BusinessDay Weekender Magazine 13th Edition

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

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EDITION 13 I 24, OCTOBER 2020

10.20.20

Lead Story

Never Forget

People

Who is DJ Switch?

The woman who turned on her Instagram live video to show the world the aftermath of the horror in the form of bullets that was unleashed onBusinessday.ng unarmed peaceful protesters@Businessdayng at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday, 20th October 2020

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Contents

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C O N T E N T S

6 NEWS ROUNDUP Sanwo-Olu claims no casualties recorded, visits injured protesters at the General hospital in Lagos, promises to foot medical bills

12 BUSINESS OF EDUCATION The Business of Employment: Ending SARS and Starting Work

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Nigeria: Bachelet condemns army killings, calls for “root and branch” reform of the security forces

NIGERIA'S PASSPORT What really is the worth of the Nigerian passport as brain drain takes over?

HEALTH TODAY Are you supposed to hear your heart beating?

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OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT Open Letter to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

MENTAL HEALTH Taking care of your mental health during these tough times

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What is the worth of a life?

SPORTS #EndSARS: Nigerian stars condemn attacks on protesters

Businessday.ng

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Editorial

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020 PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Frank Aigbogun MANAGING DIRECTOR Ogho Okiti EDITOR BUSINESSDAY Patrick Atuanya

Editor’s Note SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2020

Dear Weekender family,

ho would have foreseen just last week that the situation would turn out like this? As I write ‘I hope that you are all doing well and staying as safe and healthy as you possibly can’, I have in mind not only COVID19 but also the unrest that I hope will stop soon. These are scary times and my thoughts and our prayers go out to the victims and families of the victims of this unfortunate series of events.

I would like to emphasize, again, that The Weekender is BusinessDay’s Saturday publication, and we strive to be an intersection between business, lifestyle and living. While the Weekender will continue to be a much-needed light stories weekly, this week, we can only focus on acknowledging the challenging times we are living in and express sympathy for the victims of this protest that started off peacefully.

Not all heroes wear capes, and in the midst of all of these unfortunate events we want you to get to know DJ Switch, the popular DJ who showed bravery during the protests, while providing aid to injured Nigerian protesters amidst the shooting. She bravely showed the world what was happening through her IG live which was watched by over 100, 000 people. We also have our weekly news update, some interesting art, some tips for health during this time.

Hopefully the situation will improve, and we are praying for a renewed sense of security and hope.

Please do take care during this stressful time and continue to respect the physical distancing measures and wash your hands often to stay safe and healthy, even during curfew.

With gratitude. BD

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Lehlé Balde is the Editor of BusinessDay Weekender email: lehle.balde@businesssday.ng | social: @lehlelalumiere

EDITOR BUSINESSDAY SATURDAY Lehlé Balde EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso CalibriMANAGER, ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua HEAD OF DIGITAL SERVICES Onyinyechi Eze HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Orasopee Communications Ltd. CONTRIBUTORS Favour Olanrewaju Vivian Ojo Oluwafadekemi Areo Durotimi Bolaji-Idowu Monisola Adanijo FMCP Asuquo Anthony Nlebem Mercy Ayodele PHOTO CREDIT Freepik, Google Images ENQUIRIES lehle.balde@businessday.ng samuel.anyanwu@businessday.ng ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude +2348033225506 PUBLISHED BY BusinessDay Media Limited The Brook, 6 Point Road, GRA, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.

01-2799100 www.businessday.ng LEGAL ADVISERS The Law Union

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SATURDAY SATURDAY 24, 24, OCTOBER OCTOBER 2020 2020

News Roundup

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Popular Nigerian DJ Switch is a beacon of hope as Nigeria's heroine as she gives eyewitness account of Lekki Massacre through her IG live thwarting denial by the Nigerian army

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hat same Tuesday of October 20 2020, the popular Nigerian Disc Jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, professionally known as DJ Switch rose to the occasion as she joined forces with patriotic citizens in trying to rescue bleeding victims given that emergency personnel and ambulances were initially denied access by the Nigerian Army at the Lekki toll plaza in Lagos.

While providing aid to injured Nigerian protesters amidst the shooting, she bravely showed the world what was happening through her IG live which was watched by over 100,000 people.

However, the Nigerian army has denied that its soldiers opened fire on protesters in Lagos on Tuesday night despite video evidence presented by many victims and

#EndSARS protesters block roads across states costing the government over N234 million

I eye witnesses including DJ Switch. This was done by posting and tagging series of screenshots of such reports as “FAKE NEWS” on its official Twitter handle.

The Lekki massacre sparked massive chaos and wailings nationwide as many persons were traumatised for their loved ones and had sleepless nights.

Black Tuesday: Military open fire on #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll despite holding the Nigerian flags and singing national anthem

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t all started on October 20 2020 when a picture went viral on social media of a man removing the Closed-circuit television (CCTV) at Lekki toll gate.

Shortly after, several armoured trucks were seen driving to the said location and before one could say jack, the military men opened fire on unarmed protesters who were holding the Nigerian flags and singing national anthem.

And just like that, the two-week old peaceful protest by Nigerian youths against police brutality quickly spiralled out of control with about 100 unarmed #EndSARS protesters reportedly shot

dead in the Lekki axis of Lagos State, the sprawling commercial capital of the country, by the military.

n Lagos’s capital, at Ikeja Along bus stop, protesters barricaded the road and would not let vehicles nor motorbikes go through. The Lagos–Ibadan Express, a 127.6-kilometre-long expressway connecting Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State and Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, was barricaded by dozens of #EndSARS youths on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 who blocked various junctions.

The Apapa-Oshodi Express in Lagos was completely blocked by peaceful protesters cooking in the middle of the road.

Apapa is home to the country’s busiest seaport. Peaceful Protesters also blocked the Onitsha bridge, which is a border link between Anambra and Delta states on Tuesday. The protesters were seen holding a Nigerian flag with inscriptions on it: “No retreat, no surrender.”, “Reset Nigeria.”

Protesters holding Nigerian flags blocked roads leading to Nigeria’s Central Bank headquarters in Abuja on Monday, October 19 2020, preventing staff from entering the premises; even the heavy downpour of rain at night could not sway the protesters at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Peaceful protesters blocked City gate airport road in Abuja and Lagos airport road, causing a severe gridlock that led to travellers missing their flights. The Lekki Phase 1 toll gate which has been blocked for several days has cost the Lagos state government a reported N234 million.

Prison break in Edo state as over 100 hoodlums free inmates; government-imposed 24-hour curfew across states that mostly went unheeded

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ver 100 hoodlums organized a jail break in Benin and Oko prisons on Monday according to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), thereby freeing inmates in the process as gunshot injuries were sustained in the conflicting process.

Many states, from Lagos, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo in the South to Abia State in the East, have all announced 24-hour

curfews as they try to control the protests from spiralling into anarchy. In particular, while other states are declaring 24-hour curfew, the Lagos government extended Lagos curfew by 72 hours in a bid to restore some level of sanity.

Although curfews in many areas has not been strictly adhered to as the protesters remain defiant, this trend has somewhat been reversed as sol-

diers have been dispatched across various locations, inciting fear as airports, companies, businesses and other economic activities have been temporarily put on hold.

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News Roundup

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Domestic and International bodies lend voice to Nigeria as they call on Buhari and Nigerian Army to stop killing #EndSARS protesters

N Sanwo-Olu claims no casualties recorded, visits injured protesters at the General hospital in Lagos, promises to foot medical bills

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he Lagos state governor, alongside the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and other state officials posted pictures via his official Twitter handle of his visit to some of the hospitals on Wednesday morning of October 21, 2020 where #EndSARS protesters were receiving treatment after being attacked by security forces.

“There are currently 10 patients at the General Hospital, 11 at Reddington and 4 at Vedic; with mild to moderate levels of injuries while 2 are receiving intensive medical care. 3 patients have been discharged &

we will continue to monitor and ensure all patients get the best care,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He later confirmed that one of the injured victims of Tuesday’s Lekki Toll Plaza shootings died in Reddington hospital.

This was after he earlier said “This is the toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes in our history, but we will face it and come out stronger.” In explaining what he meant by ‘forces beyond our control’, he stated that the military hierarchy and chain of command was not among his responsibilities.

Police station, TVC, NPA, The Nation Newspaper, Bus terminal (BRT), Sanwo-Olu’s family house set on fire as #EndSARS tension escalates

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police station in Orile Iganmu in Lagos was set ablaze by hoodlums amid the protests around 09.45 am, Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

Hoodlums also attacked Television Continental (TVC) office building in Ketu, Lagos on Wednesday, October 21 2020. TVC News is a Nigerian 24-hour television news channel.

That same Wednesday morning, BRT bus terminal at Oyingbo, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nation Newspaper were set on fire as angry youths burned the government-owned structures.

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BA condemned the Lekki Massacre and called upon President Buhari and expose evil perpetrators. In line with this, The Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) also urged President Buhari to provide adequate security, else they would withdraw their services nationwide Internationally, forces such as the UN High Commissioner, Bachelet called for root and branch reforms of the security forces.

Also, Joe Biden, the 2020 candidate for US President and Hilary Clinton, the former United States Secretary of States called on Buhari to stop killing #EndSARS protesters UK Pariamentarians also took up matter of Lekki killings. Also, in a CNN TV broadcast, expert Spyder says the hard truth that Blacks, West Africa are not priority.

Oriental hotel, Palace of the Oba of Lagos, Constituency Office of the Speaker, Honorable Desmond Olusola Elliot, attacked

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riental hotel, Constituency Office of the Speaker and Honorable Desmond Olusola Elliot office were also looted by hoodlums.

The palace of the Oba of Lagos was not left out as the staff of office, which is the symbol of the monarch’s authority was seized. Reports have it that although the hoodlums tried to burn down the palace, soldiers pacified them as Rilwan Akiolu was rescued into safety by a team of armed soldiers.

News Story

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An inexhaustible list of police brutality stories and fundraisers across Nigeria OLUWAFADEKEMI AREO AND FAVOUR OLAREWAJU

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opular Nigerian media personality and show host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu narrated on Channels Television the ordeal he had with some of his friends on November 14 2005, which was six days after he was called to the Nigerian bar and two days after his brother’s wedding.

While driving in Zone 1 area of Abuja with his friends Chisom Mbonu-Ezeoke and Ofem Ofem, an unmarked car drove and cut them off with a man in plain clothes coming out and pointing a gun at them.

His initial instinct made him to manoeuvre and speed off, which only resulted in his car being chased into an ambush laid by policemen who opened fire on them.

It was later found out that numerous robbery cases had been reported in the area where their dead bodies would have been paraded as the culprits.

Ebuka and his friends were lucky to survive that day, but not all Nigerians have been so lucky to avoid death stemming from police brutality.

On the 14th of January 2020, a police officer reportedly shot an 18-year-old student of Iman Malik Academy, identified as Hamza Umar in Yola, in Adamawa State. The incident happened at Jambutu ward of Yola North LGA when police officers on patrol went to the area to arrest some miscreants, but met stiff resistance from some protesting

youth.

On the 20th of April 2020, 10-year old Usman Abdulkadir was shot by a policeman enforcing the lockdown imposed on a market in Jigawa State. His death led to a pandemonium and protests in the Sankara community under Ringim LGA. On the 4th of May 2020, a 27-year old 500 level Law student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University was shot dead in a beer parlour by police officers.

A boy in Anambra state who was an only son of his parents was heading home from work on the 21st of May 2020 around a few minutes past 8, when men of the police force from Nimo unit chased him until he was knocked down by a moving vehicle. He was said to have died from his injuries.

On the 26th of May 2020, Tina Eze, 17, who was preparing to write her WAEC later in the year, was hit by a bullet from a reportedly drunk police officer, who shot to disperse a crowd that had gathered after he opened fire at a bus driver who had refused to give him a bribe. Tina died two days after the incident sparking a wave of social media campaigns for justice.

A policeman shot and killed a 20-year old motorcycle rider in Adamawa on the 2nd of June 2020, for not paying a bribe of N100.

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News Story

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On the 9th of July 2020, a 27-year old man was killed by a policeman in Imo state for not wearing his face mask.

On the 3rd of October 2020, a team of SARS officers allegedly killed a young man in front a hotel in Ughelli Delta state. After killing him, they fled the scene in the car of the deceased.

On the same 3rd of October 2020, Samson John was killed by the bullets of a police officer who unleashed bullets on the people sitting in a beer parlour in Abuja.

On the 8th of October 2020, a young lady was shot in the mouth by a police officer in Lagos for protesting against SARS and police brutality.

Jimoh Isiaq, a bystander near the ongoing #EndSARS protest was killed in Ogbomoso, Oyo state by stray bullets of policemen attempting to disperse the protesters. According to an interview of his family by Punch, Jimoh was married with an infant daughter, to whom he promised to take care of and make up for the past year of neglecting his family. As one of his father’s ten children, he was learning electrician work and ready to start his own vocation when tragedy struck on his way to visit his mother. Three bullets were removed from his body when nearby protesters rushed him to the nearest Bowen hospital.

On Friday night, October 16, 2020, Chijioke Iloanya’s story was recounted by a lady during the #EndSARS candle night protest. Chijioke was 20 years in 2012 when he went for child dedication and was picked up by SARS officials who took him to their office. When his family went to look for him, they were told that he had been moved to their headquarters, upon which the mother sighted him there but the officer in charge threw them out. Upon going there again, the officer boasted that he shot Chijioke and Businessday.ng

@Businessdayng

there was nothing anyone could do about it. Other officers told the parents to bring some money that Chijioke might still be alive. However, the money brought by the dad was considered too small; so, the father sold some of his properties to raise N3 million which was considered chicken change by the SARS official in charge. To make matters worse, Chijioke’s dad was asked to look for his son’s body by turning every single corpse upside down in the river of dead bodies. The parents went to Abuja to seek justice but the State CID told them to pay money to transport other officials to the state where it happened.

On Wednesday, 21st October 2020, Oke Obi-Enadhuze, a fresh graduate of Computer Science from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta who had helped build a blood donation app for Life Bank Services, became a victim of Nigeria’s #EndSARS unrest when reportedly killed by thugs who attacked their barracks abode at Mafoloku, Oshodi area of Lagos State. His death came moments after he tweeted “Nigeria won’t end me.” A fundraiser has now been created to support his widowed mother and younger brother who lost their house due to vandalism and being set on fire, of which £26,187 had been raised out of the £85,000 goal.

Tuesday evening of October 20 2020 was tagged Black Tuesday as an unconfirmed number of #EndSARS protesters were shot at by the military all through the night at the Lekki toll gate.

As fundraising is still ongoing in different parts of the country and abroad to help the families who have lost their loved ones in this sad season and even before now, we can only hope that the death of these fallen soldiers will not be in vain and indeed Nigeria will be great again. BD

People

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WHO IS DJ SWITCH? OLUWAFADEKEMI AREO

Businessday.ng Businessday.ng

@Businessdayng @Businessdayng

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People

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

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he did not show her face, but we heard her saying “they shot peaceful people; they just shot us for nothing. Please record this. Look at bullets, bullets everywhere; people are picking it from the floor. Please record this and share.

We were able to escape because we went under a truck.”

DJ Switch is the woman who turned on her Instagram live video to show the world the aftermath of the horror in the form of bullets that was unleashed on unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday, 20th October 2020.

Her name is Obianuju Catherine Udeh, and even though she lived a great portion of her life in Delta state, she hails from Udi town in Enugu state.

She is the last child of eight children and she is a graduate of Geology from the University of Port Harcourt who chose a career in the entertainment industry as a Disc Jockey, song writer, and a musician.

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If you followed the Star quest show back then in the early 2000s, you will recall that in 2009, a group called Da Pulse won the show and went on to release the song titled ‘so tey’ which featured Bursta rhymes in its remix.

DJ Switch was the rapper in that group, but when the group fell apart a few years after, she went on to be a solo artiste.

Her popularity leaped upwards in 2013 when she grabbed the whooping sum of N24 million as she emerged the first winner of the Glo X factor talent show, which also gave her a record deal with Sony music and Peter Okoye’s P-Classic record label.

From that time until now, DJ Switch has remained a phenomenal sensation among her colleagues (both male and female) in Nigeria and across Africa.

She won the City people award for best DJ in 2016 and in 2018 she was featured in CNN’s editorial titled: Nigeria’s female DJs spinning against stereotypes. BD

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Image of the Week

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People peacefully protesting at Lekki Toll gate Businessday.ng

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Business of Education

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

The Business of Employment: Ending SARS and Starting Work VIVIAN OJO

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ne of my professors at Oxford, an astute economist, engaged our class about his experience on the ground at the start of the Tunisian revolution. He said, “I remember in the summer of 2010 when my wife visited me in Tunis, she remarked about the number of young men in the streets. ‘What are they doing?’ she asked. I was not alarmed because they had gathered gradually over the last few months and I had not initially thought it drastic to see groups of 3 or 4 young people at every corner talking and loitering about. She had, however, called this out as an undeniable mark of imminent revolt.”

My professor’s wife was right! Throughout history, most revolutions have been driven by young people with not enough work to do, in countries with leaders that do not adequately invest in curbing their idleness. In Nigeria we are seeing emergent signs of our own revolution and for many it feels like a long overdue spring. At the crux of what is brewing, are questions of injustice, brutality and poor governance. Yet wrapped within it, is an immovable question about unemployment. While Tunisia's unemployment rate in 2010 was around 15%, its youth unemployment numbers were over 3x larger. In Nigeria, over 67% of the unemployed are young people- a group with energy and hope that will have to be channeled, one way or another.

As our country's unemployment rate has tripled in the last five years according to a Quartz Africa article https://qz.com/ africa/1892237/nigerias-unemployment-rate-tripled-in-fiveyears, we have been steadily marching toward revolt. I had remarked in an earlier edition and still believe that the fundamental purpose and true essence of work is “value creation”.

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Where individuals are hindered from creating value formally, there are few options but to do so informally. Social movements like the recent #EndSARS protest is one such example of informal value creation that also demonstrates how such efforts can sometimes be at loggerheads with formal value creation. Protests and social movements that are created to improve society in the long term often come with short term losses when they ground activities like transportation, commerce and education. Though disruptive, these losses represent the smaller sacrifices. For many, the #EndSARS effort has resulted in the much greater sacrifice of losing their lives.

On Tuesday this week, some young Nigerians paid this ultimate sacrifice in an effort to create value. Even amidst the subsequent chaos, the value these protestors succeeded in creating is undeniable. Firstly, the movement invigorated a belief amongst young Nigerians that organizing and social mobilization can force the hand of government. If well leveraged, this realization could mean the beginning of improved civic engagement and governance. Secondly, the movement has brought to the forefront the power of social media, cyber warfare and international and domestic forms of grassroots resource mobilization, as modern tactics to change society. #EndSars has come with the publication of phone numbers of the political elite, birthing the first wave of organized phone call activism that Nigeria has ever seen. Leveraging social media, millions of naira have been raised across traditional and cryptocurrency payment platforms https://nairametrics. com/2020/10/12/endsars-nigerian-firms-start-ups-donate-millions-in-support-of-protests/ and the money has been used to

Business of Education

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provide security and amenities for protestors. Nigerians at home and abroad have ensured that the End SARS hashtag remained trending and visible. So visible that, despite deliberate efforts to turn off billboard signs and lights one could still access live mobile streams of killings on October 20th, horrifically displayed for the world to see and remember. The large-scale public witnessing of these shootings on social media in the face of growing disinformation campaigns is a uniquely important galvanizing factor for many groups of Nigerians at home and abroad. Churches, hospitals and individuals opened their doors to protestors and collective action behind an idea was further fueled. The final value creation of the protestors is the exposition of the unsolved poverty and associated unemployment challenge. This exposition is not unlike the value created in the Arab Spring in Tunisia. It was the frustration of joblessness, police oppression and the helplessness of being bullied by his own state, that led Mohamed Bouazizi to set himself alight in protest in 2010. This week, with the Lekki tollgate alight and many other parts of the country in flames, the third work of protestors is evident. They have illuminated a problem of unemployment that requires systematic and deliberate redress. If protest is the birthplace of social change, we must now ask what happens after birth- we must begin to raise the child of this valiant effort. In a place like Nigeria, where hunger, insecurity and injustice prevail for most people, employment, or indeed the lack of it, is the next battle ground.

Employment for young people is recognized as critical by economists and laymen alike for obvious reasons. A job provides money, which is the means for the purchase of other goods, services and experiences that keep us alive, connect us with others and stimulate economic growth. The high unemployment rate in Nigeria has made it very difficult for young people to live dignified lives and has contributed to Nigeria being awarded the title of poverty capital of the world, overtaking India in June 2018 according to the World Poverty Clock https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/ www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2018/12/13/rethinking-global-poverty-reduction-in-2019/amp/. Yet what compounds this issue is the fact that the Nigerians who have found work are forced to share the spoils of their labour with a kleptocratic state. SARS is not unlike the many Nigerian agencies that tax individuals for services rendered. Only that they have guns, face no accountability for misconduct and rarely render services.

Beyond the financial gains of employment - the sense of purpose and identity that comes from value creation is immense, and protestors have found this value in comradery with one another. This cohesive value ordinarily also serves the state. When individuals are working and earning dignified salaries, achieving milestones and improving the organizations and societies they work in, they are less likely to agitate the state. Michael Moore, an American social and political critic, cleverly discusses the ploy of student debt, mortgages and other financial goods to deter young Americans from activism because it makes them dependent on stable and steady incomes that are not easily compatible with activism and protest. For the average Nigerian, these ties to the state are few and far between, as individuals are forced to provide most goods for themselves. For many Nigerians, a loan is more likely to come from a collective saving and lending system amongst friends and family like table banking http://www.ipsnews.net/2018/10/ kenyan-women-turning-tables-traditional-banking-land-ownership/, than a formal financial institution or the state. This dissociation from the state does not serve the people or the government and compounds the already precarious employment challenge by

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making it harder for individuals to earn a living.

If employment is the next battle ground, then investment in a new type of armor is key. As young people have called for the end of SARS as early as 2016, what will make the difference in this wave is the extent to which this movement can mature to insist on answers to key issues on the youth agenda. Front and center must be the issue of solving both the supply and demand sides of the unemployment problem. The armor for this next battle is macro-economic policy that stimulates job creation in spaces like technology, industrialization and other non-oil sectors outside of the state as a traditional employer. The armor is also educational reform with a lens toward work-readiness, job-placement, matching, entrepreneurship and career development support. As we recognize the amount of value young Nigerians can contribute, we will begin to see these investments not as a burden but as a necessary input to producing a better future for our nation.

Overtime we will come to realize that the Business of Employment must surely grow. BD is the founder of the Write Writing Coach www.thewritewritingcoach. com, an organization that supports individuals with professional writing. She has consulted with some of the largest international development, educational and corporate organizations across the world and with several African Governments focusing on people and capability building. She has worked on business strategy and job placements with McKinsey and Company, MasterCard Foundation, and African Leadership Academy. She is a board member of United World Colleges Nigeria and a member of Umsizi Fund’s peer learning network that convenes over 30 employment placement organizations from around the world including Harambee, Generation, and Education for Employment. She has a longstanding passion for transforming the African education to employment landscape. She has done work on this as part of her master’s in public policy from Oxford University, an undergraduate degree in international relations and development from Georgetown’s School of foreign service and has been published on the education to employment topic in the Harvard Africa Policy Journal among others. vivian

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Art of the week

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Durotimi Bolaji-Idowu I Businessday.ng

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www.duroarts.com

SATURDAY SATURDAY 24, 24, OCTOBER OCTOBER 2020 2020

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Nigeria: Bachelet condemns army killings, calls for “root and branch” reform of the security forces

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he UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday strongly condemned the use of excessive and disproportionate force by Nigerian armed forces in Lagos on Tuesday evening. She called on the Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to deal decisively with the underlying problem of persistent violations committed by the security forces, and make a far stronger effort to bring police and army personnel guilty of crimes against civilians to justice.

“While the number of casualties of yesterday’s shooting at the Lekki toll plaza in Lagos is still not clear, there is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition, by Nigerian armed forces,” Bachelet said. “Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are even more disturbing as, if confirmed, they suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful protestors was premeditated, planned and coordinated.”

“Nigeria was already at boiling point before this shooting because of the revelations about years of unchecked violence, including alleged killings, rape, extortion and other violations, by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),” the UN Human Rights Chief continued. “While the authorities have now dissolved SARS and announced a series of inquiries at both Federal and State levels, there have still been few if any charges levelled against its members despite abundant evidence against various members of the squad, as well as members of other security forces and the army.”

Many Nigerians appear not to trust the inquiries and other measures that have been announced by the authorities, and have continued to take to the streets in several cities to protest. “I appreciate that the Government has taken a number of measures to address the protestors’ demands,” Bachelet said. “However, the immediate creation of another elite police SWAT team to replace the SARS -- without first addressing some of the root causes of police violence and putting in place sufficient safeguards to prevent future violations -- has eroded the public’s trust even further.

This latest terrible event in Lagos is like wantonly adding fuel to a fire that was already starting to rage out of control.”

Bachelet said the way to restore trust and bring back peace

to the streets of Nigeria is for the authorities to take immediate concrete steps to show they are genuinely committed to tackling impunity, after years of inaction.

“There need to be immediate, independent, transparent and thorough investigations, not just into last night’s killings, but also into all the previous violations committed by security forces,” Bachelet said. “Those appointed to carry out such investigations must not only be independent and impartial but must be widely perceived as such. And, where sufficient evidence already exists to warrant charges, immediate suspension of officers – including senior officers -- suspected of committing serious crimes, should take place long before the conclusion of such investigations.”

“After so many years of reported violations that have not been adequately dealt with, there also needs to be a root and branch re-examination of the entire security sector, and of its civilian oversight,” the High Commissioner added. “This should include a full-scale review of rules of engagement and training systems and methods.”

Bachelet also called for immediate investigations into reports of violent and provocative attacks on peaceful protestors by unidentified groups armed with cudgels, cutlasses, sticks or guns, in some cases apparently with the overt backing of police or other security forces.

“Nigerians, like everyone else, have a fundamental right to peaceful assembly and protest,” Bachelet said. “The Government has a responsibility to take positive measures to ensure the realization of this right, including deterring others who intend to prevent them from protesting peacefully. The world’s attention is now focused sharply on how Nigeria’s Government and security forces react over the coming days and weeks.”

The High Commissioner urged the authorities to grant reparations to the victims and to open extensive dialogue with youth leaders, students and other groups who have been prominent among the protestors.

“In a population with such a young median age, it is important to listen to the grievances of the younger generation and make an effort to address the multiple problems they face, which include -- but are far from confined to -- police brutality and violations.” BD Businessday.ng

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Mental Health Resources

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Nigerian Passport

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

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What really is the worth of the Nigerian passport as brain drain takes over?

FAVOUR OLAREWAJU

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espite being known as Africa’s giant and largest economy, Nigeria has become a country that most people rarely think of travelling to; even most of its citizens are eagerly looking for a way out in search of greener pastures.

This has been especially heightened by recent development of Nigerians feeling very unsafe as the President failed to show empathy in addressing pertinent concerns about the Nigerian army opening fire on #EndSARS protesters on Tuesday, in his national speech on Thursday, October 22 2020.

As such, many citizens tweeted about their eagerness to ‘japa’ and relocate to neighbouring countries such as Canada, Ghana and the likes, and started making inquiries about the cost and processes of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English

as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), passport and visa systems.

Why is this so though? Well, over the years, asides being known as Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria has accumulated the title of being the poverty capital of the world, with 40.1 percent (or 82.9 million) poor persons out of its 200 million population.

This is in addition to insecurity issues, ranging from the Boko Haram insurgency, religious and ethnical clashes, criminal activities including armed robbery, burglars, fraudulent practices such as the popularly known yahoo boys (or 419). This insecurity extends to plague food production and supply in our country as Nigeria’s production capacity is rather low and most of the nation’s consumption is gotten from importation of goods and services.

Rising unemployment, inflation among others have engulfed rising insecurity on all grounds causing most Nigerians to clamour for a way out of the country and escalating levels of

brain drain.

How then do Nigerians find a way out amidst the plethora of national challenges, you might ask?

Numerous tales have permeated the mouths and ears of Nigerians including how people have resorted to various traveling means from going by sea, road, air, and even trekking, all in a bid for a better life.

Well, officially the legal way out or into a country is through a passport and visa. And while, many Nigerians are lining up on a daily basis and hustling to save up funds to get passports and visas into other countries, the big question is how many foreign persons are eager to get Nigerian passports? What really is the worth of the Nigerian passport?

For starters, the much relatively lower demand for the Nigerian passport is evident compared to passport for other countries such as Canada, Australia, the United States, United Kingdom and Germany among others, which are the top Businessday.ng

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Nigeria's Passport

popular choices for Nigerians to migrate to in search of better living standards.

Also, about 4.5 million international trips were recorded across all Nigeria’s borders in 2018 as against 3.7 million trips by foreigners in 2017, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) findings revealed, signifying more outflows than inflows of persons.

A recent report by Quartz Africa notes that the number of Nigerian immigrants to Canada has been rising for five years straight as data published by the Canadian government shows that the number of Nigerians issued permanent resident permits has tripled since 2015, outstripping some of Canada’s biggest immigrant sources including India, China and Philippines.

In 2019 alone, Canada welcomed 341,000 immigrants in total (about 10,000 above its target) as part of its immigration policy to attract skilled workers, further ripping Nigeria of its talented citizens due to Nigerians’ deplorable living conditions.

In the same vein, the 2016 American Community Survey estimates that 380,785 US residents report Nigerian ancestry.

Whereas passport applications in Nigeria increased by 40 percent in 2018 to slightly over 1 million from 720,958 in 2017, only 185,657 passports were issued at the Foreign Missions in 2018, which is 22 percent higher than 152,163 issued in 2017, based on the most recent Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) statistics by the NBS. This means that 825,501 (or 445 percent) extra Nigerians apply for the Nigerian passport than foreigners. Meanwhile, the number of visa issuance at the Foreign Missions was put at 120,697.

Officially in the year 2020, the Nigerian international passport costs N70,000 for the new 64-page passport valid for 10 years but N35,000 for five years while the 32-page passport costs N25,000 with 5-year validity at the NIS office.

Of course, this price varies depending on the connect or institution used to get the Nigerian international passport if one decides to boycott the tedious procedures and queues of the immigration service.

Meanwhile, the United States’ passport costs $110 for adults and $115 for minors, which translates into N41,910 and N43,815 respectively (at Nigeria’s official exchange rate of N381/$1), being way cheaper than the Nigerian passport.

However, obtaining a visa for foreign countries is the most stressful part for Nigerians as they have to undergo rigorous procedures of documentation and costly visas.

For USA, visa fees range from $160-$265 (approximately N70k - N100k) but this was recently hiked up by reciprocity fees of $80-$303 based on the 2017 Trump order, bringing US visa fees to $240-$568 (N92k to N217k).

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Although the NIS puts visa fees to UK at $144 (N55k), the breakdown shows $87 (N33k) for visitors in transit, $125/$130 (N48-N50k) for standard visitors (short/6month) but extends to $251 (N96k) for those who intend to study English, $472 (N180k) for 2-years, $694 (N265k) for 1-year special visit of parents to children in UK schools, $857 (N327k) for long-term (5-years), $1.074 (N410k) for 10-years.

Despite $75 (N29k) visa fees according to NIS, latest July 2020 report by Financial watch Nigeria estimates Visa fees for Canada at 815 $CAD (95k) including permanent residence (PR) but 325 $CAD (N237k) without PR and asides any other family members or dependents.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian visa fees for Americans, $180 (N69k) reduced to $150 (N58k). Of course, these visa fees all depend on the visa class and duration of travel.

Even after struggling to meet up with these visa and passport requirements, the interview aspect appears to be the most dreadful for Nigerians seeking to travel abroad. However, this process is considerably less tedious for foreigners who intend to come into Nigeria.

Out of 195 countries in the world today, the Nigerian passport ranks 91st according to Visa Restrictions Index, that is, almost halfway in comparison to other countries.

To put this in context, how many countries can one travel to visa-free with the Nigerian passport? Just 44 African-based countries, which is just 22 percent or less than a quarter of the total number of countries in the world, indicating the relatively lesser value of the Nigerian passport or visa.

Although, the Nigerian passport can be gotten by applying either physically or online via website submissions, the former is more prevalent with the electronic passport (e-passport) primarily reserved for Nigerian diplomats and top government officials. BD

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Open Letter to the President

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Open Letter to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria October 21, 2020 President Buhari,

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ou appealed to Nigerians to give you a mandate in 2003, 2007 and 2011. In 2015, you walked among the people. Nigerians, young and old, walked with you. On May 29, 2015 we swore you in. You pledged to serve Nigeria, to “celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy”. You said of Nigerians that, “together we cooperate to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria.” You, saluted Nigerians for waiting long hours in rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes and stayed all night if necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were counted. You thanked those who tirelessly carried the campaign on social media.

President Buhari, this is an urgent call from those who gave you this mandate: tell the armed forces to stand down and stop shooting at or killing unarmed Nigerians.

Undeniably, the lives of young Nigerians are being shed in hopes of a better Nigeria, which you chose to serve.

In the last two weeks, Nigeria has seen an intergenerational call for a better country through better governance. It was led by the youth. It was peaceful. As you know, given your experience running for office where there is a crowd there are opportunists that seek to infiltrate and cause havoc. This was not the protesters. They remained peaceful. However, Mr. President, the democracy, which you choose to uphold, necessitates that the people speak.

The rot in the system is undeniable. Nigerians at home and abroad were expressing their displeasure. That same groundswell that gave you a mandate was speaking to you. But our cries were met with a bloody flag. In spite of the denials, we are in a new age of social media. Some of us were on the ground and on social media. Nigerians watched what transpired. The world watched alongside us.

Mr. President, the armed forces should never be said to harm or kill its own unarmed people. We appeal to your duty as the Commander-in-Chief, your decision to be the democratically elected President of Nigeria and your role as a Father: stay the bullets of the armed forces.

As a democratic nation, Mr. President, we will continue to speak. We will continue to call out the rot in the Nigerian system. We have just one country. The same way you fought for it, we will fight for it.

The Undersigned Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellows of Nigeria: Abayomi Awobokun Ada Osakwe Aderonke O. Onadeko Bibi Bakare-Yusuf Bosun Tijani Bowale Adeoye Danladi Verhijen

Debisi Araba Emmanuel Ogejuma Gbenga Sesan Ifeoma Malo Jude M.I. Abaga Mezuo Nwuneli Omoni Oboli Sadiq Usman Samson Itodo Serah Zainab Ugbabe Temi Awogboro Tomiwa Aladekomo Toyosi Kolawole The Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellows (“Tutu Fellows”), of the African Leadership Institute, are a diverse group of civic, political and business leaders from 40 African countries who are concerned with the governance and development of the African continent.

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

WHAT IS THE WORTH OF A LIFE? MERCY AYODELE

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his time last week we were all in high spirits. Finally, the youths have risen up to fight for their rights, our hopes were up, and we were fighting for change. We flooded the streets in our numbers and decided we were done with police brutality and we wanted real change but if only we knew what was coming.

On October 20th 2020, our hopes came crashing when Nigerian soldiers opened fire on peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate and killed some Nigerian citizens whose only crime was having the courage to demand “change” which their leaders promised when they were seeking their votes. They were killed because they peacefully asked to be allowed to live and for good governance. This was painful enough; more painful is the deafening silence regarding what happened that night.

No one has come forward to explain to us what happened that night; our leaders are avoiding the subject like a plague. The thought that someone order that peaceful protesters be shot on sight is scary. The worst part is that although we saw live videos from credible sources, the Lagos state government announced that there were no fatalities. It’s almost like it is all in our heads like we were hallucinating.

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria finally decided to address the nation after being away for a while Businessday.ng

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but there was no mention of the lives that were lost that night, who gave the order to shoot at peaceful protesters?

What exactly happened at the toll gate that night? It is almost like no one cares. The little beam of hope we had has been shattered, people are afraid for their lives and their future in this country.

Hoodlums have also attacked businesses and catered away with their goods which were gotten with hard-earned money. There was no mention of compensation packages for these businesses. Also, it is a bit weird that all through the raid by hoodlums, there was no unit sent to ensure law and order. It is almost like there was a conspiracy of silence, “let the policemen stand aside so the people can see what it feels like to be without them”. The attack led to the loss of lives and properties running into millions of dollars.

Yet the silence lingers.

After the President’s speech on Thursday, Nigerians took to social media to do what we do when we try to get away from our pain, make jokes about it. It was a relief to see many people laughing again after days of being sad and feeling hopeless but I hope we are not laughing away the anger we felt on Tuesday night. We must not forget how it felt like the lives of Nigerians meant nothing, the coming generation deserves better. We must stay focused, let our hopes rise again and continue to believe in Nigeria. BD

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Art of the Week

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Uthman Wahaab, The Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit, 2008. Oil on canvas, 36 x 48inches Image courtesy of ART X Lagos - West Africa’s Premier International Art Fair. Learn more at www.artxlagos.com Businessday.ng

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Lead Story

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

To the Nigerian youths: When a good thing goes bad, it does not mean the end #EndSARS #Saynotopolicebrutality FAVOUR OLAREWAJU AND OLUWAFADEKEMI AREO

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good movement was turned into a sorrowful event on Tuesday, the 20th of October 2020.

‘Black Tuesday’ as we have chosen to call it represents the day that soldiers released bullets on our fellow patriots and unarmed and peaceful protesters stationed at the Lekki tollgate.

Nigeria bled on Tuesday; Nigerians have mourned and are still mourning at the drastic negative turn of events of our peaceful movement against police brutality which commenced on the 8th of October 2020.

It started to seem like we were winning, in fact, we thought we had won.

We had already started getting powerful voices from international bodies speak in our favour while our own government already claimed they were working things out for us.

Who ordered the shooting of life bullets at the peaceful protesters in Lekki tollgate on Tuesday? This is one big question that has still not been answered by anyone in government, even our own President.

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The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria finally addressed the nation yesterday the 22nd of October 2020, but did not for once make mention of the Lekki massacre.

This is coming after weeks of just tweeting at us and after two days of the gruesome killings of innocent protesters at the tollgate. The President only apologised to the members of the police force for their losses and went on about other economic issues.

Of course, he did not fail to let us know that if you go out to protest again, you would most likely get killed.

At least, this is what I got from him saying “I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests.”

“For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation.

Under no circumstances will this be tolerated,” Buhari said.

The journey continues……

Friday, 16 October 2020 On the 9th day of the protests, a day after the Federal Capital Territory Ad-

ministration (FCTA) banned protests across the state amidst fear of a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, the movement continued.

Youths in Abuja moved their protest from the City gate to the airport road where they obstructed both incoming and outgoing commuters, thereby causing a gridlock that left thousands stranded.

The gridlock was experienced across several states in Nigeria even as

Lead Story

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

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Sunday, 18 October 2020 On the eleventh day of the protests, an online radio platform named ‘SoroSoke’ was launched by protesters as a helpline centre to aid the coordination of the protests nationwide through effective and timely communication.

The #EndSARS protesters marched to the headquarter of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja and continued to cry out for the change they wanted to see.

Sadly, however, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan called for an end to the #EndSARS protests after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila at the State House in Abuja.

On a fairly good side, the Governor of Lagos State went on to announce the terms of reference of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution into abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

more people joined the cause to see an end to police brutality and in totality, bad governance.

The day became more interesting when the popular hacking group called ‘Anonymous’ hacked the Twitter account of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and posted a message which read "We #Anonymous will continue supporting Nigerians" in the ongoing protests.

The day ended with a candle light

session for all the victims of SARS/police killings across Nigeria at Lekki toll gate and Alausa, Ikeja.

Saturday, 17 October 2020 The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced through his official Twitter handle, that the trial of the erring police officers who were allegedly involved in the attack on #EndSARS Protesters in Surulere, which led to the death of a protester and a policeman, had begun.

Monday, 19 October 2020 On Monday, news went round that the Lekki Phase 1 toll gate which had been blocked for several days had reportedly cost the Lagos state government over N234 million.

The Lagos State Government, however, inaugurated an 8-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to investigate cases of police brutality in the state.

On the flip side, Edo state started to trend as attacks and jail breaks in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Benin and Oko prisons were reportedly carried out by hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protests.

The Edo State Government in turn announced the imposition of a 24hour curfew across the state with effect from 4pm.

Soldiers were also deployed to the streets of Abuja and stationed at strategic places to curb the #EndSARS protest that had in some cases gone out of hand, as suspected hoodlums were reportedly attacking protesters and proSARS groups.

That same Monday, Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) admitted that its website experienced an attempted cyber-attack over the weekend as its website showed that it was offline due to an internal server Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

error on Friday This came after Anonymous, a group of foreign activists prominent for hacking repressive government’s website, claimed responsibility for attacking the EFCC website, among other prominent federal government websites, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in support on the nationwide #EndSARS protest.

Tuesday, 20th October 2020 Tuesday started with protests as usual across Nigeria, but this was cut short as series of attacks and assaults were being reported.

The Apapa-Oshodi Express and Lagos–Ibadan Express, which connects Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital and Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, were barricaded by dozens of #EndSARS protesters who blocked various junctions.

At about noon, a police station in the Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos State was set on fire by suspected thugs.

Eyewitnesses who shared videos via their Twitter accounts said the reprisal attacks were allegedly fueled by the shooting of one person in that area by policemen.

Some hours after, the Lagos State Government announced the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in all parts of the state, with effect from 4 pm, in a bid to mitigate hoodlums’ hijack of #EndSARS protests, attack on citizens and destruction of properties.

In addition, the United States embassy and consulate in Nigeria, announced the shutdown of its consulate in Lagos State for two days due to the hijacked #EndSARS protests.

Abuja was not left out of the chaos as suspected miscreants and arsonists burnt down the Dutse Makaranta police station in the Kubwa area of Abuja.

This came after the clash between policemen and #EndSARS protesters in the area where a protester, Anthony Onome, was stabbed and a stray bullet hit and killed another protester, who died on the spot.

By afternoon, images of some persons alleged to be working with the Lagos State government and the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) removing the CCTV Cameras at the Lekki toll gate circulated on Twitter whilst the street lights at the toll gate vicinity were turned off.

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Sadly, a few hours later, before 7pm, it was reported that armed military men arrived the scene of the protest and opened fire on peaceful and unarmed protesters, killing an unconfirmed number of persons and leaving several others injured.

Wednesday, 21st October 2020 We all woke sad, angry and furious at the government and on our lips rang the question, who ordered the shooting of peaceful protesters at Lekki tollgate yesterday?

Following the previous night’s killings, video evidence on social media showed that more shootings were still being carried out by the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police on the unarmed protesters.

The Nigerian Army, however, took to their official Twitter handle to deny

deploying soldiers to attack #EndSARS protesters who peacefully assembled at the Lekki tollgate.

Lagos State Government suspended all government activities and declared lockdown for 72 hours in view of the growing violence in the state as the Governor had earlier visited the injured protesters at the hospitals where they received treatment. He also stated via a broadcast that there was no record of fatality in the controversial Lekki Toll Plaza shooting on Tuesday.

On this day also, The InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu ordered the withdrawal of all Police Officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, with the exemption of those in Government houses, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Many Nigerians were not having it and the air of nonchalance from all angles of the government made it worse for them.

Some persons therefore went on to attack and burn buildings, vehicles, TV stations and even raided the palace of the Oba of Lagos. While the protesters defied the curfew imposed by the Lagos state Governor, hoodlums burnt about 30 government Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses alongside Television Continental Station (TVC) in the Ikosi-Ketu area of Lagos state.

There was also an attack on Oriental hotel which is owned by a former governor of Lagos state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Marina, Lagos; The Nation Newspaper and Sanwo-Olu’s family house were also reportedly set on fire while the Constituency Office of the Speaker and Honorable Desmond Olusola Elliot were attacked by hoodlums disguised in the #EndSARS protests, as shown by residents who posted videos online.

Thursday, 22nd October 2020 Thursday was more solemn than Wednesday in terms of killings, but the activities of looters and hoodlums still continued across the nation.

Lagos was still under curfew but in an interview session with Arise TV, the Governor of Lagos State said that the curfew initially imposed for 72 hours could be lifted partially within 24 hours, to allow Lagosians re-stock on food and critical household items.

When the Governor was asked to respond to why he ordered that the CCTV at the tollgate be removed, he responded that LCC’s managing director had no reporting line to him and nobody ordered the removal of CCTV as the security of LCC were on ground and the cameras that were removed were the laser cameras which picked number plates.

In the latter part of the day, videos surfaced online of a warehouse in Lagos which contained huge numbers of COVID-19 palliatives and was being raided by some Nigerians.

By 7 pm, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, addressed the nation with his long awaited speech where he expressed his grievance on false infor-

mation that was being spread through social media and which had led many Nigerians to disruptive behaviours.

Buhari also urged international communities to properly check their facts before making hasty decisions.

He then reiterated his commitment to Nigerians’ well-being as evidenced by the ongoing anti-poverty schemes and urged the speedy completion of processes to increase salaries of the Nigerian Police Force and Teachers while emphasising that no act of violating law and order would be tolerated, even as he implored youths to discontinue the street protests.

However, nothing was said about the Nigerian Army opening fire on innocent protesters on Tuesday and the many lives that were lost, leaving many Nigerians dissatisfied as they humorously responded by tweeting their desire to leave the country for much greener pastures.

Never forget It should always be remembered that within just two weeks of the protests, #EndSARS movement spread to different parts of Nigeria including Delta, Anambra, Abia, Osun, Rivers, Ogun, Enugu, Ebonyi, Edo and Plateau states as well as foreign countries like Canada, UK, US, Dublin, and Ireland.

Decentralised donations were also received from tech start-ups, Feminist Coalition, and Nigerian celebrities across the world such as Wizkid, Davido, Runtown, Falz, the

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podcaster FK Abudu and a host of Nigerian lawyers, like Moe Odele and Tola Onayemiaswho helped to provide food supplies, legal and medical/ health facilities and bills.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) also called upon the government in response to the Lekki Massacre.

Foreigners also helped out and showed their support in one way or another including US celebrities like P Diddy, Trey Songz and Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Beyonce, UK actor John Boyega, and many more.

Also, international broadcasts such as CNN, UK Pariamentarians, the UN High Commissioner, Bachelet; the 2020 candidate for US President, Joe Biden; and the former United States Secretary of States, Hilary Clinton also solicited action from Buhari for the Nigerian army stop killing peaceful #EndSARS protesters.

In conclusion, we all cannot deny that it is indeed a down time for all of us as all our questions have remained unanswered. Let us remain strong even at this time and not give up hope on seeing a better Nigeria even when it looks like there is no light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Many have died, many are still nursing their injuries, but we just have to hold on and believe that when good things go bad, it does not mean the end. BD

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Health Today

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Are you supposed to hear your heart beating?

DR MONISOLA ADANIJO

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he human heart starts beating from 4 weeks gestation (sometimes even before the woman realizes she is pregnant) and doesn’t stop till death. The average heart beats 90,000130,000 times a day and we don’t even notice it! However in some instances, we become aware of our heartbeat; we either hear it as a “thumping sound” or we feel it thumping in our chest. It can be fast, or may feel like the heart “skipped a beat” This phenomenon is what we call “PALPITATIONS”. Palpitations are not the same as not being able to breathe, although one may cause the other.

Palpitations may be also occur with chest pain, light headedness, difficulty in breathing, the urge to empty the bowels or bladder. Awareness of the heart beat is one of the most common reasons people seek cardiology care, as it causes a lot of concern.

What exactly causes palpitations?

Sometimes palpitations may be due to a natural reaction to: • Fear: When we are scared, our bodies release adrenaline, which causes our heart to beat faster (The fear response).

Awareness of this fast heart beat is what results in palpitations.

• Anxiety: Anxiety also provokes the fear response and causes us to be aware of our heart beat.

• Physical activity: It is natural for the heart rate to increase while you are doing exercise, so you may hear your heart beat while working out, but this should return to normal once you rest • Pregnancy: many pregnant women experience palpitations.

This may be due to the increase heart rate and blood volume in pregnancy.

Palpitations may also be due to what we ingest: Most of these chemicals cause palpitations by increasing the adrenaline levels in the body • Caffeine is a potent stimulant. It is present in coffee, tea, some cocoa drinks, kolanut, cola based drinks (coke/pepsi).

• Nicotine: present in cigarettes and tobacco products.

• Alcohol in any form.

• Drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana • Energy drinks: these contain a potent mix of several

stimulants including caffeine • Slimming/”fat burning “tablets • Asthma medication: Salbutamol, theophylline aminophylline • Herbal remedies either in liquid or tablet preparations.

Medical conditions can also cause palpitations • Thyroid disease.

• Low blood sugar level.

• Anemia (low blood levels).

• Low blood pressure, fever, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance.

• Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or just before menopause.

Abnormalities of the heart and heart rhythm may also cause palpitations; • Hypertension; • Problems with the electrical system of the heart (yes your heart is powered by a battery and has electrical “wires” running through it!!) Also called arrhythmias; • Heart failure: when the heart is unable to supply blood to meet the needs of the body; • Ischemic heart disease: Problems with the blood supply to your heart.

Because there are so many causes of palpitations, it is important to be evaluated by a doctor who will take a history to ask if any of the above listed conditions are present. They will also examine you to look for any abnormalities.

An ECG (electrocardiogram), and other blood work will be ordered. Depending on what is found, you may be counselled to avoid the substances or circumstances triggering the palpitations or you may be referred to a Cardiologist if the cause is heart related. It is important to note that not all cases of palpitations are treated with medication. Sometimes, just identifying the source of anxiety or fear can eliminate the problem. In addition, just avoiding the medication or drinks you are ingesting may get rid of palpitations for good. BD

dr adanijo fmcp a Cardiologist and the Medical Director at Naveen Healthcare.

With experience spanning over 20 years, she built her pathway in medicine and cardiology working in reputable medical centres such as Mecure Healthcare Limited, Barnes Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Chevron Hospital, Lagos to mention but a few. Her passion for preventive cardiology led her to convene the Naveen Healthcare 10,000 Hearts Project, in order to help individuals detect, protect and correct cardiovascular diseases. Skilled in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and treatment, a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, a member of Nigerian Cardiac Society, American College of Physicians, Hypertension society of Nigeria and an international associate of the American College of Cardiology. She also has a Diploma in Leadership and Management from the University of Washington, USA. As a Continuous Medical Education (CME) provider, she has worked with the likes of Trigen Healthcare Solutions, Pfizer GP Academy, Diamond Helix Medical Assistance, Pfizer Pharmacy Academy, Global Health Project and Resources, Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria, Novartis Nigeria and Servier International. She has helped build capacity in Electrocardiogram interpretation, preventive cardiovascular diseases, management of heart failure, patient education and more. She launched the first TeleElectrocardiogram project in Nigeria and West Africa and does her part in contributing to good health and wellbeing, a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) of the United Nations. moni.adanijo@naveenhealthcare.com I www.naveenhealthcare.com I Instagram: https://Instagram.com/moni_adanijo I https://Instagram.com/naveenhealthcare I Linkedin: Monisola Adanijo

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

Laughter in the Mirror

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Mental Health

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SATURDAY 24, OCTOBER 2020

TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DURING THESE TOUGH TIMES

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he current state of the country can now, quite frankly, be referred to as tough times.

The last couple of weeks have been extremely draining for most in light of the nationwide protests against police brutality and injustice, the killings of peaceful protesters, the lack of accountability for the chaos, the ensuing violence, and now, more recently, the President’s address to the nation which left citizens with more questions than answers.

The likes of Mentally Aware Nigeria and the Emotions Doctor, Oyinkansola Alabi are here to tell you that you do not have to fight yourself even as chaos breaks out all around you. Take care of your mind and emotions and how you react to everything going on. It is okay Businessday.ng

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not to be okay with all of it and seek ways to address the issues.

Navigating mental health issues during the nationwide unrest: Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) is here to help Whether you have been out on the streets protesting or protesting online, simply observing from the sidelines and sympathetic to the cause, or suffered some form of loss from the current state of things, there is no denying that it can all get very overwhelming and fast. Here are some of the mental health related issues you or those around you might be faced with at this time: • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), especially for those who

have been previously brutalized by the police or other law enforcement agents. They are prone to flashes of their past ordeals and forced to relive such experiences.

• Panic Attacks; the heavy presence of armed national security agents and those perpetrating violent acts with frequent reports of people getting shot at, attacked or killed during this period can trigger panic attacks.

• Anxiety attacks when going out.

These are some of the common issues people might be faced with at this time, however the list is not exhaustive.

A mental health expert also explained some of the emotions and responses associated with this level of

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general unrest include: • Anxiety • Fear • Anger • Depression • Insecurity • Hyperarousal/Hypersensitivity • Hopelessness • Extreme dysregulation of affect, bipolar symptoms • Increased alcohol and substance abuse What are some of the things you can do to take care of your mental health and manage your responses in these difficult times?

• Ensure that you get enough sleep everyday. The importance of at least 8 hours of sleep every night cannot

be overemphasized. As difficult as this may be to do, especially for those living in major cities, it is essential to maintain a good balance mentally.

Limit your time on social media and reduce your news intake.

Try as much as possible to cut off sources of trigger news. Frequent news updates about the protests, attacks and killings could trigger panic attacks and make you more nervous or anxious.

Reduce caffeine intake. Excess caffeine can trigger your ‘fight or flight’ mode and make you jumpy.

Reach out to verified mental health care professionals and organizations. There are many mental health organizations offering free mental health counselling. Mentally Aware Nigeria initiative is also offering some free services. It is important to talk to someone when you are feeling overwhelmed.

If you are currently coping with a mental illness, try as much as possible to avoid your triggers this period and safeguard your mental health.

You can access materials made available by mental health organisatiions such as MANI to help with coping in these times as well as helping others cope or provide help during panic attacks.

Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative is offering a special program called ‘Daily Support’ for those who need someone to talk to at the end of a stressful day.

Our mental health expert also says you can start small by: • Acknowledge your negative emotions.

• Express your feelings in healthy ways, e.g. talking to people in your life.

• Implement self-care.

• Consult with a mental health professional if feelings and emotions become unmanageable. BD You can reach Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative: Hotline: 0809-111-MANI (0809 111 6264) Website: project-covid.ng Social media: @mentallyawareng

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Emotions City/Emotions Doctor – Oyinkansola Alabi While speaking on tackling mental health and Nigeria Oyinkansola Alabi, popularly refer red to as the Emotions Doctor ; the lead researcher and facilitator at Emotions City, a leading emotional intelligence centre, she said “Nigeria is a stressful country and we are trying to be emotionally stable in an unstable country. So it is a tall order.”

She went on to speak on the nationwide protests against police brutality and the other issues the country is faced with, saying, “At every point in time, it looks like there are things attempting to eliminate your joy and peace and happiness, so an average human being would react. I just think that if we had a better environment, we will all respond better. But if we’re going through this level of pain, there’s no way people will not experience stress, anxiety, depression and too many things put together. That’s the whole perspective from the person to the environment.”

“We just want people to be emotionally stable, we move them from a position of instability to stability. Our mission is to preserve what it is to be human. Because clearly, this movement that all of us are involved in right now is just trying to call people's attention to the fact that you need to be human again, you have become insensitive, you have become lacking in empathy and as long as you do that, you are moving from being human into being an animal, you are transiting from building a nation to a jungle. We are not animals; we need to be treated as human beings.

Emotions City is supporting the movement by providing free therapy slots for those who need them.

You can reach Emotions City: Phone numbers: 0701450923, 08125723042 08029437778, 08186152063 08094372355, 08035860849 Website: www.emotionscity.com Social media: @emotionscity @emotionsdoctor Businessday.ng

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Sports

SATURDAY SATURDAY24, 24,OCTOBER OCTOBER2020 2020

ANTHONY NLEBEM

#ENDSARS: NIGERIAN STARS CONDEMN ATTACKS ON PROTESTERS

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anchester United star Odion Ighalo has become one of the latest Nigerian football players to voice his support for protests against police brutality in Nigeria. In a video on Twitter, the Nigerian striker called his country’s government “a shame to the world”.

Ighalo, who has won 35 caps for Nigeria’s national football team, said in his statement that he could not “stay silent anymore”.

“I am ashamed of this government, we are tired of you guys and we can’t take this anymore,” he added.

This comes amid reports that several people have been shot and wounded during demonstrations in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos.

Lagos State government officials denied there were any deaths and have promised an investigation.

The former Super Eagles forward who was an unused substitute in Manchester United’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.

“I’m not the kind of guy who talks about politics, but I can’t keep quiet anymore for what is going on back home in Nigeria,” Ighalo said in a video tagged ‘Pray for Nigeria’ on Twitter.

“I would say the Nigerian government is a shame to the world for killing your own citizens, sending the military to kill unarmed protesters because they are protesting for their own rights? It’s uncalled for.

“Today, the 20th of October, 2020, you people will be remembered in history as the first government to send the military to the city to start killing your own citizens.

“I am ashamed of this government, we are tired of you guys and we can’t take this anymore.”

Ighalo also called on the United Nations, UK and world Businessday.ng

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leaders to come to the aid of citizens in Nigeria “I’m calling the UK government and all those leaders in the world to see what is going on in Nigeria and help the poor citizens. The government is killing their own citizens,” he continued.

“We are calling you guys in the United Nations (UN) to look at this matter. I want to tell my brothers and sisters back home to remain safe, be indoor and please don’t come out because the government are killers and they will keep killing if the world doesn’t talk about this. God bless you all and remain safe. One Nigeria, we move!”

Prior to Tuesday’s massacre, Super Eagles took a stand in support of the protests during the international break, where Super Eagles players formed a circle after Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal against Tunisia, took a knee and raised their fists in support of the protest against police brutality.

In another development, Leicester City powerhouse Wilfred Ndidi stood up with a raised first during the Foxes’ Premier League home loss to Aston Villa last weekend.

Victor Osimhen after he scored his first goal in the Serie A for Napoli displayed a shirt with the #EndSARS and #EndPoliceBrutalityInNigeria hashtags used by the protesters.

Simeon “Simy” Nwankwo did the same after scoring for Crotone in their 1-1 draw with Juventus.

Nwankwo told ESPN that he has also suffered some of the harassment that has led to the nationwide protest.

“I have been stopped (by police) many times,” he alleged.

“Just because they look into the car and see a young boy they feel like [shouldn’t be] driving a car and dressing good.

“They pull you by the side and start searching the car like you are a criminal.” BD

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