Imagine irate youth protesters suddenly becoming friends with the police, protecting the station from being vandalised, especially during and after the #EndSARS. That was the case of a policeman at the Agboju Divisional Police Office, Satellite Division in Oriade Local Government Area of the Lagos State. Like the case of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rabiu Garba of Fegge, Onitsha in Anambra State, the station was one of the few ones in Lagos that were not burnt down during the #EndSARS protests that rocked the entire country. AMBROSE NNAJI writes of the man and how the entire community is calling for his promotion and recommendation.

Nightfall at the Satellite Town of the Lagos State often brought with it fear. Fear brought about by the nefarious activities of armed robbers and miscreants.

This had been the case for some time but little did they know that their end would come so soon.

Their end began when every night some policemen, led by their superior, would take to the streets, despite his position, to comb the Express Road. He and his men ensured that traffic robbery was brought to an end in Satellite Town of Lagos State.

At Satellite Town in particular, there are many motor parks and young men who take hard drugs. But to his credit many hoodlums and notorious criminals have been contained. Welcome to Chike Oti, the DPO of Agboju Police Station.

Here is a man who ensured his jurisdiction was rid of attacks by miscreants. The most-talked about achievement was Oti’s overthrow of a notorious terrorist who paraded himself as ‘Oba’ that once lived in Satellite Town.

“For more than 25 years, people in Satellite Town were tied to the Oba’s apron strings, suffering under him,” began Oti. “Oba was an outlaw whom no one could challenge his authority, else they were done for. I am talking of a man who would drive a landlord out of his house and possess it, and hand it over to his son. He threw the man’s tenants away and put his own tenants. He operated with impunity: all tanker/trailer drivers must pay him. But I stood my ground and gave him a good fight, won over him and today, we are free,” he recounted.

His dedication to duty not only caught the eyes of the community but ended up saving his station and the lives of his men during the #EndSARS saga. Oti’s station, like that of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rabiu Garba of Fegge, Onitsha, was one of the few stations in Lagos that were not burnt down.

“The EndSARS saga would have provided an opportunity for this criminal to unleash terror on the people. Here in Satellite Town, nobody was killed, no property was lost, nor limb, hand or finger. People here were going  about their business as if here was not part of Lagos, on account of ensuring that Satellite town was crime free. I was bold to meet with the protesters even when other DPOs ran away. I couldn’t have run away, a captain doesn’t run and leave a ship. No DPO ran away because of these miscreants and that was why, in most cases, DPOs were the ones always killed, because they were the last to leave.

‘’What gave me the zeal and courage to stay on was, I realised that about 98 per cent people were behind me. During the crisis, different communities were all coming here to assure me that they were with me. They were coming with things to show support, to ensure that officers under me were fed, they came with a whole lot of things, food, water and what have you. There was no other way to prove that a community was behind a servant than at a time like that, to show solidarity,” Oti recounted.

It is no wonder, then, that the leaders and residents of the community, led by the Chairman, Oriade Local Government Area, Hon. Ramotalai Akinola-Hassan, are applauding him and calling for his commendation by necessary authorities.

The LGA chairperson, in an interview with this reporter, affirmed that she had never met any police officer that’s as dedicated to duty as Oti.

In her words: “During the #EndSARs, it was the people in Agboju, Kuje that surrounded him, and drove those hoodlums away. When you talk of being humble to the core, that’s Oti, there is no single time you will call him, he will not answer you.

“There is no crisis time you call him, that he won’t be on ground: he’d come with his full squad. The kind of dedication to duty, relief and confidence he has brought to Satellite Town has reduced crime in the area.

While recommending Oti for promotion to a higher rank, Akinola-Hassan urged the government to reward dedicated officers that had served with integrity not only plaques but elevation to serve as a lesson to others.

For the Chairman, Satelite Town Forum, Michael Imitini, Oti’s contributions in policing and environmental security cannot be overstated.

In his view, the DPO’s ability to carry along the grassroots, including the community development associations (CDAs) and their leaders, is worthy of note.

Imitini stated that the issue of attacks on unsuspecting public by hoodlums in the area had been brought under control, disclosing that the DPO was in touch with Okada riders who volunteered themselves to going about looking for black spots in the area.

Sariki Yaki Amuwo, who has lived in Satellite Town for over 21 years and was on ground when the DPO was transferred to the area, said: “Since his coming, the community has not had any problem without him coming to ts rescue.  It’s no longer difficult for anyone to see the DPO at the police station. People can now table their complaints to him without fear of being attacked later. Call him anytime even in the middle of the night, he would answer you and swing to action immediately.

“Life pays you back in your own coin. He’s a good team player that’s why the EndSARS destruction did not get to this place. None of the protesters attempted to get closer to him, if he was not in the good book of the people, they would have attacked him too. He doesn’t discriminate whether one is Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo, he believes everyone deserves equal attention.”

The Assistant Secretary General, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Akpuobasi Pius, urged the police of all ranks to cooperate and collaborate with the people and ensure sincere intention to live and socialise with the populace, saying that will stall a reoccurance of the #EndSARS crisis.

He said: “I feel the police should work on their human relations even as they attempt to build confidence in the people. If somebody is protecting you, at the time of need, you’d have to also come to his aid at his own time of need. That’s what really played out during the #EndSARS protests. It’s no magic, he has been part of them, and they see him as one of them, a fellow comrade, as a man they have respect for.”

Also, Chairman, Okada Riders, Close 1, Festac Town, Mohammed Ayisi, who’s also the chief security officer (CSO) for Police Volunteer in the area, praised Oti’s leadership style, saying: “Oti has brought about relative peace here among all the tribes. That’s the kind of man that takes you like his brother even when you are not the same tribe, not of the same language or religion. We are doing our business effectively because there is peace here”.

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

How does it feel to have driven three Nigerian Presidents at different times on the nation’s railway? Abiodun Johnson Olokun is perhaps the only Nigerian in recent history, who have the record under his hat. And he may yet break it and give more Presidents a pleasurable ride, given the envisaged sustained investment on the railway sub-sector.

For Olokun however, humility will not make him take credit for the uncommon favour that destiny dropped on his laps. For him, outside being assignments that come in a day’s job, there was nothing more to it.

Once in a while however, he was usually ecstatic over the feat, and like this day, when our Correspondent met him, he reels out the feat with some relish and a tinge on his face.

Olokun never dreamt of ending his career in the centennial corporation as a locomotive driver. For starters, he had a HND in Mechanical Engineering  from Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, and lately BSc Computer Engineering from University of Science,Commerce and Busines Administration (ESCAE) Benin. He was never employed as a locomotive driver, but was soon drafted to handle the locomotive being among the first set of Nigerians available to take over from the Chinese engineers who were handling the rehabilitation of the narrow gauge system of the nation’s railway.

At the moment, Olokun who has spent close to two decades in the NRC has become the Assistant Chief Motive Power Officer (chiefly, he operates as the Chief Driver of the Nigerian Railway) and a top trainer of locomotive drivers employed by the corporation.

Speaking on his experience on the job, Olokun said he counted it as a privilege when he was asked few years after his employment to drive the locomotive that took President Olusegun Obasanjo to inspect the Lagos-Kajola narrow gauge in 2006, during the ground-breaking of the railway modernisation from Ikeja to Kajola in Ogun State.

The lot again fell on him when they were shopping for local manpower to drive another President, and he drove President Goodluck Jonathan from Ilorin to Offa, in 2010 when the latter launched the Offa –Ilorin train service.

The launch of the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge was the icing on the cake.

The Abuja-Kaduna was the first standard gauge line service in Nigeria. The project commenced under Jonathan with a $500 million loan secured from the China Exim Bank. When the project was completed, Buhari was on board the train from Abuja to Kaduna under the command of Mr. Johnson in the ‘cockpit.’

He said: “I feel very great performing this national task, which I see as a great task. I’m happy to have performed this because I don’t think any locomotive driver has been opportuned to pilot three different presidents at different times’’.

Olokun said he is content being a locomotive driver. He is ecstatic about the imminence of technology transfer, which would see the Chinese transfer to local manpower requisite technology and driving.

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi has assured that the state is determined to make this year’s National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) a memorable experience.

He stated that Ekiti is the most suitable state to host such a national programme of this magnitude, adding that Ekiti State is one of the most peaceful and hospitable places in the country.

He spoke at the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee for NAFEST 2021 at the Government House, Ado Ekiti on Tuesday. Ekiti State will host the festival between November 13 and 20.

Governor Fayemi urged members of the LOC to put in their best and write their names in gold. “Justify the confidence reposed in you . There is a nexus between culture and development,” he added.

He promised members of the LOC support and urged them to discharge their duty with dedication, so that they can give a NAFEST everybody will be proud of.

Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture Otunba Segun Runsewe commended Governor Fayemi for the administrative structure being put in place, culminating in the constitution of the State LOC to  be inuagurated.

He assured that the council will work closely with the state to ensure that this year’s NAFEST will be a NAFEST with a difference.

“Looking at the theme of the festival Celebrating national unity in diversity, there is no better state and time to celebrate this diversity and strength of the Nigerian nation and her people,” he said.

Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare described the inauguration as historic because it is the first time the LOC of a national event of this magnitude is being inaugurated in the state

He noted that in the last two years, culture and tourism sectors  of the state have witnessed great and remarkable revolution.

According to him, the right to host NAFEST this year is borne out of determination of the state to make Ekiti a beehive of social economic activities. “This is with the consciousness to stimulate tourism activities and create prosperity for our local entrepreneurs and traders. Thus further bears another testimony to the genuineness of government intention to eradicate poverty by attracting local and global investment opportunities to the state,” he said.

The ceremony witnessed the presentation of gifts by Otunba Runsewe to Governor Fayemi, his wife and Prof Bakare.

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

Africa’s biggest fishing celebration, Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State has remained the toast of local and foreign tourists as well as documentary artistes since it made its debut 86 years ago. But, last year’s edition of the annual festival came with a unique touch from Mr. Tolu Fatoberu, a portrait photographer who raised the bar of capturing the thrills and glitz of the event with his camera.

The 2005 graduate of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), is choice of photography buffs in northern Nigeria, particularly Kebbi State. Since he completed the mandatory one year youth service scheme 16 years ago, he has steadily sustained his childhood interest in photography.

Today, his outfit 46ten Photography, has become a household name despite growing numbers of new industry entrants as competitors.

Last year, his master piece photograph, a panoramic view of Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State has drawn the attention of key players in the festival including Kebbi State and Federal governments to the direction of Fatoberu. He later presented a copy of the photograph to the Emir of Argungu.

In appreciation of his creativity, the iconic photograph was collected by the state government and presented to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. It was learnt that the gesture was to reproduce more copies of the image for the presidential lounge as well as for display at major airports in the country and Nigerian embassies as a documentary of our heritage.

The Osun State-born photographer with keen interest in travel and tourism documentary and lifestyle photography, has established himself as pioneer in digital photography in Kebbi State, an experience that has brought him closer to places, events and personalities in the state.

His passion for photography did not come as an accident. “I am a 2005 graduate of FUNAAB in Agriculture Extension and Rural Development. I was deployed to Kebbi in 2006 for my NYSC where I secured employment with the Chinese construction firm CGC Nigeria Limited for five years before I took up photography as a profession. I partnered Federal Government’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development training through the NYSC platform.

“I’m an entry level Digital Data Analyst with a little but growing knowledge in Digital Data Analysis tools like Excel, Power BI, Tableau and other collaborating tools in an agile environment. I am aspiring to become a certified Digital Product Manager.

‘’I moved from the construction firm to being an entrepreneur with various small scale businesses that I manage personally. I have also created few digital products of mine. These digital products served as test training to becoming a product owner,” he said.

Fatoberu grew up at Ibadan in Oyo State and attended the Bodija International School and renowned Loyola College, Ibadan before proceeding to Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He has shown keen interest in creative art as a young boy, and he affirmed that his father had always given him encouragement in his career choice.

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, (NANTA) Mrs Susan Akporiaye has said that in spite of the palliatives from Federal Government, the travels and tourism sector of the economy is still battling to remain afloat. She stated that COVID-19 pandemic dealt a big blow on most members of NANTA, which did not give operators the desired impact to rebase their operations.

Akporiaye, the 44th president who took over from Mr Bankole Bernard last year April, commended the Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika for his perseverance in making sure the association got the palliatives.

“We appreciate the doggedness of our Minister Hadi Sirika for his perseverance in making sure we got the palliative. It’s not news on the amount NANTA got but because of the large membership of NANTA it does not give us the desired impact to rebase our operations considering the loss we have faced the many months period and are still facing but the thought of the kind gesture by the government is what matters. We are grateful as we expect more both in cash and kind.

“The COVID-19  is very much still ravaging our business. Local challenges I will say bothers more on the issue of regulations, sanitising the industry and multi taxation my members are going through in which we are working closely with NCAA and other government establishment to address,” she said.

On what she is doing differently to reposition the association, she said: “In all my years as a technocrat in the travels and tourism industry, my exposure internationally over the years, I believe being a travel agent is a profession like any other that equally has a business side. A profession requires professionals to operate it well. Being a professional involves training & retraining, capacity building to be able to function well and the right way to be able to compete in an ever growing industry. So that’s what I am doing differently.”

Since assuming office a year ago, Akporiaye has undertaken a wide range of consultation from government to international organisations such as IATA, UFTAA, aviation and tourism stake holders and practitioners, as well as airline partners. This, she said, enables her team to appreciate the different levels of needs and expectations of the players.

To her, the last one year has been very engaging as her team has been very busy than expected, especially for the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  According to her, during the lockdown ‘’we engaged our partners such as airlines, government agencies in a series of meaningful webinar discussions on the new normal COVID-19 brought upon us and how to forge ahead.

“We flagged off NANTA  capacity building and accreditation programme (CBAP), which is aimed at training and retraining our members on different areas of our profession in the midst of all these there was a lot of engagements with the government that brought about the palliative we received. New partnership in tourism has been established and ongoing which we will unveil very soon. It’s been a very busy one year for us,” she added.

She identified the followings as priority programmes his administration will embark upon to reposition the association. They are: To establish NANTA as a preferred travels and tourism association in Nigeria and the world, increase the level of professionalism in members that we will stand out and make a difference in the industry, create and open up channels and diverse streams of income for members, create value for travels agencies and agent members.