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  • Travails of INTELS

    It all began as a singlehanded alteration to the terms of contract with INTELS to remit all revenues, including the revenue that should accrue to the company into the Treasury Single Account, TSA. Then it transmuted into media campaign against the company accusing it of running an unhealthy monopoly in the oil and gas services industry in Nigeria. The tempo kept increasing, and now we have the last straw aimed at breaking the camel’s back. Following a Presidential approval, Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation wrote to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman directing her to terminate the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement between INTELS Nigeria Limited and the NPA, which allowed the company to receive revenue on behalf of the government and retain a certain percentage of the revenue collected. As reported in some dailies, the AGF in response to a letter from the NPA boss, stated that the agreement should be terminated because it is illegal and contravenes Sections 80(1), 162(1) and (10) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This contravention is further heightened by the resolve of the current administration to implement the Treasury Single Account (TSA). En passant, it is imperative to establish here that the government will always find a constitutional basis for whatsoever it is determined to do. So there is probably no point in attempting to scrutinise the spirit of the sections of the constitution the decision is predicated on.

    As a background, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority had written to INTELS earlier this year proposing a review of the existing contract, among other things, between the two parties. The proposal also requested INTELS to respect the new policy of the federal government, TSA. INTELS provided reasons why it would not be able to adjust its financial process to accommodate TSA at the time. The company rightly stated that the TSA policy was not part of the contractual agreement it had with NPA; as a result, the company had already used its account to secure loan facility that can only be serviced by retaining its percentage of revenue collected. After series of correspondences between the two parties, the NPA issued a threat that it would terminate the agreement with INTELS if the company refused to comply with the TSA policy. That threat has now been fully executed.

    However, many have described the ongoing crisis as a political witch-hunt targeted at the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar who is a major shareholder in the company and a possible presidential aspirant in the next election. Inasmuch as one would prefer to reason otherwise, how do you prove the point that this is not a witch-hunt when all the handwriting on the wall clearly suggests it is? It is more difficult to think otherwise considering that the former VP, during the formal launching of his Presidential bid for the 2015 elections, had publicly pronounced INTELS as his most successful business. In the first instance, the reference made to the constitution in the letter written by the AGF to the MD of NPA does not in any manner forbid the government from entering into agency agreements with private entities. Or is there a part of the law that says government cannot engage in contractual agreement with private companies in the collection of revenue? INTELS is not the only private organisation that collects revenue on behalf of the government and remits same into the government’s coffers. This is replicated in many other sectors of the economy. For instance, many companies deduct withholding tax from contractors and remit the same to the government. I would like to believe that is a form of agency arrangement that allows the private entities to collect revenue on behalf of the government.

    The same model is employed at the state levels. This model has been beneficial to both the government and the citizenry in many ways. It is common knowledge that government performance in the country is marred by bureaucratic bottlenecks that eventually takes its toll on the overall output of any endeavour. The model is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is the same that is employed in other developed nations such as the United States, United Kingdom and South Africa where they have Private Collection Agencies. In other words, it is international best practice; agency arrangement is a normal phenomenon. It is therefore worrisome that the government could terminate a contractual agreement on the premise that it was in contravention of the constitution. Maybe, we will require professors of law to further enlighten Nigerians on the issues at stake. Until then, the only logical summation to all of this is political witch-hunt.

    But what is more alarming is the preference of the government to take on a company that employs over 20, 000 Nigerians for political reasons. Government is a going concern, a continuum that demands respect for existing agreements. And in that regard, it is difficult to believe that the previous administrations respected the agreement with INTELS despite its illegality. More so, the TSA issue is a recent development that was never in the picture when the agreement with INTELS was signed. If the government wants the other party to embrace the TSA, that has to be agreed at the table of negotiations not by revocation of agreements. The government cannot just issue a directive to a partner in a contract when the terms of the contract did not support such.

    It is dangerous to play politics with the livelihood of Nigerians. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria currently has an unemployment rate of about 15% of the population. It appears we are more interested in increasing that percentage than we are in reducing it. The ripple effect of revoking INTELS’ contract is the attendant job loss. The only way to fully understand the impact of INTELS on Nigeria and the possible effect of the witch-hunt is to visit Onne community and have a conversation with the king of Onne. The whole community practically survives on the company as it employs many of the youths and continues to provide both direct and indirect jobs for the people. To attack INTELS is to attack the Onne community and further plunge thousands of young men and women into the labour market. It is really worth it? Politics is meant to be in the interest of the people not against the people.

    It is important for the government to listen to the voice of wisdom and bring INTELS to the negotiation table for an amicable resolution to the current impasse. Terminating contractual agreement with the company on the basis of illegality is petty to say the least. The contract is a form of Public Private Partnership and there is absolutely nothing illegal about that. We all understand the need for every political gladiator to strategise for the coming elections. We understand the need to outsmart political opponents to corner some political advantages. It is normal in politics but there is always a red line we must not cross. When political moves have the potential of eliminating the livelihood of thousands of Nigerians, it is a red line that must not be crossed. Let us embrace options that will be beneficial to all Nigerians and to the nation at large.

    By the way, if INTELS is attacked today for political reason, who will be attacked after 2023? Power is transient; no one really knows where power will swing to tomorrow. It is not smart to kill the future of thousands of people for the expediency of today. There are certainly other ways to fight politics; not by attempting to kill a company that has been socially responsible throughout its existence in Nigeria. Let us play politics that pays all not politics that pays some and plagues others.

     

    • Isiaka, a Business Analyst, writes from Abuja.

     

  • Mediating Nigeria’s conflicts – 2

    Last week, this column gave thumbs up to mediation as a preferable tool for conflict resolution. It also pushed a scant argument for arbitration as alternative dispute resolution mechanism. This two-part essay is to encourage the federal government to use mediation to douse some of the smouldering fires especially when the use of force would expose the administration to avoidable attacks.  Of course it will be presumptuous if not naïve to think that mediation is an all cure medicine.

    But the successes recorded by Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the vice president in dousing the Niger Delta agitation which resurfaced last year resulting in several shut-ins of our crude oil export are significant. As much as is practicable, the presidency should also use mediation to address the challenges in the South-east. Of course a lot more needs to be done in the two regions to build the needed confidence for national cohesion. As I hinted last week, this piece will be devoted to projecting mediation, its advantages and how it can help deal with the conflicts afflicting our country.

    Last week’s instalment ended with Wikipedia definition of Mediation as: “a dynamic, structured, interactive process where a neutral third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques.” Significantly, Wikipedia writes that mediation as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties with concrete effects. Typically, a third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate a settlement. Disputants may mediate disputes in a variety of domains, such as commercial, legal, diplomatic, workplace, community and family matters.

    Wikipedia educates further: “All participants in mediation are encouraged to actively participate in the process. Mediation is a “party-centred” process in that it is focused primarily upon the needs, rights, and interests of the parties. The mediator uses a wide variety of techniques to guide the process in a constructive direction and to help the parties find their optimal solution. A mediator is facilitative in that s/he manages the interaction between parties and facilitates open communication. Mediation is also evaluative in that the mediator analyses issues and relevant norms (“reality-testing), while refraining from providing prescriptive advice to the parties (e.g., “You should do… .”).”

    The Justice for All Programme of the British Council propounds: “Mediation is, at its most basic state, facilitated negotiation through a third party neutral or mediator. Mediation places control and ownership of the process with the parties. The parties control the outcomes. Mediation is very different from arbitration or other contested procedures. The mediator does not make decisions for the parties, nor does the mediator give them advice.”

    Perhaps, the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse offers a more helpful definition of mediation. It defined mediation as: “a process in which an impartial third party (the mediator) facilitates communication and negotiation and promotes voluntary decision making by the parties to the dispute. A mediator helps parties understand one another’s perspectives and consider options for settlement.”

    It says further: “Mediators do not decide who is right and who is wrong. Whether parties choose mediation or a court orders them to try mediation, the decision whether to settle is always up to the parties. The mediator has no authority to impose a settlement on the parties. The time when the mediator and the parties come together to mediate the case is called a mediation ‘session’”.

    From the above definition, the key words in a mediation process are: communication, negotiation, voluntary decision making, understanding one another’s perspective, considering options for settlement, and very important: the decision whether to settle is always up to the parties.

    The use of mediation as a means of conflict resolution has many advantages. One glaring advantage is that mediation is economical compared to litigation and even arbitration. So while a mediator may charge a fee like an attorney, it is usually cheaper. A complicated matter that could take years in court can be resolved in a matter of hours, and such agreement can also be enforced like a judgment of a court.

    Another advantage is that mediation is voluntary. The fact that parties are willing to mediate shows their potential willingness to mend their differences. And because it enhances communication the parties are in a better position to understand each other’s perspective. This voluntary involvement also helps to deepen the relationship between the parties.

    A further advantage is that mediation is confidential. Confidentiality is a fundamental essence of mediation. That confidentially encourages the disputants to open up to each other, make concessions with the knowledge that whatever is said at a mediation session cannot be used in evidence in court, where the mediation fails.

    Another advantage is that mediation enhances voluntary compliance. Because the parties are not under compulsion to mediate or obligated during mediation, there is a high level of compliance with respect to any agreement reached at a mediation. Because it is party-driven the outcomes are more satisfactory to the disputants and so there is low degree of a reignited conflict-aftermath.

    According to experts, mediation also reveals the underlying issues of disagreement. This is unlike in litigation where the parties dig in, to consolidate their chances of winning an adversarial contest at the court. In mediation, the parties can freely discuss their dispute and any underlying issues, including what in litigation will be considered irrelevant and as such estopped by the rules of evidence. In mediation the parties know that if they fail to agree the insights given way cannot be used against them later.

    A further advantage is that mediation allows parties to control process and outcome. In the court, the judge or jury controls the process of litigation. Also the rules of court determine how the parties are to present their cases. But in a mediation, the parties are free to adopt informal procedure in communication, determine when, where and how long to meet. Furthermore the mediator as a neutral third party can through reality testing help the parties think out of the box and find a solution to the dispute.

    From the above summations, mediation has perhaps the greatest potentials to resolving some of the nagging national questions, plaguing our country. If the different nationalities could submit to mediation experts, some of the issues conflicting our country can be resolved. Internally, some of the disputes in the Niger Delta, especially the conflicts surrounding the unlawful appropriation of the lands of the people of Niger Delta, because of the national interest in oil exploration could be resolved through mediation.

    As I have argued elsewhere, the reliance on the Land Use Act, by governments and the International Oil Companies, to muscle their way in the Niger Delta must be deprecated. For a win-win situation, the Customary Land Rights of the oil-bearing communities must be respected as provided by the 1999 constitution and the several judgments of the Supreme Court.

  • Catalonia speaks to Biafra

    Separatist struggles are hazardous everywhere. It is as much the case in perhaps every nation of the world as it is in the staunched aspiration for Biafra secession in Nigeria. Just take a look at Spain, and you would see a country that had a huge dose of the attendant animus in the past week.

    Catalonia – an autonomous region of Spain – had lately revved up its quest to cut loose from the country, thus escalating a standoff with the Spanish government. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont last Tuesday walked the tight rope by signing a unilateral declaration that gave his region all-clear to break away from Spain, while simultaneously dialing down on the region’s bluster to immediately spring free. Puigdemont said the effect of the declaration was being suspended for some weeks as his government sought dialogue with the Spanish state to resolve the self-determination dispute. Catalonia is one of Spain’s wealthiest regions, accounting for a quarter of the country’s exports, and separatists have argued that they yield far more to the national treasury than they get.

    If he gambled on forcing the hand of Spain, the Catalan leader drew a blank. He was backed up the wall by Madrid, which on Wednesday issued him an eight-day ultimatum to drop the independence bid or the region risked losing its constitutional autonomy. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Puigdemont had five days to confirm that Catalonia had indeed cut free from Spain; and if so, three more days to back down or Madrid would invoke Article 155 of the country’s constitution that empowers the central government to roll back a region’s autonomy and assume direct control if such region defaults on “obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain.”

    Puigdemont had on Tuesday cited a controversial referendum lately held in his region as the basis for independence declaration. Catalonia on October 1st forced its way through with a vote that the Spanish government deemed illegal and tried to halt, and which the country’s Constitutional Court forbade. The referendum’s outcome was predictable, as opponents of the independence bid largely boycotted the ballot in which some 43 percent of the region’s 5.3million eligible voters were reported to have participated, and from which Catalan leaders declared nearly 90 percent ‘yes’ vote for independence. There were reports of widespread irregularities in the ballot, and pervasive violence as security agents laid siege on polling stations to head off the vote.

    Addressing the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, but with the rapt attention of an apprehensive world audience, Puigdemont had said: “Thanks to the results of the referendum of 1st October, Catalonia has earned the right to be an independent state.” But he stepped back from immediately activating the declaration, so to make room for talks with Madrid. “We are reaching out in the hope of dialogue,” he stated.

    His fudging did not wash, though, with hardcore Catalan separatists, who described his speech as “an unacceptable act of traitorship.” Radical elements within Catalonia’s political establishment, like the far-left Popular Unity Candidacy party (CUP), wanted him to push through with the independence declaration.

    And neither did it assuage the irritation of Spanish authorities in Madrid, who threatened the hitherto unused Article 155 to thwart Catalonia’s bid. But even as Rajoy, the Spanish premier, foreclosed negotiation on Catalan independence, which he considered the most serious threat to Spain’s 40-year-old democracy and a violation of the country’s constitution that stipulates “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation,” he indicated willingness to discuss constitutional reforms that would further strengthen regional autonomy.

    As with all separatist bids, Catalan independence from Spain is by no means a unanimous goal of all Catalans. In other words, there are many pro-status quo Catalans over whom Puigdemont and his separatist crowd are riding rough shod with their push. Besides those who boycotted the recent referendum, for instance, there are political parties within that region espousing a cardinal mission to leash the separatists. Even the mayor of Catalonia’s capital city of Barcelona, Ada Colau, counseled restraint on both sides and urged preference for dialogue. “I ask them (Puigdemont and Rajoy) not to take any decision that might blow up the…space for dialogue and mediation. That is the most courageous act they could do now,” she said.

    On the other hand, Spanish politicians reached across the partisan divide to root for the constitutional order, even though they recognised a need to pursue reforms. That is to say they would not ‘play politics’ with their country’s destiny. The leader of the main opposition party, Pedro Sanchez of the Socialists, said his party would back action by the government “in the face of any attempt to break social harmony.” His party and the government, according to him, had agreed to explore using constitutional reform to end the crisis, but this would focus on “how Catalonia remains in Spain, and not how it leaves.”

    Catalonia’s independence bid faced other challenges, which included the cold shoulder from the business and international communities. Even with the economic primacy of the region, a stream of companies announced plans to move their head offices out of the province in response to the crisis.

    And contrary to apparent expectation by the Catalan leadership, the international community tanked up on not wading in what was considered an internal affair of Spain. Although the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, reportedly placed an 11th hour call to Puigdemont on Tuesday, urging him to respect the constitutional order and not do anything that would hinder dialogue, no third party has shown willingness to mediate the crisis. Meanwhile, the European Union has made clear that should Catalonia break off from Spain, the region would cease to be a part of the EU. A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had “affirmed her backing for the unity of Spain” in a phone call with the Spanish premier, Mariano Rajoy. And in France, the government said if Catalonia declared independence from Spain, it would not be recognised.

    Unilateral breakaways are never a cakewalk – neither in accomplishing the goal nor in securing legitimacy for the outcome. That is a reality the recent manic push for Biafra secession from Nigeria by hotheaded South-East youths seems to miss out on, and the reason why the moderate disposition of the elders and political leaders of that region have moral primacy. There is no question there are challenges of gross inequity in the Nigerian federation today requiring urgent redress; and that is not just for the Igbo, but even more so for ethnic minorities. And so, it is far from true that Nigerian unity is settled, as President Muhammadu Buhari declared on his return from medical leave recently. Nigerian unity must be renegotiated and the federation restructured – a call that seems to be catching on now even in the conservative North.

    But the helmsman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nnia Nwodo, was bang on the nail when he said last week that though the Igbo were unhappy with their position in Nigeria, agitation for Biafra was off the mark. “We should forget Biafra and insist on restructuring,” he admonished. That, to my mind, is a realistic and more feasible option.

    Please join me on kayodeidowu.blogspot.be for conversation.

  • This ‘monkey’ business

    According to a famous local fable in the South-west Nigeria, the original intention of the Creator was to make monkey look precisely like man. But somewhere along the line, monkey couldn’t apply the desirable patience for the Maker to ultimately accomplish this noble desire. The monkey suddenly started yelling across town, telling anyone that cared to listen that very soon it shall take the exact form of man. The Creator allegedly became infuriated about the monkey’s lack of restraint and decorum and thus truncated the monkey’s transformation process midway. This, explains the fable, is why monkeys share certain traits with man. For instance, monkeys are generally considered to be particularly intelligent animals.

    Apart from such trendy tales about the evolution of monkeys, usually in Nigeria man doesn’t really have much to do with these near human animals. Unlike other animals such as dogs, goats, cows, sheep etc that are reared and eaten, the nearest place where a glimpse of monkeys could be gotten is in the zoo. Though monkeys are kept at home as pets, but the practice isn’t really widespread in our clime. Here, monkeys either stay in the zoo or in the jungle.

    But all that seems to have changed now as monkeys have decided to infiltrate town under a new guise called monkey pox which is a viral illness caused by a group of viruses that include chicken pox and small pox. The first case of the virus was said to have been discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo and it had afterward spreads into the West African region. The virus has two types, the Central African and the West African types with the latter being milder and having no records of mortality.

    Sadly, Nigeria seems to be having her own fair share of this awful monkey business. According to the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, 31 cases of suspected monkey pox virus cases have been recorded in states such as Ekiti, Akwa- Ibom, Lagos, Ogun, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross Rivers. Fortunately, there has not been any reported case of mortality arising from the virus outbreak.  A NCDC source claimed that public health authorities across the country have been well informed on what to do when a suspected case arises. The federal government had equally activated emergency operation centres in affected states to coordinate investigation and response in affected states.

    Meanwhile, in Lagos, the state government is investigating two suspected cases. This was revealed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed that though the two cases are yet to be confirmed monkey pox, government opted to be proactive for the safety of residents. Part of such safety measures according to Dr. Idris was to quarantine the two suspects in their various houses pending the result of some medical tests conducted on them. Consequently, the state government is advising members of the public to observe and maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

    Experts have revealed that while there is no specific vaccine for the disease, vaccination against small pox has been proven to be 85 percent effective in preventing monkey pox. There is also no specific anti-viral therapy for monkey pox. However, the disease is self-limiting and could be managed conservatively. The symptoms of monkey pox in human is similar to those in small pox patient, though less severe. Such symptoms include rash, fever, chills, sweats, headache, backache, lymphadenopathy, sore-throats, cough and shortness of breath.

    The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkey pox is that te latter causes lymph nodes to swell while smallpox does not. The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkey pox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5•21 days. Within the first three days or more, after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body.

    Monkey pox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch, bush meat preparation, direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, or indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated bedding. Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets. Other human-to-human methods of transmission include direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens.

    In order to improve case detection, health workers are to have a high index of suspicion any person with the above symptoms. The preventive measures to be taken against the spread of the disease include avoiding close contact with infected people, avoiding consumption of bush meat and dead animals, cooking of meat and meat product thoroughly before eating and washing hands with soap and running water frequently and thoroughly.

    In our characteristic way of trivializing such sensitive issues, as the nation grapples with the reality of monkey pox, the whole monkey business took a comical dimension with an alleged report that the outbreak of the virus in Bayelsa State was as a result of a free medical care exercise it is allegedly administered in some parts of the Niger Delta. It took a statement from the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to deflate the supposed report. According to the minister, the federal government has not conducted any free medical service or care in either Bayelsa or Rivers State, as alleged in the said report.

    Of course, such amusing interlude wouldn’t in any way help in properly focusing on preventive measures against the virus. This time calls for sobriety and vigilance. Our national borders must be properly safeguarded to ensure that no one with the virus comes into the country. Similarly, schools and other such public institutions must not compromise hygiene. Public health officials must pay routine visits to schools in order to ensure compliance with accepted hygiene standard.

    Perhaps more importantly, everybody must be watchful of their health situation and swiftly report any odd health situation to the nearest medical facility. Failure to do this at the right moment may possibly jeopardize numerous lives. This is not exactly the moment in time to play with health related issues. Every household must continue to preach and imbibe positive hygiene measures to guide against harmful tendencies that could jeopardize family health.

     

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

  • Time to restructure NDLEA

    Illicit drug trafficking and abuse have remained a quandary in Nigeria for decades now. The extent of this mire or messy muddle was first brought to public attention on April 10, 1985 during what might be termed Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘First Missionary Journey’ to Nigeria. For those old enough to know, and/or those that might be interested in the history of illicit drug in Nigeria, April 10, 1985 remains morbid a watershed. It was on that day that the narco-trio of 26-year old Bartholomew Owoh, 29-year old Bernard Ogendengbe, another 29-year old Akinni Lawal Ojuolope were publicly executed by firing squad upon their sentence by a special military tribunal for trafficking in illicit drugs. Their execution was backed by Decree 20 which was enacted in 1984. The death penalty was however soon abolished after Ibrahim Babangida took over in another military coup on August 27, 1985. Since then the prevalence of drug abuse and its exacerbating social consequences have lingered on in Nigeria.

    Recent times have unfortunately witnessed some astronomical prevalence in the phenomenon. Illicit drug trafficking and abuse are presently done openly. These drugs can be obtained in clubs, some major hotels, inner street areas and even over the counter (OTC) in pharmaceutical shops. The sociological consequences of this situation can hardly be imagined. Many young people are either dying or wasting away due to their involvement in drug abuse. Just recently two friends of David Adeleke, a popular Nigerian hip-hop music star artist popularly known as Davido reportedly died of drug overdose. The first victim was Umueke Tagbo, who was said to have ingested a combination of substances in addition to 40 shots of tequila at a pub in Lekki, Lagos. Gbemiga Abiodun alias DJ Olu, Davido’s other friend and son of Dapo Abiodun, multi-millionaire oil magnate, also allegedly died of drug overdose. These unfortunate incidents and many more involving low profile persons infer the extent of the drug menace in our country at the moment.

    But the aforesaid is just one part of the story. The other part, which is equally disturbing, is the fact that the country’s image continues to be enmeshed in disrepute as many Nigerian get convicted of drug offences and are being sentenced to death in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam among others every now and then. A few examples will suffice here. Not long after Michael Ikenna was put to death by lethal injection in Vietnam, another Nigerian Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi got executed in Singapore. Two years ago, two other Nigerians namely Solomon Okafor and Daniel Enenuo were in one swoop put to death in January 2015 in Indonesia after being caught with heroine. Some months later, precisely in July 2016 three other Nigerians were executed having been sentenced to death in the same country. There are many more that have been arrested, tried, sentenced and are awaiting execution in those and other countries where drug offences attract the maximum death penalty.

    A valid question that may be asked at this point is what government is doing about this ugly trend?  Without disregard for the existing drug war architecture in the country, the nation seems to be performing rather very poorly in the war on several fronts. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the statutory agency of the Nigerian government charged with the responsibility of addressing the problem is apparently overburdened, very poorly funded and grossly understaffed. NDLEA is therefore unable to adequately tackle this debilitating social menace which has a clear correlation and tie of consanguinity with violent crimes like kidnapping, robbery, rape, terrorism and other transnational crimes. Apart from the fact that personnel of NDLEA are ill-equipped to sustain the fight headlong, they also appear laidback on any meaningful impact in the area of drug demand reduction (DDR), having particular regards to treatment, counseling, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The main reason for the agency’s laidback approach to DDR is tied to one of the provisions in the NDLEA Act. In part II of the Act which deals with offences relating to drug abuse and trafficking subsection (1) of Section 10 thereof, the possession and use of drugs like cocaine, LSD, heroine among others is spelt out as an offense liable on ‘conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than fifteen years, but not exceeding twenty-five years’. The logical implication of this is that addicts and/or rather victims are seen by the Act as criminally liable. Of course nobody who considers himself criminally liable will go to NDELA for help.

    Yet subsection (3a) of section 7 of the Act provides for a counseling unit in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, which essentially is a DDR function. Under this section, the agency undertakes education, after-care rehabilitation and promotion of the welfare of convicts. This is perceived as absurd, inconsistent and unreasonable when considered critically; for there is no drug abuse victim who is aware that possession of heroin or cocaine or even ordinary cannabis will easily send him to jail that will submit himself or herself to the NDLEA for counseling and rehabilitation. Of course there is no way anyone can use any substance without first possessing it

    It is in the light of the above, that the action which the upper chamber of the National Assembly took on Tuesday, October 11, is considered a positive omen pursuant to the effort to tackle the drug menace in the country. On that day Senator Baba Garbai representing Borno Central Senatorial District moved a motion at the Senate plenary on the urgent need to check the rising menace of drug abuse among youth in the northern part of the country. In moving the motion, Garbai prayed the Senate to mandate its committee on drugs, narcotics and health to investigate the drug scourge pursuant to appropriate action thereto. Whereas Senator Garbai’s motion is thought of as timely, it is however unfortunate that it focused only on a particular section of the country. This is considered unfortunate against the sad reality of the prevalence of the drug menace across the nation.

    Though it has been alluded to earlier, it suffices to add here at the risk of accentuation, that current participant observation research efforts are indicative of the fact that a wide of controlled substances can now be procured by young people over the counter (OTC) in pharmaceutical and even patent medicine stores or joints in villages, towns and cities within the country. The situation, to say the least, is pretty scary and awe-inspiring. Controlled substances are so-called because of their detrimental effects on general human health and well-being irrespective of their pharmacological value. It is for this reason that these substances are usually registered and scheduled by government and strictly controlled with penalties for those who violate these controls. Considering the fact that it is not all such substances that are illicit, and that some of them fall under prescription drugs which could be available to members of the public in pharmacy shops, but strictly on medical prescription, it amounts to unwholesomeness and gross ethical malpractice therefore if there are dispensed for abuse over the counter (OTC).

    In view of the above, it is strongly suggested that the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Health in investigating the matter, should among other steps, consider the review of existing laws on the scheduling of drugs. The committee may in so doing consider nascent scientific trends on bio-psycho-socials dependency potential and other effects of these substances by borrowing a leaf from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) scheduling system.

    A new controlled substances Act should not only strictly forbid and punish the production, possession, illegal sale and dispensing of such substances but make it socially unattractive to be involved in abuse of such drugs. The later part of this advocacy is achievable through conscientization. This should begin with the restructuring, strengthening, adequate staffing, better funding and equipping of the NDLEA for execution of interdiction of drug offenders. Sections of the existing NDLEA Act that are clearly absurd, contradictory and inconsistent should be expurgated from it in order to severe the crippling effects that have seriously hampered its function of ridding our society of the illicit drug scourge.

    Finally, it is hereby very strongly advocated that drug counseling centres should be established in every Teaching Hospital and Inspectorate Unit of the Federal and State Ministries of Education in the country. Such units should also be set up in social welfare department and related agencies to effectively deal with the wide range of issues in drug demand reduction (DDR) in the country.

     

    • Bassey is President, African Council on Narcotics (ACON), Abuja.

     

  • It’s been 50 years since Britain left. Why are so many African judges still wearing wigs?

    It’s been 50 years since Britain left. Why are so many African judges still wearing wigs?

    The British gave up their last colonies in Africa half a century ago. But they left their wigs behind.

    Not just any wigs. They are the long, white, horsehair locks worn by high court judges (and King George III). They are so old-fashioned and so uncomfortable, that even British barristers have stopped wearing them.

    But in former British colonies — Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Malawi and others — they live on, worn by judges and lawyers. Now, a new generation of African jurists is asking: Why are the continent’s most prominent legal minds still wearing the trappings of the colonizers?

    It’s not just a question of aesthetics. The wigs and robes are perhaps the most glaring symbol of colonial inheritance at a time when that history is being dredged up in all sorts of ways. This year, Tanzanian President John Magufuli described a proposed free-trade agreement with Europe as a “form of colonialism.” In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe still refers to the British as “thieving colonialists.”

    In June, the premier of the Western Cape province of South Africa was suspended from her party after writing on Twitter that modern health care was a colonial contribution.

    Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has sparred with Britain for decades and denounces the West for what he calls a neo-colonial attitude, but he has a soft spot for a traditional etiquette and a dress code in the courts that even Britain has partly dropped.

    The relics of colonialism are scattered across the continent. There are the queen’s namesakes: Victoria Falls north of Zimbabwe; Lake Victoria, bordering three countries in eastern Africa; Victoria Island in Nigeria. There is the left-lane driving, the cricket, the way public education is organised (not organized).

    Most cities and streets have received new names since European rule ended. In 2013, Mugabe officially rebaptized Victoria Falls “Mosi Oa Tunya,” or “the smoke that thunders” in the Kololo language.

    Yet the wig survives, along with other relics of the colonial courtroom: red robes, white bows, references to judges as “my lord” and “my lady.”

    In nearly every former British colony, op-eds have been written and speeches made about why the wig ought to be removed. In Uganda, the New Vision newspaper conducted an investigation into the cost of the wigs, reporting that each one cost $6,500. In Ghana, a prominent lawyer, Augustine Niber, argued that removing wigs would reduce the “intimidation and fear that often characterize our courtrooms.”

    One of the editors of the Nigerian Lawyer blog wrote that wigs weren’t made for the sweltering Lagos heat, where lawyers wilted under their garb. “The culture that invented wig and gown is different from our own and the weather is different,” Unini Chioma wrote.

    Increasingly, though, opponents of the colonial outfit aren’t just arguing against inconvenience but against a tradition that African judiciaries appear to be embracing. Britain’s “colonial courts,” which preceded independence, were sometimes brutal. In response to Kenya’s Mau Mau rebellion in the 1950s, for example, the wigged white judges sentenced more than 1,000 people to death for conspiring against colonial rule.

    “The colonial system used law as [an] instrument of repression, and we’re still maintaining this tradition without questioning it,” said Arnold Tsunga, director of the Africa program at the International Commission of Jurists. “It’s a disgrace to the modern courts of Africa.”

    In Kenya, former chief justice Willy Mutunga appealed to remove the wigs from the courtroom, arguing that they were a foreign imposition, not a Kenyan tradition. He swapped the traditional British red robes for ­”Kenyanized” green and yellow ones. He called the wigs “dreadful.”

    But that outlook wasn’t shared by many Kenyan judges and lawyers, who saw the wigs and robes as their own uniforms, items that elevate a courtroom, despite — or because of — their colonial links.

    “It was met with consternation from within the bench and the bar,” said Isaac Okero, president of the Law Society of Kenya.

    Okero is a defender of the wig and the robe, and argues that they represent more than a British tradition, but something that distinguishes the country’s judges.

    “I don’t feel at all that it has any negative connotation of colonialism. It has risen beyond that. It is a tradition of the Kenyan bar,” he said.

    This year, Kenya’s new chief justice, David Maraga, has indicated that he wants to revert to the colonial traditions. During his swearing-in ceremony, he wore a long white wig and the British-style red robe. Many Kenyans were perplexed.

    “It was his rather peculiar outfit that would send a resounding message to Kenyans,” said a broadcaster on KTN, one of the country’s most popular news channels. “It’s back to the old days.”

    In Zimbabwe, still ruled by vehement anti-colonialist Mugabe, the wigs are perhaps most mystifying. Why would a man who stripped white farmers of their land, who railed against the name of Victoria Falls, allow an archaic judicial tradition to remain in place?

    Some analysts say that the policy reveals something about Mugabe, the closet Anglophile, a fan of Dickens who once said cricket “civilizes people and creates good gentlemen.”

    But Tsunga says that the rationale is more insidious.

    “We are seeing post-independence African states trying to maintain these symbols of power and authority in the belief that it will help entrench themselves,” he said.

    The curly horsehair wigs have been used in court since the 1600s, during the reign of Charles II, when they became a symbol of the British judicial system. Some historians say they were initially popularized by France’s King Louis XIV, who was trying to conceal his balding head.

    By the 18th century, they were meant to distinguish judges and lawyers — and other members of the upper crust. Enter the word “bigwig” into the lexicon.

    Other countries in the British Commonwealth, such as Australia and Canada, also inherited the wigs and robes but have moved toward removing them from courtrooms. An Australian chief justice last year demanded that barristers remove their wigs before addressing her.

    “The abolition of wigs is all part of the progression towards a modern way,” said the chief justice, Marilyn Warren.

    This year in Britain, the House of Commons lifted the requirement that clerks, who are experts in parliamentary law, wear wigs. John Bercow, the speaker, said the change would promote a “marginally less stuffy and forbidding image of this chamber.”

    But aside from the wigs, African courts have adapted to a post-colonial context. New constitutions have been written. A new generation of judges has emerged. Even though some judiciaries have bent to political pressure, new legal systems are rooted in British common law but shaped by the traditions and cultures of their own countries.

    In Kenya this month, the Supreme Court annulled the recent presidential election, a bold display of judicial independence that infuriated the sitting president.

    In the Nairobi courtroom where the ruling was delivered, several lawyers wore their powdered wigs. Behind the bench, a row of men and women in red robes presided.

    Maraga sat down before speaking, the sleeves of his black robe hanging over the bench.

    “The greatness of a nation lies in its fidelity to its constitution,” he said, “and a strict adherence to the rule of law.”

    • Source: www.washingtonpost.com

  • Out and About

    Nollywood’s CAROLINE EKANEM: My Sympathies

    I extend my sympathies here to grieving Caroline Ekanem Hollinwarth Hornelin on the sudden death of her male companion on October 3. I also commiserate with the Umeike family who lost their love one.

    Caroline, Nollywood’s bright star that you are, you have got to keep on shining regardless.

    There’s so much for you to deal with all at once!

    Like…How soon is too soon to date??

    Folks may throw stones, but you are doing just great.

    In a new book Option B (Alfred A. Knopf Books, 2017) by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, Sandberg was faced with that exact same dilemma. Now Sheryl Sandberg is the COO of Facebook. Four months after she lost her husband in 2015, her brother said to her – “…I think you should start thinking about dating”. He also pointed out that if she were a man, she would have started dating already.

    That’s too American for us here, some may be quick to say. But the writers of the book talk about widowhood IN NIGERIA (that’s on page 162). And the cruel treatment, though to a little lesser degree is being given the (female) divorced ones as well as our widows. But young women deserve a shot at happiness, same as everyone else!

    Caroline, Adiaha, May God’s loving arms comfort you. Take Heart.

    In the footnote last Sunday, Zulu Sofola was inadvertently cited as the author of The Gods are Not to Blame. It was written by Ola Rotimi. The slip is regretted.

    Davido – I don’t like you, but I agree you are innocent

    An adult male went out one night, as was his usual to have some drinks. Usual because every photo of his shows him either with a phone or a whiskey glass. Only this time, the not-too healthy looking man overreached even for a hefty Goliath. 40 tequilas at least, as confirmed by the barman! Sadly, he drank himself to death; end of story.

    NO – this man happened to have big friends. Very big, like DAVIDO. Yeah, that’s why this tale has taken a different twist.

    Otherwise at 35 with half one’s life gone, one ought to know one’s limits in everything. 50 tequilas can easily kill 5 men, not to talk of one. The autopsy released also indicates analgesics in the system – a very wrong combination. Sad but unfortunate, once again my sympathies to his relatives.

    Davido I don’t like, I’m a little queasy about his videos, I like his music. But since his ill-treatment of Sophie Momodu, Chief Dele Momodu’s niece – I have no love. However, in this whodunit, I declare Davido innocent:- The fellow at the centre of all met up with friends, including Davido for drinks. About midnight (lawyer’s statement) Davido left their company – I watched that CCTV coverage. Tall and lanky, the man in question was quite easy to identify in the crowd, he was so inebriated he was swaying like a praying mantis. I even praise Davido here – as a friend he tried, even attempted to force the man into his car and take him home. The man refused and wriggled away. Davido has my sympathy at losing 2 friends in 1 week.

    I carefully read through Thursday’s statement by his lawyer Norrison Quaker SAN. Nice one by Davido to cancel coming concerts for now. The midweek press briefing by the ACP informing that Davido instructed his backup car to escort the vehicle of the deceased to hospital is libelous, I’d say. Know what? Even if Davido did instruct so, he did very well to stick out his neck; knowing the next thing would be getting roped in.

    My last word on this is just a wish: the investigators would also be just as tenacious in cases of murder victims – especially politically motivated murder “mysteries”

    Responses

    Rivers State @ 50

    In part 2 of the series, I mistakenly wrote PH instead of Degema, it was a slip of the pen. So the 1st & 3rd paragraphs should read: Degema had a hospital and native court etc. Like I stated therein, the port then was Abonnema. Princess Files

    Without being immodest, how much were u paid to write this? What of all the corruptions that took place in Odilis ruin? What of the insecurity, killings, & many more currently, a fallout of Wike’s 2015 rigging?

    Dr Mike, NAUTH.

    Some seek educational essays.

    Yours caught my attention.

    09096…58

    The entire narrative on the Rivers State of today and of yore is illuminating. The timing of the tributes for the 3 richest states (Lagos, Rivers and Kano) with special reference to Rivers State on the posthumous 81st birthday of Maj. Adaka Boro is truly commendable.

    Busari Alade, Ilorin.

    I was truly delighted to know that Dr Peter Odili rehabilitated and modernized BM Specialist Hospital in which a Royal Birth of a Princess was given to mankind. I pray for the Princess to grow and ascend to the coveted royal stool of her forebears!

    It’s our hope that Rivers State’s present level of growth would be sustained and raised by the present and subsequent administrations. I also hope that the powers that be in the state are reading you.

    Which is the next point of call?

    08078..…09

    Your piece in The Nation was incisive and loaded with history. The uninformed youth of today actually need to know. My suggestion is you please post it as a whatsapp post.

    May your days be long and of richer service to mankind.

    Akin Adejuwon, OAU.

    The Senators…

    “We should direct our grievances to the proper channel”. To that, I agree with you 100%.

    Dr. S. Adebayo.

    Enjoyed your article on RMAFC.

    Roy, Uyo.

    Rightly so, the umpires especially RMAFC should be scrapped or forced to change our salaries with immediate effect.

    Godfrey Dewan, Jos.

    AITEO CUP

    It is boju-boju fans who flocked to the stadium for the Nigeria/Zambia match last Saturday in Uyo. Super Eagles Were Playing. [Congrats, Nigeria has qualified for Russia 2018].

    But real football fans were at the stadium the next day, last Sunday for the Sunshine Stars / Akwa United encounter. People like Ubotex – The Dangote of Niger Delta, Sir Ubong Obot; Lagos FA Chairman Fred Edoreh; Sir Emem Akpabio, formerly of Shell Petroleum; the ubiquitous ‘All Stars’ as well as yours truly were there for the semi-final encounter, as were the national Supporters’ Club. That Sunday, the stadium was filthy; left so after the previous day’s big match, but we sat in it just to register support for our local league. And it was a great match indeed. Pulsating and thrilling, it ended in a win for Akwa United. The referee was superb: not common in our local league.

    The results mean that this afternoon at the Agege Stadium, Lagos, Niger Tornadoes will engage Akwa United in the grand finale of this season’s Aiteo Cup.

    Here is a brief rundown, just in case sports is not really your thing but you just humor The Princess’ Files (thanks!) – The Aiteo Cup is the former Federations Cup. (For me, the proper name should be the titled sponsor AS WELL as the actual competition i.e. I would have called it the AITEO Federations Cup, so anyone would know, at a glance)! To qualify for the final, Niger Tornadoes had a shock win over current title holders FC Ifeanyi Ubah. Ifeanyi Ubah defeated the Minna club 1-0 in their very last encounter, but Niger qualified 4-3 on aggregate to be in the final game.

    Akwa United under Paul Sports Bassey qualified by winning that last match (3-1) and also winning on aggregate (3-2).

    And so, May The Best Team (Akwa United) Win!!!

     

    07055547031  whatsapp or text message.

  • Nigeria and the metaphor of football

    Unarguably, the most popular sport in this clime is football. At one time or the other, every child has kicked a football.  In elementary and secondary schools as well as institutional of higher learning, football ranks as the most famous sport. It is, perhaps, for this reason that the sport is famously referred to as the ‘King of Sports’. On a private note, I find the allure of the game of football somewhat irresistible, though my famous team, Arsenal FC of England, sometime turns the sport into a traumatic experience for fans. But then, once you catch the bug of football, you might just not be able to get off it.

    Globally, football has become a money spinning enterprise. The organisation and management of football in Europe, for instance, is a multi million dollars venture with all the teams running other sports related businesses. Indeed, all sorts of professionals-doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, grass men, scouts, etc-are employed by the various teams in their drive for soccer glory. Therefore, football, in Europe, has gone beyond the mere recreational activity that it is in other climes. As a result of the excellent manner it is managed in Europe, youths across the world have found in football a means through which they could use their talents to escape poverty.

    The FIFA World Cup remains the most important football event across the world. Since Uruguay hosted the first edition of the World Cup in 1930, during the era of revered FIFA President, Jules Rimet, the competition has continued to grow in leap and bound. From a 13 team event, with which it started in 1930, it grew to become a 32 team affair during the1998 edition, which was hosted and won by France. Today, the World Cup commands a global TV audience in excess of one billion. Every nation desires to be represented at the quadrennial international football tournament. The event has become more than a football affair. It is now a huge public relations platform for nations.

    Hence, the sheer ecstasy and electrifying jubilation that greeted the 74th minute goal of Super Eagle’s in-form striker, Alex Iwobi, in recent grueling decider against the ‘Chipolopolo’ of Zambia is a sure expression of what participating in the World Cup means to our compatriots. Before Iwobi’s eventual clincher, the ‘Nest of Champions’ where the decisive encounter took place in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, was full of tension as soccer fans agonizingly watched as the obviously ambitious  boys from Zambia held their own against the star studded Super Eagles. With Iwobi’s goal came a huge relief and suddenly the stadium and, indeed, the whole nation came back to life.

    As Nigerians continue to savour the joy of the hard won victory against Zambia, one thing that keeps ringing in my mind is the unifying power of football. It is quite mystifying how a nation that was before now faced with numerous tribal and ethnic agitations suddenly decided to bury the hatchet in order to pursue a common goal. While various groups complain about marginalization in political appointments, resource control among others, it is hard to see anyone complain that a particular section of the country dominates the Super Eagles. Nobody cares about that. No matter where the players come from, the song on every lip remains: “Halleluiah, Eagles are winning today!” Muslims, Christians and Atheists were united in singing this song.

    Now, the question is: “How come we easily unite when it comes to the passionate matter of football and the Super Eagles and yet don’t seem to see eye to eye on other major national issues. Well, while there might not be a straight jacket explanation for this, my take is that the ordinary Nigerians from diverse walks of life don’t really care about most of these seemingly divisive stuffs. The ordinary compatriots don’t really bother much about religion, tribalism and other such conflict-ridden tendencies. This much was demonstrated in the botched June 12 1993 Presidential election when they overwhelmingly voted for the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, Muslim-Muslim ticket of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

    The bane of our nation is the elite. Be it political, religious, traditional, bureaucratic, academic, professional etc, the Nigerian elite through pointless egotistic, parochial and avaricious tendencies has continued to hold the nation by the jugular. Whenever it suits their selfish predisposition, they could agree to work together, intermarry, preach tolerance and generally act as harbingers of all that is good. But then, when their egos are bruised, business interests and political concerns collide, they don’t mind setting the country on fire. Yes, the nation could burn, for all they care.

    Sadly, whenever they decide to go on rampage, it is the hapless commoners whose rights and privileges they so deliberately and viciously trample upon that are often used as canon fodders. When some of the most tumultuous socio-political crises that have engulfed this nation are properly scrutinized, major victims of such crisis have always been the common folks on the street who are subtly hoodwinked into being active participants in a skirmish they nothing about. Ours is a nation where ‘warlords’ trick the ordinary folks into coming into the battle front, unarmed and ill prepared, only to flee at the slightest prospect of trouble.

    The Nigerian elite need to come to term with the reality of the time. The times are changing and very soon, there would be no more guinea pigs available for exploitation. One foresees more of “Our Mumu Done Do” kind of movements across the country as compatriots are fast ‘wising up’. Rather than continually engage in destructive selfish agenda that will do our nation more harm than good, the elite need to allow the metaphoric message of football sink deep into every sphere of our national life. We should allow the football process serves as model and reflection to our real life in the society. Being a team sport, every player in a football team including the coaching crew pursues one common goal: Victory.

     

    The Super Eagles achieved victory against Zambia because everyone worked together. Everyone worked to ensure that the weakness of the team was not unduly exposed. Everyone worked to ensure that the strength of the team was fully maximized. Team spirit and focus which are the main forces in football are the hallmarks of nation building. No nation that is against itself can stand. Just as any football team that encourages in-fighting can’t achieve victory.  This is the time for the elite to think Nigeria first in all that they do. This is also the time for the common folks to stop being willing tools in any agenda that could bring the country down. As the saying goes in my part of the country, “It is not everyone that knows the beginning of a war that would live to recount it”. God bless Nigeria.

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

  • Uyo:  Bright prospects for Nigerian football, great economic growth

    When the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium was inaugurated on November , 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, he boldly stated in his remarks that warm evening where history unfolded to the world that the edifice will be home to future world champions.

    It was built and designed as a concept that will propagate sports development in Akwa Ibom State and with the state of the art facilities and a well structured maintenance programme, the sustained aesthetic content and maintenance culture, the first of its kind in the country on any edifice across the country has positioned Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State in becoming the new hub for football in Nigeria.

    Since the administration of Mr.Udom Emmanuel, Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State started on May 29, 2015 the landmarks of the success story in making Uyo the new destination for football in Nigeria remains legendary with many milestones so far achieved in the state.

    Akwa United Football Club, the only well managed State Government Football team in the country at the moment  holds sway in Nigerian football today and proudly belongs to the elite league of teams to be reckoned with  having as early as 2016 hosted a CAF Confederations cup fixture in Uyo.

    The success story of Akwa United Football Club in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League where the team finished fourth, the best ever since the formation of the team is a milestone. At the moment, the team has qualified for the final of the 2017, Aiteo Cup final with great prospects of winning the trophy for a second time on Sunday, October 15, 2017 at the Agege Stadium.

    Despite being a Government sponsored team, Akwa United has  been able to broker some sponsorship deals in the production of her jerseys, the first of its kind since the club’s inception, the structure of the club has been re-structured to ensure that the welfare of players are not backlogged with prompt payment of allowances and salaries and the stadium which has enhanced the play pattern of the team making them obviously the team of the future with their exciting football and strong technical content.

    On the national scene, Uyo has become the new fortress for the nation’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles who last weekend in this same city became the first African country to qualify for the World Cup next year in Russia with a game to spare.

    For the records, the Super Eagles, the road to Russia 2018 did not record any loss as the team won four matches and drew one to seal qualification for the mundial with very bright prospects with a young team expected to surpass Africa’s present record at the tournament.

    When Governor Udom Emmanuel accepted to host the Super Eagles matches in Uyo, in taking that very bold and visionary decision, he saw the long term benefits and opportunities that will abound on his state with the multiplier effects that will boost the economy of the people as well increase business content and enhance the social benefits of the life style of the people.

    Coming from a background in the private sector that has successfully transformed the economic growth of the state and the sports sector where Akwa United Football Club a State Government owned team has a re-defined administrative structure that has enhanced professionalism even in the midst of the recession, Governor Udom Emmanuel has laid the template to motivate small entrepreneurs to excel with given opportunities.

    The emerging status of Uyo as Nigeria’s football capital has boosted sports tourism in the state with the influx of visitors from across the country and even the international community to watch football matches, transact businesses and also expand new horizons of friendships with other nationals and the citizens.

    As a first timer coming into the state from the Ibom International Airport, every visitor is greeted with the serene green environment, the peaceful and conducive atmosphere of a city which has made Uyo the safest city in the Niger Delta Region and an investors delight and a very good road network well connected into the city to the closest hotels within minutes and the stadium.

    The state is also accessible by road from neighbouring states bordering it within minutes especially from the South South and south east regions.

    The hospitality sector in the state has continued to expand with the attendant influx of tourists to the state as hotels and other guest houses of repute have been filed up days before and even after such epic football clashes in Uyo. This has created more revenue for operators in the industry, added more employment opportunities and a platform for tourist and guests to have a firsthand feel of the renowned hospitality of the Akwa Ibom People including the widely acknowledged  taste of over 200 cuisines that abound in the state.

    The revenue base within these periods of activities in the state remains astronomical and has also increased the Gross Domestic Products of the state which remains a key indices of a growing economy.

    Uyo as the emerging football capital of Nigeria has also promoted new entrepreneurs who have taken advantage of the limitless business opportunities to become creative and promote items including souvenirs, the transportation sector including taxis from airports, hotels and other places, enhanced activities of other services of relaxation within the stadium premises and other spots in the city.

    The new template of infrastructural development in Uyo gives any visitor the mileage to explore a city offering prosperous foundations to excel and the benefits of the city being the new hub for Nigeria’s football Cathedral is enormous each day.

    The new advantage of this growing city to the sporting world is that new football academies are springing up daily, young talents are being discovered, motivated by the presence of the state of the art facilities and the opportunities given to watch their heroes excel is further positioning Akwa Ibom State as the home where future champions are made.

    The social benefits have seen an increased tempo in activities on the circuit with milestone turnovers in businesses that have prospered families even beyond any football activity. These opportunities have also given the people of the state a new platform of self belief in their daily pursuits to excel as driven and motivated by the Dakkada philosophy of a determination to achieve greatness, a concept propelled by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

  • Winners are not static

    Winners are not static

    Nothing in life is static. Everything is working even if we do not see it. We take things like growth for granted. Our bodies change, each strand of hair grows, nails grow, take a look at nature; plants just grow once in the right environment. Volcanoes erupt; ocean waves hit the shores 24/7; you cannot see the wind but you feel its movement all the time. As you might know, the earth rotates on its axis from east to west causing day and night. It also revolves around the sun on its orbit causing seasons and year. I took time to check the circumference of the earth at the equator and discovered it is 40,075km. This means that the speed of the earth’s rotation at the center of the hemisphere-equator is about 1,670km/hr compared to the jumbo jet Boeing 777’s top speed of about 970km/hr. Ah! Did you know what that implies? You, your house, your belongings, car, office, everything is constantly travelling at the top speed of 1,670km/hr and we don’t even feel it.

    The bottom line is, the earth is working. The whole of nature is not static. Are you working? Working does not just mean activity; it means productive activity. In his book; Dare to Dream and Work to Win, Dr. Tom Barrett expounds that if you are serious about your own personal success, then you must acknowledge that Knowledge is king! Without mincing words, applied knowledge empowers you to discharge your work productively and not wear yourself out. In fact, if you are static in any area of life, you need knowledge to make it work, mind you, knowledge is not static you need to always update your wealth of knowledge.

    When you work to win, you earn rewards such as quality relationships which far outweighs your salary. Many workers concentrate on earning fat salaries, this is good in itself but does not guarantee fulfillment. Please understand that you need to continually upgrade your skills and your character. Punctuality, humility, resilience, self- control, diligence, integrity, tenacity and courage to mention a few are virtues that make you winsome and excellent amongst your colleagues. On a lighter note, I see winners as gunners, up gunners! I love gunners; they hunt with their guns loaded, ever watchful and ready for opportunities. They move strategically to score goals in life without being distracted by the frenzy fans; they fan themselves regardless of disappointments. They are goal-getters. When I hear the cliché; winners never quit, I add gunners never quit.

    Sometimes, winners are not necessarily the most intelligent but they are wise enough to understand the rules of the game. People stop too soon, the key to momentum is always venture to learn; Ask questions! Recently, I got to an ATM centre and met a long queue, there was no other ATM within the axis so I joined the queue. After about 20 minutes I noticed that the lady using the ATM at that moment suddenly shrugged, hissed and shouted ‘it has stopped working’ like a movie the next in line took off and in the twinkling of an eye, more than 13 people left the queue without confirming what the issue was, only three were left including me. The lady in front of me took the courage to use it but shouted ‘ah.. no cash’ and walked away. My knowledge and experience came in handy, I noticed that the response for the previous user was’ financial institution not available’ I understood that it was not the ATM’s fault rather it’s the network of the customer’s bank. So I used it..lo and behold the ATM paid me. The guy behind pleaded with me to stay and possibly transfer the anointing…he was paid after the third attempt.

    The ‘first’ lady on the queue ignorantly misinterpreted the response from the ATM, and caused confusion for others, meanwhile the others blindly followed her and did not bother to ask questions. Are you asking the right questions? People who ask the right questions cannot be stranded. I refused to join the band wagon, rather I chose to understand the response from the ATM, that way I achieved my goal, I won! Do not forget that after winning, I rendered help to the man behind, he was also humble enough to ask for help. I remember the words of one of my mentors ‘ Ask for help not because you are weak but because you want to remain strong’. Be wise to ask the right people, discernment is key! Also don’t gloat over your victory, it is meant to teach and inspire others to win!

    Do you also know that courtesy is an ointment that winners apply graciously without reservation? Problem-solving skills is not the reserve of the educated and not a function of good looks. Sometimes the information that will seal the contract or save you from sliding into debt is in the hands of a security guard or a cleaner. A few months back, I had to quickly use the ATM and return to the office. I got to the ATM center and found it deserted, quite unusual. I observed that it was down. Hmm.. the next available ATM was quite a distance. While I was thinking, suddenly a cleaner carrying a dustbin on his head walked by, I noticed him and greeted. I turned to leave and was exiting the gate when he came and said ‘madam, don’t go yet, the bank staff are inside loading the ATM, they will be through very soon’. Oh! what a timely information, though unethical for him to relay such information for security reasons but my greeting made him feel so important and willing to disclose such to me and within 5 minutes the ATM was up and running, that information saved me the time and money I could have used to rush to the next ATM point, again I won! Please always ask the right questions, be courteous..and remember a right attitude wins always.