigerian seafarers in the same period in 2017, which is an increase of 58 per cent.

NIMASA recently installed some new ship demolition equipment at its new ultra-modern shipyard in Port Harcourt to ensure safer navigable waterways for vessels in Nigeria.

To facilitate effective regulation of the maritime industry and provide a kind of compass for local and international stakeholders intending to do business in the Nigeria maritime domain, NIMASA has initiated a yearly publication of its outlook for the maritime industry. The initiative debuted with the unveiling of the 2018 Nigerian Maritime Industry Forecast in February. NIMASA intends to publish the next edition of its Outlook and Forecasts for the Nigerian Maritime Sector, covering 2019, no later than the first quarter of 2019.

Dakuku has raised the bar in public administration.

Within NIMASA, many are thanking God for the “wonderfully made leader He has brought our way,” as one staff, who preferred anonymity, put it. * Obia writes from Lagos.

Editor’s note: We welcome intelligent review of Nigerian/ international authors by interested writers. send your reviews to bdsundayletter@businessdayonline.com

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Sunday 30 December 2018

TheWorshippers

Nigeria cannot move forward without the right people in politics – Primate Ayodele Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, held an interactive session with journalists at the church headquarters, Oke-Afa, Isolo, recently, where he spoke on key national issues as well as his prophecies for 2019. SEYI JOHN SALAU was there and brings excerpts.

Earlier in the year, precisely in July, you said for the PDP to win the 2019 election, it must give its presidential ticket to Saraki. Are you still standing by that? said it before, and I will still say it – if PDP gives the ticket to Bukola Saraki; that was what I said and I will still stand by it. It is only Saraki that can unseat Buhari. I said it in 2015 that Jonathan may be the last president of Nigeria from PDP, and if care is not taken, Jonathan might actually be the last PDP president if they fail to do the right thing. Atiku and Saraki must do the right thing. If they do the right thing, that is when PDP can win. It is not too late to do the right thing. But if they do not do the right thing, APC will still come back. I am not saying that Atiku should will the ticket to Saraki, but let me put it this way – in 2015, I said that Buhari cannot win with his old glory; I am saying that Atiku cannot win with his old glory except he leans on Saraki’s glory to win.

Where will the Nigerian political salvation come from: APC or PDP? Is it APC, PDP or any other party that will bring solutions to our problems? That is the question I am also asking myself, and the answer is no. Not PDP or APC can help Nigeria for now.

Our solution is to break – to break into regions or nations.

What is your take on the state of our security architecture?

I foresee mutiny if care is not taken. I see the younger officers disobeying the senior ones, and if care is not taken the younger officers may shoot the senior ones.

And there is corruption in the military. When there is corruption, how do we now secure the

I

Ayodele

nation? Our security is nowhere to be found. In 2019 you will see that they will kill security men.

Nigerians, citizens will fight security men, and the security men will fight themselves. That apart, some will protest about nonpayment of salaries. Salaries will not be given as and when due, especially those fighting terrorists.

One thing Nigerian security men are yet to understand is that the present service chiefs are not in the system any longer – they are weak. So, if the president does not change them, he will be causing problems for the country. He needs to replace those that are there now, and if they use them for 2019 elections, there will be more lapses in our security. So, security now is weak and there is also going to be corruption in the pension of security officers.

Those who are expecting promotions might be delayed, while

some security officers might be demoted. Terrorism has come to stay in Nigeria. We need divine intervention, yet we are causing more problems for our security outfits. If care is not taken, another Bin Laden will come out of Nigeria. How? We have civilian JTF where they put local hunters with military men. It will get to a point where they will not be serious about the civilian JTF; there and then, with the military experience gained, the civilian JTF will turn to something else (terrorists).

What will become of the Nigerian health sector in 2019?

I see that we should pray in respect of the health sector so that we do not see a long-time strike where people will die and the government will come up with new policies on health sector. Let’s pray in Africa and Nigeria against traces of Ebola

and Lassa Fever. Ebola will come back in some African countries and some parts of Nigeria. Also, polio is not yet eradicated completely – we might still see traces of polio in the coming year. One major thing that may likely come up is the rate of hypertension and diabetes. Apart from hepatitis B and A that will be rampant which they will be looking for solution at all cost, some of the solutions may come out in some Asian countries, but cancer will be a major killer at the same time. I see a young man of 32 years old from Germany who will bring the vaccine for that major cancer trouble.

What do you see regarding the state of Nigeria’s power sector in the coming year?

Electricity will drop by March, it will be worse in April. By June it will improve a bit, because the government will not get results until Nigerians who can do it are engaged. If we continue to go to China, Japan, UK, we are not going to get it right. Nigeria must rely more on local technology to stabilize the power sector – using water, coal will help us a lot. If the government does not believe in that, we are still going to be having the problem, and it will be affecting our economy.

In the spirit of yuletide, what is your advice to clergymen like yourself?

I expected them to be in hospital to help people, assist the needy and see to the welfare of the people this season. Nigerians are suffering. I believe the big churches are supposed to have hospitals, where they can treat Nigerians for free, but these same big churches are where their own market is more expensive than that of the government.

Churches are making life difficult for members, especially the big

churches. When a pastor says to the members, ‘I expect 10 people to give me one billion naira’ – one billion naira to do what? To eradicate poverty or for what? We are celebrating the big pastors more like Jesus; we adore them as God and instead of them to work as servants to their members, they become a demigod that people worship. It is time to change the face of our churches. Pastors must serve their members – forget about titles and render service to the church.

Do you have any word for politicians and the electorate as we look forward to 2019?

Somebody who cannot take care of his immediate family, why do we vote for them? Someone who does not have integrity, pedigree, why do we vote for them?

Until we get the right people to vote for in our society – only then will Nigeria move forward. If we don’t have them, the country cannot move forward. A miser cannot be a politician, he cannot rule. Somebody who is not considerate, who cannot take care of the needs of his family, cannot be a politician. What sort of politicians do we have? We have thugs as politicians – I can go to the university to polish myself, whereas I am in a cult. When you are in a cult, how do you want to be responsible when your constituencies are in need? Today we have politicians we do not see for three years, but towards the end of their term they come out to re-present themselves to the people, portraying themselves to be good. Where were they when the people were suffering especially during festive seasons like this? The truth remains the same – there are no sincere people to rule our country and if we continue to vote for them, the society will get worse.

Olagunju urges Nigerians to imbibe the culture of love, compassion at Yuletide

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he Senior Pastor of Praise Arena, Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju has urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of love, forgiveness and selfless service as exemplified by Jesus Christ, the reason for the yuletide season.

Olagunju said this at the annual Christmas Carol by the church held at Le-Real Hotel, VGC, Lekki, Lagos. The programme tagged Super Praise featured song rendition, bible teaching, prayer, special ministration from Praise

Arena Choir, WaleSax, Chidinma and other gospel ministers.

According to him, the euphoria around Christmas will be lost if Nigerians do not appropriate the love that Christ exhibited by coming to the world, and demonstrated how the love we show to others should translate to the love we have for God. “Jesus is the reason for Christmas as it reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and that each of us should light the world as He does”.

“Christmas is not a mere religious rite but a time of reflection on the principles and selfless love of Jesus Christ and how the application of the teachings of Christ can make the World a better place to live,” said Olagunju Olagunju opined that, “The problem with Nigeria is beyond the challenge of leadership but a function of the values that we exhibit as individuals in our homes, schools, work place environment and in governance”.

According to him, the root

cause of corruption, kidnapping, and wanton destruction of lives and properties is greed and selfishness which is at variance with the values that Christ portrays to the world. “It takes knowing Jesus to be save but following his footstep and principles to succeed in life,” Olagunju said.

Olagunju posited further that Nigeria will experience a great and more impactful year ahead if we change our values and way of life in the New year.

He noted that 2019 promises greater favour, and unlimited supply of God’s blessing, however, we can only attract such blessing if we change our ways and imbibe the teachings of Christ.

“In 2019, make every day in the New Year count for goodness, love, compassion. Forgive upfront; abstain from malice, anger and bitterness. Look for opportunity to be a miracle to someone and be a blessing someone is waiting for and you will not lack any good thing”, he concludes.

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BDSUNDAY 39

TheWorshippers CAN, Okowa urge Nigerians to reconcile with God to enjoy peace, better year Mercy Enoch, Asaba

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he people of Delta State could not watch the yuletide season pass by without appreciating the presence of God and His gift for the redemption of mankind; hence they chose to mark the season with a Carol of Nine Lessons, christened ‘An Evening of Praise.’ The occasion however, served as a golden moment to admonish Nigerians to reconcile with God in order to enjoy peace and better life in the New Year.

It was a gathering of Christians from across the state, especially from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Delta State, just as the number one citizen of the state and his family and top government functionaries took time out to participate in the annual event.

The event, which took place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, saw the people praised God, read and meditated on the lessons of Christ’s birth as recorded in the Holy Bible, and as well asked God for grace to cross into the new year.

It was just less than three days to the D-Day, December 25 and the people needed just exactly this spiritual exercise – soul en-

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd right), his wife, Dame Edith (right), the Chief Judge, Justice Marshall Umukoro(2nd left), member representing Oshimili North in the State House of Assembly, Hon Pat Ajudua, , (3rd left), and the State PDP Chairman, Barr, Kingsley Esiso, during 2018 edition of the State Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

PIC. BRIPIN ENARUSAI

riching Christmas songs rendition by a thousand mass choir and Christmas congregational hymns. The melodious choruses led by popular gospel musicians like Sammy Okposi and Chioma Jesus gave boost to the exercise as they ended up prophesying into the lives of the worshippers for a successful cross over into the year 2019 and for them to be prosperous in the year. Of course, there were admonitions from the Word of God in the spirit of the season.

The event was organized by

the Ministry of Information, the Pointer Newspaper, Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri in conjunction with the office of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Religious Matters.

Much has happened in the lives of individuals and that of the state in the course of year 2018. While the state has been largely peaceful in the course of the year, some incidents that took place seem to point to gloomy days ahead, requiring prayers for God’s intervention. Issues of ritual killings and

abduction of innocent citizens including clergymen had brought much tension in parts of the state.

Also, across the country, stories of insecurity abound and the development has been blamed on absence of the fear of God in the lives of perpetrators of evil. Most Nigerians are seeing bloodshed ahead 2019 general election but they also look up to God to save the innocent.

Reconciliation is the solution.

Sin has caused a demarcation between man and God, therefore, man must reconcile with his

maker, said the Delta State CAN Chairman, Sylvanus Okorote, a senior apostle, as he delivered sermon at the evening of praise.

He described God as the author of peace because he reconciled man to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. To this end, Okorote enjoined Deltans and Nigerians to reconcile with God, noting that “once you are reconciled with God, you are a new creature.”

He condemned ritual killings and called on politicians against political killing ahead of 2019 general elections.

In his remarks, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the people should love themselves and their neighbours as reconciliation with God is the reason for the season: “Once you are reconciled with God, you will reconcile with man; you will stay away from sin and the blessing of God will flow in you.”

No Christ, no peace! Okowa thus urged the people to prepare a room in their hearts for Jesus Christ, asserting, “Once you have done that, you will receive peace”.

He pointed out that the coming year would usher in more good tidings for Deltans and Nigerians but urged them to deepen their love for Christ who gave his own life to redeem mankind from death.

Umunna advises participants to be joyful always …As Bible Life rounds off ‘2019 Bonanza’

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very year, every member of the Bible Life Church looks forward with great expectations, to the end of the year’s events usually organised by the Church, tagged, ‘Bonanza’.

The Church’s 37th edition of Bonanza, which was rounded off last Wednesday, like the ones before it, infused in the participants the courage to forge ahead in a challenged world and troubleinfested earth without fear.

The ministrations at the event increased their faith so much that they went home well equipped to welcome the New Year with great expectation, relying on the unfailing promises of God as declared to them afresh.

The 2018 edition, which started on 23rd December, ended four days after, with a night vigil tagged, ‘Praise Night’.

Each day of the programme witnessed a large turnout of church members and visitors alike. Invitees came from far and near to partake of the abundance that was graciously released from the Almighty.

The ‘Bonanza’ was packed full with variety of soul-lifting activi-

ties that excited participants and drew them closer to God. There were chorus sections, choir renditions, performances by children and youths of the church, drama presentations, testimony sessions, ministration by various pastors and then the icing on the cake being the special ministration by the General Overseer of the Church, Bishop Leonard Umunna.

Usually, Umunna makes spiritual utterances on the first day of the programme to declare open the events and each day of the event sees him pray for the needs of the people. There have always been results, followed with testimonies of verifiable miracles.

Speaking on the topic, ‘The secret of all round peace’, Umunna encouraged everyone to be “joyful in your soul”. According to him, although situations around may try to be “joyless”; although the enemy “may be aiming to take our joy away, by targeting our faith, God will always allow his joy to abide in us and that is our strength.”

He urged participants to face the coming year with joy and not to allow whatever challenge

faced this year to dim their faith, declaring that “2019 will be a year that will last in the memory of people.”

He also urged participants to always take their stand against the enemy and never cringe at the wicked one. “Be daring like the four lepers in the Bible. Of course, you know what they did.

They took their destiny in their hands; they were daring and it paid off. Don’t forget that before then, a prophecy had gone out of an impending abundance in Samaria and someone had also doubted it. But you must know

Bishop Umunna

that the word of God must find something to fulfil it.”

The general theme of the Bonanza was ‘Ruling and Slaying Giants’. However, each day had a sub-theme. For day one, it’s ‘Awaken the champion’; day two, ‘Push to your next level breakthrough (by fire, by faith); day three, ‘No retreat, no surrender’ and day four, ‘Prison to praise night.’

When it was testimony time, a woman climbed up the stage and testified of a miraculous protection of her son, his wife, daughter and the son’s mother-in-law from

being crushed by a trailer at the descent of Ijora Bridge toward Breweries in Lagos. She testified of how the Bishop had earlier prayed for her and her family, decreeing against any mishap.

According to the woman, the miraculous escape of her son and his family, could only have been the finger of God. Another woman came with her son, testifying how she delivered of the boy by divine intervention. She said that the pregnancy was very traumatic and that delivery was life-threatening, but that she held on to the assurances and prayer of her bishop, and all was well, eventually.

A man also came testifying how a son of his escaped fire incident in his work place. According to him, the intriguing thing is that the young man does not know how to swim but had to jump into a body of water when a vessel he was working in caught fire. The testifier said, the son managed to escape with his life, intact.

Several other people also testified to some instant divine miracles they received at the event.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

SundayBusiness Nutrition knowledge of African indigenous vegetables Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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he tendency to look down on indigenous African vegetables, while some people close to them suffer from diseases which their regular consumption could readily cure has led to the call for more awareness creation, on their immense nutritional benefits.

Indeed, several research findings

by African nutritionists such as Monica K. Kansiime, Justus Ochieng, Radegunda Kessy, Daniel Karanja, Dannie Romney and Victor Afari-Sefa have revealed that African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) have the potential to sustainably address malnutrition, a growing problem in sub-Saharan Africa. This is due to unhealthy and imbalanced diets.

As succinctly stated: “Their consumption is however, limited by poor perceptions and lack of awareness of nutritional b e n e f i t s . Th e r e i s l i m i t e d evidence of the effectiveness of community-focused information dissemination approaches in influencing participants’ perceptions and uptake of innovations in AIVs

Spiritonomics

Debo Atiba

www.spiritonomics.org

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o doubt, it is glaring that the year is gradually coming to an end.

It has been quite a challenging year. Although the exchange rate improved, food prices remained significantly high, many states owed salaries, president was absent, corruption in high places, unstable political terrain, heightened terrorists activities, to mention a few. Indeed, it has been a roller

to address malnutrition.” Some people also erroneously associate the consumption of traditional vegetables with poverty. Negative perceptions have been more commonly reported among younger and urban consumers than older and rural consumers.

For instance, there are over 275 species of vegetable reported to be rapidly growing in Africa, of which 207 are indigenous to the continent. African indigenous vegetables (AIVs), also known as African traditional vegetables, hold excellent potential to improve nutrition and increase the dietary diversity of rural households.

AIVs include all plants that originate on the continent, or have a long history of cultivation and domestication to African conditions and whose leaves, fruits, or roots are acceptable and used as vegetables through custom, habit, or tradition. This is according to Ambrose-Oji 2012 with his research on: “Urban Food Systems and African Indigenous Vegetables: Defining the Spaces and Places for African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban and PeriUrban Agriculture.”

Despite their nutritional, income, and environmental benefits, the production and consumption of traditional vegetables in sub-Saharan Africa remains low due to factors including cultural values, human perceptions, and lack of consumer awareness about their benefits.

Nigerians have a lot to learn from the World Bank, 2011 Report on “Nutrition at a Glance: Tanzania” one of 22 African countries with the highest burden of undernutrition, particularly of children under five.

For instance, in a study carried out by Afari-Sefa et al in 2016 titled: “Impact of Nutritional Perceptions of Traditional African Vegetables on Farm Household

Production Decisions: A Case Study of Smallholders in Tanzania, it was obvious that malnutrition is prevalent therein the chosen rural community. Precisely, it was discovered that stunting affects 44percent of children under five years old. Anaemia among pre-school-aged children and pregnant women is 72percent and 58percent, respectively; while 24percent of pre-schoolaged children and 15percent of pregnant women are deficient in vitamin A. There, the popular AIVs in urban markets and rural settings include amaranth, okra, spider plant, jute mallow, celosia, Jew’s mallow, roselle, cowpea leaf, African nightshade and African eggplant.

Differences in chronic malnutrition among different ethnic groups, and between farming and pastoral households, are particularly striking. The prevalence of child stunting among under-fives is 59percent among Masaai pastoral communities, compared to between 20 and 40percent in neighbouring ethnic groups.

Unknown to them indigenous vegetables are nutrient-dense and help address mineral deficiencies and hidden hunger, impacting positively on their well-being and productivity. For example, amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) and African eggplant (Solanum a e t h i o p i c u m) a r e r i c h i n micronutrients such as iron and vitamin A. Compared with, for example, cabbage, amaranths have been shown to contain 57 times more vitamin A precursor, 13 times more iron, and eight times more calcium (Yang and Keding 2009. “Nutritional Contributions of Important African Indigenous Vegetables”.

Studies investigating the effects of some awareness campaigns have shown positive effects on

participants’ perceptions. AIV promotional activities had a positive and significant effect on children’s and women’s dietary diversity in northern Tanzania.

As well as nutritional benefits, the production of AIVs has demonstrated higher returns to labour. Compared to a typical cash crop such as maize or sunflower AIVs also generally have shorter growing cycles than most staple crops, and can fit into year-round production systems.

They have the ability to maximise scarce water supplies and soil nutrients better than crops such as maize. Beneficiaries have also been taught on the importance of the change of preservation of vegetables from pounding and sun drying to parboiling and drying in stacks under the shade. This has largely assisted in retaining their nutritional benefits.

Ta r g e t c o m m u n i t i e s participated in a communitybased nutritional outreach facilitated by the Good Seed Initiative (GSI), held at Monduli district hospital in September 2 0 1 4 . Th e r e s u l t s p r o v i d e evidence of the achievements of the GSI intervention, and of the effectiveness of alternative information dissemination approaches. A resident of Monduli confessed that: “I didn’t know that some of these weeds were actually vegetables and nutritious.

When we had the nutritional outreach at Monduli, several vegetables were demonstrated and we participated in testing the recipes. Now, I am no longer looking at it as a weed but a healthy vegetable. My vision has improved and I attribute this to the frequent consumption of AIVs.” Re s p o n d e n t s m e n t i o n e d the key health benefits of AIVs as: improving vision, increasing haemoglobin in the body (reduced anaemia), and increasing body

i m m u n i t y. O t h e r b e n e f i t s mentioned included: giving the body energy, healthy skin development, repair of body tissues, and helping children grow. Responses from the farmers reflected the level of awareness, as the benefits mentioned correlate with information disseminated at the outreach, as well as empirical evidence on nutritional values of AIVs Nigeria should therefore, key into the various initiatives aimed at changing perceptions and increase awareness of the health benefits of AIVs and other nutrition-sensitive traditional foods that have been initiated in Africa. They have the objective to reach rural and urban consumers through diverse approaches such as community-based outreach, mass media , ICT-enabled campaigns, and educational programmes in schools and hospitals.

This awareness is important to project implementers and policymakers in designing interventions or policies aimed at improving rural livelihoods, and particularly those relating to the delivery of extension or advisory services to ethnic communities.

Effective and sustainable collaborative efforts are required to drive this message home to the teeming consumers. This should involve federal and state ministries of agriculture and rural development, science and technology, information, research institutes, the mass media and some Non-Governmental Organisations. Some of the solutions to the persisting problems we face on daily basis are closer to us than we care to know.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

The strength for tomorrow coaster ride for many, as goals are yet unmet, hopes dashed and several losses. It leaves many wondering if there is really any cause to be grateful to God. If you think that there is nothing to be grateful to God for, then remember that the fact that you are reading this is a proof that you have reason to be grateful.

This is because you are not only alive and kicking, but you also have a sound mind which can recognise and process data. It implies that you are also among the few who are qualified to be optimistic about the New Year.

It is no news that the events in the world did more damage than good in the lives, businesses and careers of many. Many people are lost out on what next to do.

There are many business casualties either in the hospital or on their way there. It does not matter how you feel about this year,

you and I have many things to be grateful to God for. We can dream again, we can hope again, we can conquer again, we can fight again.

Our retreat cannot be equated to “surrenderedness”. They may have seen our white flag but it does not mean we quit. That we put in our best and it did not turn out as expected does not make us failures. People that lose hope are ingrates, because they are not thoughtful and are blinded to what is working around them, focusing only on the challenges.

Such people in times like these may never rise again because their view of life is myopic. They only hope and live for today, and are oblivious of the good that tomorrow brings. It never occurred to them that the mere fact that they lived up till this moment is a positive proof that they are blessed.

And how dare you put a cap on the operations of the power of

God in your affairs by concluding that the year is over, that as a result nothing good could come out of the remaining days of the year? What you don’t know is that God created time but lives outside of time. The time of your visitation

by God is not dependent on the calendar of the year; it is dependent on your unflinching faith in the ability of God to come through for you whether in January or December. You dare not lose hope or throw in the towel otherwise you forsake your mercy (Jonah 2:8).

Your ability to give thanks in times like these is a proof of your belief in a better tomorrow, better opportunity and in the power of God. There is no option for failure in our agenda for the future. We must be resolute in our mind that it can only get better.

We should not even accord ourselves the opportunity of thinking otherwise. When we give

thanks and are grateful we open ourselves up to the supernatural act of God. We prepare ourselves for the multidimensional acts of God in our business and career that would both astound us as well as the people watching.

This is no time to be discouraged or give in to despair; this is the time for every hanging hands to be lifted and feeble knees to stand straight. This is the BEST time to let the devil know that this supposed setbacks and challenges encountered this year alone, has become our stepping stone to new dimension of God’s favour, new ideas we would never have thought about. Please arise with a song of thanksgiving in your mouth and a heart full of GRATITUDE praising our saviour. We do have reasons to be grateful.

Remain blessed. @spiritonomics

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SundayBusiness What a viable mortgage industry means to an economy

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ost developing economies, including Africa’s biggest economy, aspires to have a viable mortgage industry in the understanding that it means so much for the growth of their economy. In the advanced economies of the world, the industry has made and continues to make significant contribution to economic development.

In Nigeria, the story is different. The industry is still struggling to find its feet and this why mortgage finance as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is as low as 0.5 percent which is several steps behind other economies including Mexico, Malaysia and South Africa where mortgage contributions to GDP are as high as 10 percent, 25 percent and 29 percent respectively.

However, notwithstanding the industry’s low contribution to GDP coupled with the economic challenges arising from low oil revenue, industry operators are saying that mortgage has all the potential to stimulate the economy when all the obstacles inhibiting its growth are removed.

The relative newness of the mortgage industry, lack of understanding of its dynamics and operational models by many

Nigerians, and poor appreciation of the need and the ultimate benefits of keeping money in a mortgage bank are some of the militating factors.

But an economy like Nigeria’s can benefit a lot from a flourishing mortgage industry as it will help in directing the economy in the desired direction. As part of efforts at stimulating the economy, government can make the necessary investment aimed to grow the industry. Enabling policies should also be put in place, leading to reducing high interest rate in order to encourage more people to embrace mortgage loans.

On account of the identified obstacles, many primary mortgage Banks (PMBs) are going through very difficult times, such that some are not able to meet loan applications from home seekers.

“If government pays closer attention to the PMBs by removing some of the obstacles on their way such as the drawbacks of the Land Use Act of 1978 which rests land ownership rights on the state governors, the right to easily foreclose on delinquent borrowers, ease of creating a legal mortgage and perfecting titles and the ease of falling back on one’s collateral to recover bad loan etc, the industry will surely improve tremendously”, a mort-

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche

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Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria

verybody with some means buys something. Some buy for fun, like the man who buys a football just to keep it as a memorabilia because of his love for the game; others buy for consumption, like the woman who buys fish for home cooking; yet another group buys for production, like the buyer who buys raw materials to be used by his company to manufacture finished products and yet another group buys for stocking and so forth. Whatever may be the reason behind buying decisions, the general consensus is that people buy in order to satisfy their wants or needs. Procurement therefore, is founded on the concept of exchange of value from people to people. In basic studies of human interactions, we understand that such exchange was done through trade by barter in ancient times and in modern times with the use of money.

Some years ago I went to visit my little daughter, who was under observation in my company’s clinic on Lagos Island. As I walked in, all the nurses and patients

around spontaneously entered into a shouting feat in celebration.

Sensing my embarrassment, the Matron quickly explained to me that the children were engaging themselves in an animated discussion on their parents’ professions before I came in. One said my dad is a Police officer, another said my dad is a soldier and my daughter shouted my dad is a Lawyer and my mum is a Buyer.

This discussion was on-going when I entered with four big supermarket carrier bags filled with items to be shared among the children in the ward. The matron said so mum you mean you are a buyer and you buy everything and my response was an emphatic YES. I buy from the simple to the complex items depending on the need to be met and who am buying for. From that day, my name in the clinic became ‘Mummy the Buyer’ Procurement as a profession has come a long way from the days of simple purchases to the modern age of complex procuring processes backed by technology. As a practice, Procurement is governed by various

gage operator argues.

The operator, who does not want to be named, insists that until all these issues are resolved in a way that encourages the provider of capital, in this case, the mortgage bank, to give out loans, the sector will not grow as desired.

He hopes that when these obstacles are removed, the supplier effect of mortgage will allocate more funds towards the provision of home loans while home buyers will better appreciate the implication of prompt interest and capital repayments as well as ensure discipline on the part of the people.

Some finance experts argue that limiting a mortgage institution to a fixed capital base of, say N10 billion, is wrong because that amount is too meager; even N100 billion is also meager given the kind of projects they are to finance.

For this reason, the federal government needs to come in, look at what is happening in other civilized world and copy because, these days, “copying is no longer an act of deception but actually something that is done even in the civilized world”, says Okika Ekwem, a US-based realtor.

In such economies as US and UK, Ekwem says there is a secondary market for real estate

Talking Mortgage with

CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) financing where commercial banks or individual brokerage banks lend money to people and thereafter sell the securitized certificate to the secondary market and come back again to lend to individuals.

Mortgage industry growth that can impact the economy, according to Meckson Innocent Okoro, is possible if the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) plays the role of a regulator while the federal government, through the CBN, should empower the PMBs. To have a viable mortgage industry that can have significant impact on the economy, more PMBs have to be licensed such that there could be as many as 40 PMBs in each of the big cities, while each of the smaller cities could get as many as 10.

This is to discourage the concentration of these banks in urban centres and when this is done, access to housing finance will be increased. The PMBs must be positioned to champion the whole issue of affordable or social housing for the low income

earners in the country.

Mortgage finance as it is today, is not particularly established as a structure and as it exists in developed economies. The culture of mortgage finance is just gradually catching on with Nigerians and mortgage is financed the same way as every other commercial financing.

It is curious that after the recapitalisation and consolidation of the PMBs, Nigerians are yet to feel the impact in the economy.

As at today, the interest rate as it is cannot mobilise the industry and the situation is such that even at 10 percent, the level of income in the country cannot still support mortgage growth.

At a time in this country when the economy and the financial system were highly regulated, there was different interest rates structure for different sectors of the economy and within that period, lending to the housing sector was as low as 7-8 percent which underscored the importance attached to the sector and the government needs to look into this.

The procurement professional global and national regulations and overseen by institutes and institutions which are governed by local and international laws. One of such laws is the Public Procurement Act of 2007 in Nigeria and one of such Institutes empowered to regulate and train procurement professionals is Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, CIPS. Procurement is evolving by the day. There is a huge demand from organizations on the Chief Procurement Officers for value creation. To succeed in the value chain, Chief Procurement Officers are looking for great professionals who will support them in positioning the Procurement Function on that strategic plane. Therefore, it is important that all those engaged in the procurement function acquire certain skills through training and direct practice, which will help them in discharging their duties efficiently.

Let us now discuss these skills and qualities in no particular order of importance.

The first is Knowledge of the supply market. The procurement professional must seek to understandthenuancesofthesupply market. When you gain expertise on specific supply markets, it helps in facilitating the buying decisions as a professional. An expert analysis of the supply market will ensure that your company gets the best value for money. The CPO always looks for best value propositions.

This requires gaining specific skills and experience within your chosen product or service category.

Knowing where to buy from, how to buy and when to buy is very strategic to making a procurement practitioner an expert.

Communication/Interpersonal s k i l l s : As a Pr o c u r e m e n t Professional, you are constantly interfacing with people from different professional backgrounds whose collaboration you require to achieve the corporate goal.

Your ability to communicate your objectives and processes will go a long way to command their collaboration with you. Your way of doing things and saying things will directly affect people’s desire to work with you toward achieving the company’s objectives. A Procurement Professional is expected to be convincing with good communication skill – both spoken and writing skills as well as interpersonal collaborative skills. The danger of having poor communication skills is that there will be unnecessary delays in the procurement cycle and in extreme cases, contracts will be ambiguous and therefore subject to misinterpretation. This scenario could lead to avoidable loss to the organization. To be a good communicator, the procurement expert must be a good listener having an unending appetite to interact with customers which will give him or her better understanding of their needs.

Problem Solving Disposition: A Procurement Professional is a problem solver. He or she interacts with almost all the departments in

the organization. From experience, manydepartmentscallmeupseeking direction as to how to overcome various buying challenges and it is always my pleasure to help. Using my knowledge of the processes and procedures as well as my knowledge of local and international regulations guiding that product category, I as a procurement expert, am able to solve such challenges which of course adds value to the company.

Negotiation skill: What are the most important factors to you in the contract? What is the power of the supplier? What can you tradeoff for the other? You have to look for common grounds with your supplier and adjust accordingly. This will not be efficient if you did not plan for the negotiation meeting to achieve the desired outcome. Before going to the negotiation table, learn as much as possible the service or product and the supplier. Tools like Porters’ Five Forces can help you understand how to pitch your tent. It is advisable that the procurement professional should develop realistic parameters for negotiation based on market realities. …..to be continued Gob – Agundu Uche FCIPS Chartered, is a Fellow and Chartered Member of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, CIPS. She has 23 years professional practice and has experience in all Supply Chain functions.

She is currently Supply Chain Manager (Planning, Performance Management and Business Systems) with Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Gridlock, waste management top challenges facing Lagos next governor DANIEL OBI

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t may sound early to table challenges facing next Lagos governor as candidates are now focused on winning the election, but the challenges which are annoying to Lagosians could form part of the politicians’ campaign messages and winning strategies.

Whoever therefore emerges as next governor of Lagos State should on day one of his assumption of duty on May 29, 2019 roll up his sleeves for work. This is because Lagosians expect much from him and his team as there is much work to be done.

The governor is expected to immediately tackle waste which has given the city a new coloration. Lagos, Africa’s biggest city, and the economic capital of Nigeria has become filthier with waste dumps at every corner which does not create a positive image for it.

Though the challenge of waste management is a global issue but some cities have become successful in dealing with the issue with good planning while others like Lagos is still struggling. Lagos is said to be overpopulated as it report indicate that it was planned for about 17 million people but now houses 5 million more people. This therefore calls for more responsibility and pro-activeness on the city managers.

The state may need to reintroduce the monthly environmental sanitation exercise as part of efforts of creating consciousness among Lagosians on waste disposal as it puts other plans in place for adequate waste management in the city.

It is not clear what informed the choice of the ‘Centre of Excellence’ sobriquet chosen in about 1992 when states adopted slogans during the introduction of Vehicle registration number but whether Lagos is living up to the slogan or not, next governor should have the determination to give Lagos a new chapter.

Another annoying issue in Lagos is heavy traffic on Lagos roads which has worsened in the past few years. The deteriorating traffic situation is giving both the state government and commuters’ serious concern.

Sometimes, commuters invest over 3 valuable hours for about 10 kilometres journey within

the city. The cost of the traffic which has become perennial is not only on precious time but also on health and economic development.

A report published in MedicalNewsToday states that cars waiting in traffic jams contain up to 40 percent more of air pollution than those that are moving.

“Air pollution contributes to lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, and it has been associated with heart disease and stroke”. The report further quotes World Health Organization (WHO) as describing outdoor air pollution as a “major environmental risk to health,” linking it to 3.7 million premature

deaths worldwide in 2012.

Traffic also costs man-hours which ordinarily could have been deployed for productive activity.

When there is heavy traffic, commercial vehicles increase fares to the detriment of commuters.

All these are unquantifiable economic costs to both individuals and the state.

A recent research by JCDecaux Grace Lake, an outdoor advertising firm reveals that Lagos commuters spend 30 hours on traffic weekly. This is huge when compared to weekly 40 working hours in some companies. The hours spend on traffic impairs productivity.

The outgoing governor, Akinwunmi Ambode tried in his ‘Itesiwaju’ slogan, interpreted to mean ‘Lagos is moving forward’ by constructing laybys and filling potholes to ease gridlock, but narrow roads, indiscipline by motorists and congestion at Apapa which has reverberating effect in other areas have assisted to compound traffic in Lagos.

Lagos State needs to assist to mount pressure on Federal Government to open other sea ports to decongest Apapa so that the city can breathe with flowing economic activity.

Next Lagos governor also has the task of completing several on-going projects in Lagos. Some of the road projects have made traffic unbearable, but when completed, Lagos will experience a better life. Ambode has equally expressed delight that the next governor would complete the projects.

Indiscipline by motorists, driving against traffic and menace by

‘Okada’ riders are other issues next Lagos governor must look into towards creating a modern city. It is crazy that in some instances, it has become ‘lawful’ to drive against traffic in Lagos.

This cannot continue in Lagos’ quest to position itself as tourist destination.

Today, Lagos which is home to many Nigerians and foreigners has physical planning defects.

Roads have been taken over by markets; some buildings have unapproved attachments; some residential building are constructed without proper supervision and approvals leading to collapses; churches, mosques and filling stations are sited within homes with external very loud speakers and its attendant noise pollution; and kiosks in various ugly shades have taken over gutters and roads which assist in congesting the pathways leading to traffic jams.

Lagos cannot continue this way and still attract the expected respect, brand and tourism within competing international cities.

While next governor may take a second look at kiosks that are built on gutters, which, apart from their ugly looks, make it difficult to clean the drainage for easy passage of flood, it will be interesting if he re-visits Makoko in Yaba for proper re-planning.

The view of Makoko from Third Mainland Bridge is not really good enough for Lagos brand.

Within Lagos, there is increase in shopping malls. This is a welcome development in a city like Lagos to encourage consumer spending but it would be untidy to site any shopping malls without enough parking space. Some of these shopping malls are already causing traffic difficulty.

Akinwumi Ambode, the 14th Governor of Lagos State Lagos State governor has tried his best towards moving Lagos to ideal model city.

His application to re-construct the long abandoned and dilapidated but very important Airport- Oshodi road and the subsequent approval by Federal Government; removal of round-about along Lekki and the construction of layby on major roads to ease traffic are indications of his determination to give Lagos a new look and ease traffic-induced stress.

He has also displayed determination for good transport system, enhancement of BRT system, and sustenance of lighting up Lagos.

Lagosians are simply expecting much from their next governor as the city must be an ideal city.

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BDSUNDAY 43

EquityMarket Subsidy removal, huge finance costs send Notore Chemicals into losses in 2018 TELIAT SULE

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n spite of 18.32 percent year-on-year growth in the nation’s agricultural sector, where crop production sub sector recorded an impressive 18.74 percent increase in productivity in Q3 2018, Notore Chemicals Industries ended the 2018 financial year in losses. The firm posted loss after tax to the tune of N2.01 billion for the period ended September 30, 2018 compared with a profit after tax of N8.65 billion in similar period in 2017.

Analysts who are well familiar with the nation’s agricultural sector have attributed this development to subsidy removal, huge finance cost and the likelihood that the firm might want to present the true state of its affairs, being the first report it would release post listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“This is the first time the company will be publishing his audited financial statements after listing on the NSE. What we are seeing now may be the true state of its affairs after it listed on the Nigerian bourse’, Saheed Bashir, CEO, Meristem Securities, said.

In the financial year ended September 30, 2018, No-

tore Chemicals Industries realised N26.83 billion as revenue from within Nigerian and overseas, representing 25 percent decline when compared with N35.89 billion it made same period in 2017.

“The principal activities of the Company are to manufacture, treat, process, produce, supply and deal in nitrogenous fertilizer and all substances suited to improving the fertility of soil and water. The company

has a 500,000 metric tonne Urea Plant in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria”, the company said.

Traditionally, the company sells NPK, urea and other chemicals, and ammonia.

However, in 2018 financial

Dele Babade emerges acting chairman of Diamond Bank

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he Management of Diamond Bank Plc wishes to formally notify the Nigerian Stock Exchange that following the resignation of Oluseyi Bickersteth as Director/ Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors of Diamond Bank Plc, has appointed Dele Babade as acting chairman effective December 24, 2018.

Babade holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Law from University of London and was called to both the Nigerian and English Bars.

He started his career with Midland Montagu London (the predecessor of HSBC Investment Bank)

on the Graduate Training Programme in 1988 and at various times worked in the UK and Greece mainly in corporate and merchant banking. He joined Citibank in 1993 and garnered experience from Citibank’s emerging markets business focusing on businesses beyond Africa and became Vice President in charge of all cross border/international deals for Africa in 1996.

In 1998, he joined Nomura International in London as a Director for Investment Banking for Africa.

After re-joining Citibank in 2000, he was moved to Nigeria and Ivory Coast in 2001 as executive direc-

tor covering Nigeria and West Africa and was a board member of Citibank Nigeria from 2001 to 2006. He also served as Citibank’s director & regional head Sub-Sahara Africa corporate finance & investment banking based in South Africa from 2002 to 2006.

He started his own investment advisory firm in 2007 but left briefly to join Ecobank Transnational Incorporated as head of Ecobank Capital from 2010 to 2012 and was also a member of the Group Executive Committee, the top executive body for overall direction of the Ecobank Group. Since 2012, he has been running his firm focus-

year, ammonia, and urea and other chemicals were sold.

Urea and other chemicals generated N26.65 billion for Notore while ammonia generated N170.35 million.

In 2017, the firm earned N35.68 billion from the sale of urea and other chemicals, while ammonia fetched it N214.09 million. This implies that sales of the two products declined by 25 percent and 20 percent respectively.

When sales were analysed by geographical locations, revenue from within Nigeria fell by 22 percent during the period from N34.33 billion last year to N26.71 billion by September this year. Similarly, revenue from external sources nosedived by 92 percent from N1.56 billion last year to N118.38 million this year.

On what may be responsible for sharp decline in fertilisers’ sales when some much attention is being given to agriculture, Oluyinka Alawode, CEO and agric information broker, Farm Cafe, an online agribusiness information platform attributed the problem partly to the absence of subsidy and preponderance of small holder farmers within the nation’s agric value chain.

“So many factors, external and internal, could make a firm record losses. Many

farmers, even the educated ones, are still small holder farmers and have challenges of access to finance, who cannot afford some inputs such as fertilisers since they can still produce without fertilisers, although they may not get the maximum output.

Also related is that there is no subsidy on fertilisers anymore which means fertiliser producing firms were profitable because of the subsidy in the last regime. Back then, farmers bought fertilisers at half price while government paid the balance to the companies” Alawode said.

Cost of sales declined by 32 percent from N25.5 billion to N17.22 billion, partly due to 13 percent fall in raw materials and other chemical costs, as well as the reversal of Export Expansion Grant due to the approval giving to the scheme in the course of the year by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

Other income rose to N4.36 billion by September 2018 from N1.25 billion same period in 2017. Finance cost rose by 19 percent to N10.85 billion as against N9.09 billion paid in 2017.

The was as a result of 175 percent increase in borrowings during the period. In 2018, Notore raised its borrowing to N69.32 billion up from N25.45 billion in comparative period in 2017.

Continental Reinsurance’s scheme consideration rises by 51 percent ing on inward cross border transactions across the African continent. He currently serves as chairman of the Africa risk capacity Pan African Insurance Company (ARC Ltd) and is also the chairman of its finance and investment committee.

ARC Ltd is a financial affiliate of the African Risk Capacity, a specialized agency of the African Union (AU), an initiative designed to improve current responses to climate-related food security emergencies. Babade was nominated by First Carlyle Growth V and his appointment as a Non-Executive Director was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria effective April 20, 2017.

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ontinental Rei n s u r a n c e Pl c hereby notifies Th e N i g e r i a n Stock Exchange (The Exchange) that the Company convened and held a Court-Ordered Meeting on December 20, 2018 as directed by the Federal High Court, Lagos for the purpose of the minority shareholders of the Company considering the proposal by CRe African Investments Limited to acquire all the outstanding and issued shares of CRe for cash or shares . Voting at the COM was by way of a Poll. At the conclusion of the Poll Voting, 92.66 percent of the votes cast were in favour of the Resolution approving the Scheme.

Fu r t h e r m o r e , t h e Scheme Consideration was revised upwards from N2.04 to N2.10 (Two Naira Ten kobo) per share. The

revised Scheme Consideration represents a 51.08 percent premium on the share price of CRe Nigeria as at the close of trading on October 5, 2018 which is 1.39; being the last business day prior to the date on which the proposal was received from CRe African Investments Limited.

An application has been submitted for the Final Approval of the Securities & Exchange Commission, subsequent to which an application will be submitted to the Federal High Court for the sanction of the Scheme. The effective date of the Scheme is the date on which the Court Sanction is filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission; which, as stated in the Scheme Document, is scheduled to occur on January 4, 2019. Further updates will be provided to The Nigerian Stock Exchange as events occur.

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Travel

Where to make the most of your stay this festive season OBINNA EMELIKE

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hile Naira has been stable over some time now, the reality is that the value has really gone down.

At N360 or more to the US Dollar overseas trips for Christmas or New Year holiday are very expensive. The sad development is also gainful because it also points to the need to look inwards and patronize domestic destinations, which abound in the country.

Leave the sentiments that local offerings are poor, facilities bad, service culture lacking and try a destination this festive period.

As long as your expectations are moderate, you will get the most experience while being hosted in some of these destinations.

Below are some of the resorts and hotels to make the most of your lodging experience this festive period.

Smokin Hills Golf Resort, an emerging destination for golf enthusiasts and nature lovers in Ilara Mokin, Ondo State is a nice place to visit this festive period. On a visit, guests discover beyond the reasons why the resort is ‘smoking’ with leisure.

Set on 140 acres of virgin land carved out of surrounding jungle and rolling hills that emit smoke early in the morning and also at dawn, the resort offers various accommodation options, amid other leisure facilities that boost family outing and augment the premium golf offering.

As well, the Fifth Chukker in the outskirt of Kaduna awaits you visit this festive season. It is an upscale lifestyle oasis of family fun, recreation, polo and culture that spread across 2000 hectares of

land. On offer in the resort are 100 rooms, comprising of 3-bedroom duplexes, 2- bedroom villas and 1- bedroom lodges.

The locally themed rooms amid modern leisure facilities are among the highlights of the resort.

Of course, Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, which was awarded Best Resort in Nigeria 2017 and has the Best Golf course in West-Africa, is one of few destinations that have consistently been operating at a truly 5-star level.

Aside the word-class golfcourse, its whole spacious lay-out in a beautiful undisturbed natural environment, swimming pool, gym, restaurants and bars will provide an unforgettable experience for those who live in densely populated cities like Lagos or Port Harcourt. Families with children can enjoy around the poolside, discover the nature of the golf course by foot or on bike, relax at the riverside Marina restaurant among other attractions.

But if you are a spa fan, Clear Essence California Spa and Wellness Resort is one place to visit this festive season. From its outside on #13 Alexander Street, Ikoyi, the foremost spa and accommodation outfit does not tell its true worth. Inside is a different story as garden full of rare flowers and well-trimmed grass lawn ooze out freshness.

Aside the accommodation options, another prime offering is the spa, managed by trained Balinese therapists. The therapists use their talents to send you into a journey away from reality, and that may just be a perfect gift for your loved one this festive season.

The spa offers 10 treatment rooms - a dipping pool, scented steam showers, sauna, a fitness centre with state-of-the-art gym equipment and certified personnel to ensure personalised spa

Le Meridien Ibom Junior Suite experience.

You can also consider a visit to Nike Lake Resort in Enugu. The resort is one place that is evergreen because of the pristine environment and therapeutic impact of the natural lake resort. A few metres to the resort, you will behold with great awe the natural lake stretching over three kilometres with its incredible and rare aquatic population.

On offer are 210 well-appointed and tastefully furnished rooms and suites, suitable for all taste and budgets. You can enjoy a ride on the lake with trained boat riders, or if you are more daring, you can join the local fishermen. Pictures taken afterwards will tell the story of how much you enjoyed the Christmas escape.

If you are considering spending your festive holiday in the north eastern part of the country, then HBC Resort is a place to visit. Lo-

cated in a serene and undulating area of Vom, an outskirt of Jos, the resort is a delight to behold. It is simply leisure nestled at the top of nature’s splendour on the Plateau.

Its emphasis on healthy lodging ensures the air is pure while guests are attracted by the natural pull and freshness. On entering the resort, you are sure to experience a total change of scenery and a homily feel.

On offer at the resort are 40 rooms among other leisure and health facilities.

If you love water, then visit Inagbe Grand Resort and Leisure.

It is relatively new, sparkling, inviting and exclusive. Set in-between the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, the resort offers a rustic living in a lush island haven, resonating air of simple luxury and refined elegance that makes it an ideal family escape this festive season.

There, you are in your own world, do things your own way, with Mother Nature as the only witness. There are many accommodation options, games, facilities and most importantly, nature to enjoy-all at pocket-friendly rates.

Still in Lagos, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ilashe, and Epe Resort also have exclusive offerings. But Ikogosi Warm Spring, Obudu Mountain Resort, Abraka Turf are among places to also visit.

But if you cannot afford any of these places or you are too far from any of these choice places, then try some hotels and resorts within. Beyond seeking an escape, the hotels are cheaper during the festive season as most people travel home to share with their loved ones and corporate activities that support hotel bookings are on hold till later in the new year when companies resume.

Aiteo to sponsor maiden edition of Golibe festival ANTHONY NLEBEM

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he yuletide season in 2018 will be different especially in Onitsha as the ancient city gears up to host the maiden edition of Golibe Festival, the first of its kind in South East Nigeria and one of the biggest in West Africa.

Sponsored by indigenous energy multinational, Aiteo Group, The Golibe Festival Onitsha is positioned as a family-friendly, fun-filled festival with high educational content to showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage. It promises to fill the gap in entertainment offering available to over 20 million residents and visitors to the South-East, especially from the diaspora, during the yuletide.

‘Golibe,’ the name adopted for the festival has captured, in its totality, the essence of what the people in Onitsha would be seeking. The yuletide season is the time for enjoyment and ‘golibe,’ the Igbo word for rejoice, is assured.

The festival is slated for a period of ten days, commencing with the Onitsha Choral Rendition, an event created to thrill all and sundry in the spirit of Christmas. The rendition will also feature a carol singing competition where the finest choral groups in South Eastern Nigeria will perform variety of Christmas

songs as well as give their own interpretation of the Golibe theme song. The singing competition will have its grand finale on the 23rd and 24th of December, 2018, at the Ime Obi Onitsha, ushering in the grand festival.

Specially put in place for the young and the young at heart is the Golibe Dreamland Fun Fair which will feature arcade games and entertainment (bouncy castles, train rides, video games booth), video documentaries about Onitsha people, history, culture and traditions, Cultural dances, arts and crafts exhibition among others.

Techquest is also on board with a Robotics Masterclass for children.

It runs from December 25 to the last day of the festival. Venue is also at the Ime Obi. For those who just want to relax in a comfy environment, the The Chill Zone, a hang-out arena for youths and adults which features a cozy lounge arrangement with music, games and gastronomy, is available. Besides entertainment, it provides avenue for promoting local talent and identifying new ones. The chill zone will open from Christmas day and run till the 30th of December at the Festival Arena, Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium.

The festival will also feature the prestigious Ado League, a football competition among the 18 Onitsha

villages. It started in the 1990s and has remained an annual event ever since.

The highlight of the festival will be the Golibe Carnival, the largest street party in South Eastern Nigeria and one of the biggest in West Africa. The carnival will feature a

performing at various venues throughout the carnival route. This event slated for December 28 and is for the purpose of the revival of Onitsha as the geographical-cultural cross section of what Omambala people used to be and what the town could become.

Golibe festival pageant for the Golibe King and Queen, as well as the Golibe Homecoming King and Queen. This will be on December 27.

As part of the carnival is the Street Arts Festival which will involve Visual Artists and Musicians

The festival will flow into the grand carnival parade scheduled for December 29. Start off for the parade will be at the DMGS roundabout, through the Oguta road/ Ugwunabampka intercession and then Awka road. The parade will

end at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium.

December 30th has been set aside for masquerades from all over Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi and other states. Some of the masquerades to feature at Golibe Festival 2018 include: Ayolugbe, Agbogo Mmuo, Ogolo, Agaba, Ijele, Nnekwu Ugo, Ogwo Tulu Mgbe, Wonder, Ada, Izaga and Enyi (Elephant).

The masquerades will hold a procession along the Carnival Route and stopover at homes of selected eminent indigenes and residents of Onitsha.

Capping off the festival will be the Crossover Night Concert on December 31. The Cross Over Concert will be a celebration and thanksgiving concert that combines gospel and Afro-Pop music in a world class concert setting with lights, sound, stage effects and adrenaline, and musical performance by A, B & C -List Artists from across the country. The event will start at 8pm For a city hosting a major festival, Onitsha meets the full criteria for the Golibe Festival. Onitsha is one of Nigeria’s biggest cosmopolitan cities, strategically located in the east and serves as a gateway to the Igbo heartland as well as the rest of Nigeria.

Over 100,000 guests are expected to flood the city of Onitsha for the festival.

Sunday 30 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 45

Travel

Ways to reduce the impact of noisy engines on long haul flights Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

E

ver wondered why you just can’t sleep on long-haul flights? The humming of engines creates about 80 decibels of engine noise in the cabin at cruising altitude, but that’s not all.

For some reason airline staff think nothing of interrupting your movie to announce through cheap, hissy speakers that they will soon be selling lottery tickets and ‘attending to your shopping needs’, while a chatty pilot can often ruin the last hour of the journey.

Last year I had a lot of air travels to do and that in no small way affected one of my eardrums. This took me in and out of hospital for over five months.

However, all these can be avoided by travelling tactically.

Use SeatGuru to choose the quietest seat Most airline passengers think that the 24-hour online check-in system is for making sure you sit next to a loved one – or getting as far away from the toilets as possible – but the savvy

traveller after a quiet ride thinks about the engines.

When navigating the online check-in, glance at TripAdvisor’s SeatGuru, which is available for iPhone, but is at its best as a website. It contains 700 seating plans for aircraft on all scheduled routes. It’s all colour-coded (green for good seat, yellow for ‘be aware’ and red for bad seat), though it’s all highly subjective and, besides, very few seats on planes are green.

SeatGuru’s core infor-

mation might be useless, but its maps are not if you want to figure out the quiet zones; on wide-body aircraft the seats in the front of the Economy cabin are the quietest, according to SkyTrax, while the back of the cabin has the most engine noise – and suffers more from turbulence. And the magic numbered seat? Hard to say given the plethora of airlines, but on a Boeing 747-400 the quietest seats are in rows rows 31-34.

Block out the noise us-

Air Peace makes 2019 projections, assures travellers of better deal

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ir Peace has unveiled its plan for the aviation sector in 2019, assuring air travellers of packages including exceptional longhaul flights to Dubai, Sharjah, London, Guangzhou-China, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

A statement issued by Chris Iwarah, Air Peace corporate communications manager, quoted Allen Onyema, the carrier’s chairman/ chief executive officer, as urging staff of the airline to gear up to raise the bar of flight services to the travelling public in 2019.

Onyema, the statement added, commended the travelling public for preferring Air Peace and staying loyal to its brand in 2018. The chairman attributed the success of the airline in four years to the unflinching support its customers, pledging that the carrier would spare nothing in making their experience truly rewarding, exciting and safe.

The carrier said it was focusing on broadening opportunities to give its customers

greater comfort, beginning with the extension of its operations from its hub at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) on January 2, 2019.

It confirmed that its Lagos-Kaduna, Lagos-Asaba, Lagos-Akure and Lagos-Port Harcourt NAF Base flight operations would be moved to MMA2 from January 2.

The facility, it said, would eventually handle all flights under Air Peace Hopper, Air Peace’s subsidiary.

The expansion, Air Peace said, would create more space for it to provide exceptional flight services in an atmosphere of comfort.

The airline also assured that its main project for 2019 would be in the area of giving the flying public a reliable, affordable, safe and convenient option on major international routes, including Dubai, Sharjah, London, GuangzhouChina, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

The international services,

Air Peace said, would give Nigeria and West Africa a sense of pride in the global aviation industry. It said it was in the final stage of doing demonstration flights with its Boeing 777 aircraft to Sharjah, Dakar, Freetown, Johannesburg, Port Harcourt and Kano as part of the process to induct the aircraft into its service.

“2018 was both challenging and exciting for us. It was the year we upped our record of firsts. In the year under review, we launched a number of domestic and regional routes under our no-cityleft-behind project on the platform of our subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper. We also made history as the first domestic airline to acquire and register the Boeing 777 aircraft in Nigeria.

“We have so far acquired four Boeing 777s, with two already delivered. We also successfully renewed our International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) after a very rigorous process.

ing Airsleep Only available for iPhones, Air sleep is an attempt to combat noise in aircraft cabins with a scientifically calibrated soundtrack. It’s simple to use; choose from Rainy Day, Beach Sleep or Desert Wind while you’re up high. The themes of the soundtracks are obvious and designed to encourage sleep, but as well as natural sounds and randomly generated ambient music, each has a background track of slow-wave

‘sleep-frequency’ audio.

It’s kind of a bass track that tries to cancel-out the din, and for up to ten hours on a loop. For a free app it works really well even on cheap earphones, though you will have to push the volume up as high as it will go if you’re using cheap earphones.

When you get home, try JetLag Genie.

Buy bulky noise-cancelling headphones Formerly found only in First Class, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) headphones are rapidly moving down the aisles. They’re a revelation, with built-in mics monitoring the ambient noise and then creating their own sound waves to cancelout the low frequencies.

Trouble is, they’re bulky, pricey and need batteries. In fact, some don’t work at all unless they have batteries inside them. A good highend pair is the Sennheiser PXC 250-II (£109), which uses a single AAA battery and last for 50 hours.

Spend big on portable in-ear noise cancellers It’s fashionable to hate Bose, but if you’re after both silence at high altitudes and something that’s easy to travel with, they make by far

the best option. Little bigger than cheap earphones, the Bose QuietComfort 20/20i acoustic noise cancelling earphones have rubber casing that hooks into the ear. It’s really comfy – even when worn for hours – while a small battery pack that charges via micro USB gives sweet silence for 16 hours.

Very expensive at 259.95 Euros and certainly not the finest quality earphones judged purely on music quality, they nevertheless put earphones claiming ‘noise isolation’ to utter shame.

There are two versions with in-line controls for iOS and Android, respectively.

Redesign the plane As aircraft engines become more fuel-efficient, they’ll also become quieter.

Progress is already been made, with the UK’s Noise Abatement Society recognising the Airbus A380 as the quietest jetliner yet.

Meanwhile, the Airbus Concept Plane promises repositioning of the engines – at the rear and semi-embedded into the side – specifically to cut-down on noise inside the cabin. Much further into the future is the ultimate in quiet technology; the solar-powered plane.

Nigerians to merry in Emirates festive offerings

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s a way to show commitment to Nigerians at Christmas and in this festive period, Emirates Airline is encouraging Nigerians to merry and enjoy its festive offerings on board its flight from its Dubai hub.

Emirates is bringing Christmas joy to the skies this season with delicious festive menu on select flights and nostalgic films on board across all cabin classes.

For the third time in a row, Emirates is introducing its Christmas inspired menus for all travellers including Nigerians who will be travelling from Dubai to United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, United States and South-Africa.

All through the festive

season, Nigerian travellers dropping by at the Emirates hub, Dubai, before they continue to their destinations will benefit from this offer which includes wide beverage selections, fine wines, refreshed spirits, and champagne, amongst others, as well as delicious turkey roll, pan fried Vienna chicken sausage, green peas, baby carrots and cranberry for those on Economy class, and Roasted Turkey breast, Apricot stuffing, roast potatoes with creamy Brussels, sprouts with turkey bacon and cranberry for passengers on First and Business class.

Nigerian Young flyers are also not left out in this.

They will be surprised with Chocolate lollipop featuring a reindeer as a treat

with all children’s lunches and dinners. Emirates Fly with Me Animal toys are also available as travel companion.

Festive films are also present on ICE to get the travellers into the spirit of the holidays featuring a range of Christmas classics.

Reaching a milestone offering of over 1000, movie choices, more than any other airline, travellers can enjoy up to 3,500 channels and over 2000 hours on demand inflight entertainment.

Emirates ICE aims to create a better-than-home experience with the latest and best movies, great television and an extensive music selection for travellers. Emirates will also be the first airline to screen the 1982 classic film E.T in December, a month earlier than other airlines. For those looking to brush up on a new language in the New Year, the airline has added new language options to its Talk Russian and Urdu.

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Sunday 30 December 2018

Health&Science

Can coffee cause cancer?

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offee is a hugely popular drink, but many people are concerned that it may cause cancer. Others claim that drinking coffee offers health benefits and may even prevent cancer. So, what does the evidence say?

In this article, we examine the possible link between coffee and cancer and look at whether drinking coffee can provide any health benefits.

Does coffee cause cancer?

Cancer is a complex disease, and it is not always easy to determine its cause. Researchers have investigated many different substances to find out if they increase a person’s risk of cancer. Substances that can cause cancer are known as carcinogens.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed more than 1,000 studies in humans and animals and did not find adequate evidence to indicate that coffee is a carcinogen.

However, more research into the link between coffee and cancer is necessary. A 2017 study suggests that drinking coffee may, in fact, lower the risk of developing specific forms of cancer.

Although older studies did sometimes find a link between drinking coffee and developing cancer, the cause was often smoking rather than coffee. People who smoke also tend to drink coffee.

Why do people think it might cause cancer?

Roasted coffee beans contain a substance called acrylamide, which is a byproduct of the roasting process.

The IARC classify acrylamide as a Group 2A probable carcinogen.

This means that there is substantial evidence suggesting that acrylamide can cause cancer in animals. However, more research is necessary to determine if it also increases the risk of cancer in people.

Coffee does not contain acrylamide unless it has come from roasted coffee beans. People who are concerned about acrylamide can choose an alternative type of coffee.

person’s caffeine intake. Black teas and some herbal teas, such as green tea, do contain caffeine but usually less than a cup of coffee.

Acrylamide also occurs in: cigarette smoke, industrial processes, such as making plastic, paper, and dyes, starchy foods that need cooking at a high temperature, for example, fries and potato chips and food packaging and some adhesives, in small quantities People can limit their exposure to acrylamide by being aware of cooking methods and not smoking. They can roast or bake potatoes instead of frying them and toast bread until it is light rather than dark brown.

There is also a link between drinking very hot liquids and cancer of the esophagus, or food pipe. Drinking coffee that is hotter than 149ºF may increase a person’s risk of developing esophageal cancer. Therefore, it is best to allow coffee to cool slightly before drinking it, particularly if it does not contain milk.

What are the risks?

Most cancers occur due to a combination of factors, including people’s genes, environment, and lifestyle.

Some key risk factors for cancer include: smoking, being overweight, an unhealthful diet, drinking alcohol,

sun exposure, workplace risks, such as exposure to certain chemicals and radiation and specific inherited genes, although this is a relatively uncommon cause These risk factors can combine to increase the likelihood of a person developing cancer. For example, someone may have an unhealthful diet and not do enough exercise.

Drinking coffee as part of a healthful lifestyle is unlikely to be a health risk, but excessive coffee consumption can cause health problems. Coffee contains caffeine, which is a stimulant that makes the brain more alert and temporarily increases blood pressure.

People who have heart problems may choose to avoid coffee if they experience heart palpitations after drinking it. Coffee can also cause acid reflux in some people and may irritate the stomach.

Drinking coffee in the evening can disrupt sleep, and a good night’s sleep is essential for health. It might be beneficial to replace coffee with a decaffeinated version or a herbal tea later in the day.

Roche partners ASLM to strengthen laboratory services in Nigeria CYNTHIA EGBOBOH, Abuja

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oche Diagnosis Limited has collaborated with Africa Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) to strengthen the laboratory services in Nigeria.

Taofik Oloruko-Oba, Roche country head, Nigeria, speaking to pressmen held in Abuja, said that the collaboration is aimed at strengthening the Nigeria health system and creates universal health coverage.

“We have been partnering with several healths related bodies around the world to strengthen the health services by building the capacity of the laboratories through training and retraining of manpower as well as provision of laboratory equipment,” he said.

Oloruko-Oba speaking further, said that Roche is currently building the capacity of 27 labs around the country, with over 1.5 million Nigerians undergoing treatment for HIV Aids.

“We call on the government to partner with us; we are ready to part Eric with any state government to tackle health issues prevalence in such state as we have done in Taraba state.”

Duncan Mackay, General Manager, Roche, said that they out to educate and train doctors, as well as create public awareness and promote control of epidemic in Nigeria.

“We have equipment for various diseases, the most important thing to note is the need for adequate preparation to tackle and control any identified epidemic in the country.

“The ability to bring affordable equipment to the people depend more on the decision of the government, hence there is need for

collaboration with the Nigeria government so as to make this services available to members of the public at affordable prices.”

In his remarks, Nqobile Ndlovu, CEO ASLM, stressed on the need for adequate preparation to prevent outbreak of epidemic by building the capacity of identified laboratories for quick intervention in case of disease outbreak.

“We recognise the role that Roche is playing in laboratory services in Africa. Having a good laboratory system means,” Ndlovu noted.

Should people drink less coffee?

Roasted coffee beans contain some acrylamide. Coffee drinkers can avoid this chemical by choosing unroasted coffee beans, although these do taste very different. A variety of unroasted coffees are available to purchase online.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that adults consume no more than 4–5 cups of coffee a day. The American Academy of Paediatrics advises that children or adolescents do not consume products that contain caffeine.

Doctors generally also suggest that women who are pregnant or breast-feeding limit their caffeine consumption. However, the guidelines on this vary and can be difficult to follow because coffee strength differs too.

People trying to limit their coffee intake may wish to seek medical advice or cut out coffee and other caffeinated products completely.

If a person wants to reduce the amount of coffee that they drink, they should do so slowly. Cutting down on caffeine can cause headaches. Replacing coffee with tea, decaffeinated coffee, water, or herbal teas can reduce a

Are there health benefits to drinking coffee?

A 2017 study reviewed a wide range of evidence and concluded that drinking moderate amounts of coffee is generally safe. According to this study, drinking coffee may also have health benefits.

The study compared people who drank no coffee with people who drank the following amounts of coffee each day: approximately 4–7 cups, about 1–3 cups and one extra cup.

The researchers found that all the groups drinking coffee had a lower rate of cancer than those who did not drink any coffee. People who drank more coffee had a reduced risk of developing the following cancers: prostate, endometrial, melanoma and non-melanoma skin, oral and leukemia.

The study did not find a strong link between coffee consumption and the following cancers: gastric, colorectal, ovarian, thyroid, breast, pancreatic, laryngeal and lymphoma Other benefits of drinking coffee included a lower risk of death from all causes and a lower risk of heart disease, liver disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The researchers found that drinking 3–4 cups of coffee per day gave the most benefit.

Coffee also contains antioxidants.

These are substances that may stop or slow down cell damage. There is a need for more research on the potential health benefits of antioxidants.

Takeaway Current research suggests that coffee is unlikely to cause cancer. It may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer, but there is not yet enough scientific evidence to confirm this.

As part of a healthful diet, coffee is likely to be beneficial. Drinking up to 4 cups of coffee a day should not pose any risks to health and may reduce the risk of certain diseases.

Culled from Medical News Today

Dufil Prima foods launches new Indomie noodles

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ndomie Relish, the newly introduced Indomie noodles variant, from the stables of Dufil Prima Foods, has been launched in the capital city of Abuja.

The launch, which kicked off with a market activation, gave the people who have been anticipating the arrival of Indomie Relish in Abuja an opportunity to purchase the product.

The Abuja launch team took it further with mall activation at Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja with an in-store wet and dry sampling, which lasted for six hours.

Ginny Tewatia, product manager, Indomie Relish, said:“After the successful launch of Indomie Relish in Lagos, we decided to take it to Abuja, and it has been well received.

Indomie Relish is a complete meal with real fish and chicken chunks, depending on one’s taste and preferences. We are also here at the Jabi Lake Mall giving free Indomie Relish samples to people in the spirit of Complete Christmas Experience.”

At the wet sampling stand, each shopper was treated to a bowl of both the chicken and fish flavours

of the Indomie Relish at a stand, where consumers attested to seeing and eating real fish and chicken chucks in the sampled bowls. The side attractions had a violinist and a trumpeter playing melodious Christmas tunes to thrill the excited customers, in a bid to give consumers the classy taste and feel of the Indomie Relish.

Racheal Ezeugo, who tasted both chicken and fish flavours of the Indomie Relish, said: “This is new and good as it takes off the stress of looking for what to spice or garnish the mean with. With Indomie Relish, the choice is there to make from either seafood or chicken. It is a complete meal indeed.”

According to the organisers of the event, the whole exercise was meant to communicate in relatable terms The Complete Meal Experience that Indomie Relish offers in itself as a Complete Meal with all the necessary ingredients readily available in each pack. According to the Product Manager, Indomie Relish is available at supermarkets and organized stores in Abuja.

Sunday 23 December 2018

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BDSUNDAY 47

Sports It’s time to decide Hazard’s future- Sarri tells Chelsea ... as Hazard rejects Chelsea’s £300,000 a week wage

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Stories By Anthony Nlebem

h e l s e a manager Maurizio Sarri has shown his frustration over Eden Hazard’s contract extension by telling the Chelsea hierarchy that it is “time to decide” on the player’s future for the good of the club.

Hazard’s deal expires in the summer of 2020 and despite Chelsea’s best efforts, ongoing since their Premier League title win in 2017, he has decided against extending his terms.

Ch e l s e a h a v e o f fered Hazard in excess of £300,000 a week and it is unclear what more they could have done but Sarri made it plain that he felt the situation had gone on for too long. Hazard has made no secret of his desire to play for Real Madrid.

“I think that it’s time to decide,” Sarri said. “Will I sit down with him? No, because I don’t have the power to do this. I am the coach, I am not the president. I am not in charge of the market. I want to speak to him only about his position on the pitch. We have to solve this problem if we want to programme the future.”

Sarri, who described Hazard as “one of the most important players

in Chelsea history”, also grew exasperated when questioned about his decision to use the Belgian as a false nine in the club’s past four league games. After the most recent – the 2-1 win at Watford on Boxing Day – Hazard said once again that he did not think the false nine was his best position and he wanted to move back to the left.

“I cannot see the problem of Hazard in this role – he played four matches and scored three goals and made two assists,” Sarri said. “I am really very happy with him in this position because he is very able to score, first of all; very able to open spaces for

teammates and very able to come to play with teammates.

“At the moment I am very happy with him in this position. In the future, he can play also as a winger, of course. I don’t know if he prefers to play as a winger but if he is able to play like in the last match in the centre, for me it’s not a problem to put him in the centre.”

Sarri said he left Álvaro Morata out of the squad at Watford for “tactical” reasons – the striker had previously been unavailable because of a knee injury – and it remains to be seen whether he will be recalled for Sunday’s visit to Crystal Palace. It sounded as

though Sarri was ready to persist with Hazard as the false nine.

“It depends on the moment,” Sarri said. “I think in this moment we need to be solid, and with Hazard in this position, I think we can become more solid. It’s a good option also in the defensive phase. It depends on the moment. Maybe in the future, we will be able to play with a striker and Hazard together.”

Sarri reported that Pedro was out for 10 days with a hamstring problem and that Callum HudsonOdoi was unlikely to feature at Palace because of a less serious hamstring issue. – Guardian service.

No plan to quit tennis, says Andy Murray

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ndy Murray says he would have had too many regrets had he thrown in the towel and retired during his recent injury woes.

The three-time Grand Slam winner’s problems started at Wimbledon last year as he was forced to miss the latter half of the campaign due to a hip problem.

He was initially expected to make his comeback at the Brisbane International at the start of 2018, but was forced to withdraw from the event and eventually underwent hip surgery

or gotten back to a level where I can compete again, I would have looked back and regretted that,” he said.

“I owed it to myself to give myself the best possible shot to get back to a level I was happy with.

I am able to compete at a high level, but I have to back it up a few days in a row. That’s the challenge.”

Murray has slumped to No 256 in the world following his long injury layoff, but he is ready to work his way back up and tick a few more things off his list.

in January.

The Scot finally made his competitive return in June this year, but played only a handful of tournaments before calling an early end to his season.

The 31-year-old admitted on Thursday that he still has a “bit of pain in the hip” ahead of this year’s Brisbane event, but he is happy with his decision not to quit tennis.

“You want to go out on your own terms. If I decided to stop six months ago, having not played

“As I’ve gotten older, and with the last 12 months, I can’t believe how quickly things can change,” he said.

“When I first had issues with the hip I was No 1 in the world and 12 months later I was struggling. I thought I had time on my side. There’s nothing I’d rather do more than stay out on Tour.

“I love the practice, the competition, the locker room. I want to play as long as I can. There are still things I want to achieve.

Whether I am capable of doing that or not, we’ll see.”

Will Lewis Hamilton continue his F1 dominance 2019?

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ewis Hamilton is set to enter the 21-race in 2019 Formula 1 season having won both of the last two and four of the last five Formula 1 championships.

A championship in the 2019 season would give him three consecutive championships for the first time in his career.

Will the five-time Formula 1 champion pull it off, thus giving himself three consecutive championships, five championships in the last six seasons and six career championships, a total that only one other driver in the sport’s history, seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, has been able to reach?

The 33-year-old Briton will likely have more serious championship challengers in the 2019 season than he has had in past seasons.

However, he is still the clear favorite to be crowned champion once again by the time the 2019 season comes

to a close.

While both Scuderia Ferrari and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, the two teams that, along with Mercedes, have combined to win the last 118 Formula 1 races dating back to the 2013 season, have seemingly closed the gap to the Brackley-based team and are expected to continue to continue to close it in the 2019 season, Mercedes are still the top team until proven otherwise, and neither Ferrari nor Red Bull Racing have really even come remotely close to officially proving that otherwise.

Mercedes have won the last five constructor championships, as they have won them every season since the beginning of the V6 turbo hybrid era in 2014. Their 84-point winning margin (655 to 571) over Ferrari in second place in the constructor standings this past season was their smallest

during this five-year span, so it stands to reason that many people believe that Mercedes’ reign is poised to end in the 2019 season.

However, even in Mercedes’ worst season of the V6 turbo hybrid era, Hamilton was practically unstoppable.

Hamilton entered the season on a three-race win drought, and that became a six-race win drought after

he failed to win any of the season’s first three races.

But over the course of the season’s final 18 races, he only failed to win seven of them.

In other words, Hamilton failed to win nearly as many races in a six-race span as he failed to win in the subsequent 18-race span, and he did so despite the fact that Ferrari and Red Bull Racing

supposedly made gains on Mercedes during that 18race span.

Hamilton’s 11 victories during this 18-race span allowed him to tie his careerhigh win total for a single season. He also earned 11 races in the 2014 season, the season that resulted in him winning his second career championship. He finished the season with 408

points in the driver standings, the highest point total for a driver in a single season in Formula 1 history.

Can Hamilton win what would be his third consecutive championship, his fifth championship in the last six seasons and the sixth championship of his career?

That remains to be seen, especially with Ferrari’s addition of Charles Leclerc as Kimi Raikkonen’s replacement and Red Bull Racing’s switch from Renault engines to Honda engines.

But so far, the only driver to stop Hamilton during the V6 turbo hybrid era is Nico Rosberg, who was his teammate from the 2013 season through the 2016 season.

Rosberg beat him by five points (385 to 380) to win the 2016 championship. The odds that another driver will pull off what Rosberg pulled off in the 2019 season are small, especially after the season that Hamilton just had.

BDSUNDAY

NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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Sunday 30 December 2018

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Unraveling the Zamfara conundrum He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done – Leonardo da Vinci

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s it has been with embattled Nigerian states such as Plateau, Bornu, Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba, Benue and Kaduna, all turned into the horrendous, killing fields of our dear nation, over the past decade, so it is now with Zamfara State. The figures of causalities are simply frightening, igniting calls for the declaration of state of emergency. For instance, as at July 13, 2018 media reports claimed that over 3,000 helpless citizens had their precious lives wantonly wasted in the state, in two years, precisely between June 2016 and June, 2018!

Furthermore, some 682 villages and towns were literally sacked by the armed bandits with 2,706 farms destroyed even as 13, 838 cattle and 11,088 sheep and goats were carted away. They also succeeded in stealing 2,244 motorcycles. Many citizens have been kidnapped for ransom with several houses destroyed.

And over N1.2 billion was paid as ransom to secure the release of residents abducted during the period. As expected, not a few of the residents took flight into the neighbouring states of Katsina and Kebbi.

There has been a ping-pong, blame-game between a former Senator, Sa’idu Dansadau who reeled out these mind-freezing figures at a press conference in Abuja in June this year and Governor Yari’s special adviser on

public enlightenment, media, and communication, Malam Ibrahim Dosara. On his part, Dansadau renewed his appeal to the president to “invoke his powers under Section 305 (3) (c) (d) and (f) & (5) of the Constitution and declare State of Emergency in Zamfara State to deal with the rampant, horrific, indiscriminate and daily killings and violations of innocent people of Zamfara by an emboldened band of criminals in order to restore normalcy.”

The governor’s aide, Dosara however, reminded the former lawmaker that removing officials democratically elected by people is not as easy as what Dansadau thinks it to be. He went further to accuse him as one of the people engineering the crisis in the state.

That he has been sabotaging efforts geared towards ending the banditry, and should be ashamed of challenging both the federal and Zamfara State governments on the killings.

He admonished him instead to go back to his emirate and give his piece of advice. He also reminded him that the governor has set up “a committee of elders to fish out anybody involved in banditry in whatever capacity – be it informant or bandit. It is good for Dansadau.”

Meanwhile, characteristic of the recurring melodrama that often plays itself out in Nigeria’s effervescent political space, while they are busy chasing the shadows of who to blame for obvious institutional failures of governance , precious and priceless lives are being lost on daily basis. There

the pain lies. It is curious for instance, that while on September 11, 2018, Lai Muhammed, the minister of Information and Culture was gleefully celebrating the so-called drastic reduction in the number of killings in Zamfara State, the bandits were still out there preparing to wreak more havoc!

It was a good initiative that 1000-strong military force, comprising the army, air force, police and the civil defence were there to launch fierce attacks on the bandits terrorising the villages and towns of Zamfara State as Lai claimed. It was commendable effort that the police repelled attacks from armed bandits at Mahanga Forest in Birnin Mogaji LGA of Zamfara State. That in the process they killed one hundred and four (104) bandits, destroyed over fifty (50) bandits’ hideouts in three (3) camps, recovered over five hundred (500) cattle and seventy-nine (79) sheep from the bandits.

But they could not stop the killings of not less than 12 police officers, contrary to the claim by the force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood that the police lost only one officer and 12 persons were injured. According to Yemi Itodo, the sister to the late Sergeant Itodo, this was revealed as the message she got from an eye witness account.

Whatever might have happened, who says that any Nigerian should die from largely preventable deaths? What is the statutory role of government if not to act as a protective father-figure; to ensure the security of every citizen, and provide for his welfare,

irrespective of status as enshrined in Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended? Why has it been impossible to single out the mindless masterminds behind the Boko Haram insurgency which began with the Muhammaed Yusuf altercation with the then government of Borno state and has since snowballed into a conflagration that claimed thousands of innocent souls?

Where are the parents of these cruel youth whose voices are only heard when their people have fallen victims of their evil machination? Who are those arming these malleable and gullible youths with sophisticated arms and ammunition instead of with quality education delivery and self-sustaining jobs? And why are they getting Scot-free with blue murder?

Worse still, on what moral ground does the government stand to grant amnesty to the so-called ‘repentant members of Boko Haram’? Should we consider their lives more precious than the helpless others they have sent to their early graves? Would such an odious act not encourage other evilminded youths to take up arms against the state, believing that some day they would also enjoy some spurious and unpatriotic amnesty? One cannot but also wonder what has delayed the release and judicious utilisation of the One billion dollar fund to frontally tackle the rampaging monster of insurgency.

The ongoing debate over the declaration, of a state of emergency, or not is understandable as the governor of the state, Abdulaziz Yari, says

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A killing field called Nigeria

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he has relinquished his position as chief security officer of the state as he has no control over security agencies. And as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has rightly observed, the killings continue to defy the presence of security personnel and is now affecting a North-Western state. All these continue despite the assurances from the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), who has assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s readiness to deploy additional security resources A state of emergency means the Federal Government would take over governance in the state by massively deploying soldiers or appoint an administrator to maintain peace there. Coming close to an election year makes it more worrisome.

The time to put in place strong institutions of youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, job creation and infrastructural development, prompt information gathering mechanism and taking preventive actions to save lives will do us all a world of good. A stitch in time will surely save nine.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff he killings in Nigeria are becoming very worrisome. What is not clear is whether the Federal Government sees the perilous times and whether it considers the wanton bloodshed disturbing enough. But the body language is showing that beyond the verbal condemnation from the seat of power, government appears not bothered so much about how many people that get killed in a day. Its preoccupation at the moment appears to be how to return to power next year.

The good thing is that nobody seems to be insulated from the ravening wolves that steal lives at random in Nigeria. Some people may pretend that they live in secure fortresses where the angels of brutal death may not visit them, but events nowadays have proven that such thoughts are mere self-deceit. If retired Generals are today being killed like chickens, then it is more than dangerous times in Nigeria. Then people, no matter how highly placed, should not play the ostrich today. The other day, a sitting Deputy Senate President of Nigeria had some unwanted visitors. How the invaders beat a retinue of security details in the man’s fortress has remained a guess work.

If a person of such high standing in society cannot say he is safe by virtue of the man-

Ayo OyozeBaje Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

made security around him, I wonder who else can say he is. The senseless and preventable killings across the country have become so rampant that nobody can say what is capable of happening the next second. Today, trained security personnel are voting with their legs, absconding from their duty posts just to avoid being wasted in the name of service to fatherland. Gone are the days when soldiers were happy fighting for their country, not any more. Everybody is now after instant wealth.

Do you blame them, when those saddled with the responsibility of procuring vital equipment to fight the enemies of the people divert the money and look the other way as young soldiers are daily being wasted? That a country touted as the giant of Africa has fallen to the hands of insurgents to the point that trained soldiers and other personnel are running away at the sight of the enemy is a huge indictment and remains a sad commentary. Since 2015, the country has been busy conducting mass burials from one state to the other. There are several burial grounds in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, to mention but a few.

That government cannot contain the orgy of killings in the country with all the resources available to it has left Nigeria a laughing stock

in the comity of nations.

Under the current administration, a group that has been proven to be violent, has been elevated to relevance. Today, the Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), which had owned up and taken responsibility for the killings in Benue and other parts of the country, has become a mouthpiece of the Presidency, talking about who gets to Aso Rock in 2019 and who does not.

Last Thursday, an indigene of Adamawa State told some journalists that the uprising and the killings in some Adamawa villages were carried out against the Christian community there. He wondered why a government that has the control of firearms and personnel is not able to check the senseless killings.

Although the Federal Government may not be overtly endorsing the killings and their perpetrators, its body language appears to be saying much in that regard.

Like Thomas Hobbes would say, life in Nigeria has become “Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”. And it is very unfortunate.

This is the number of disasters recorded in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states in 2018 according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

From the horse’s mouth “We got in and saw the challenges.

We never knew they had stolen all the money. We thought they had a conscience to leave some money behind.

You know, the difference between us and the other party (PDP) is that they are not saying that they are not corrupt.

They say we are corrupt, but APC is also corrupt. They agree that the president is not corrupt. What they are saying is those around the president are corrupt.

But they agree that they are corrupt.”

- Chibuike Amaechi, minister of transportation, blaming the PDP for the poverty in the land.

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