The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • Situating Nigeria’s agric potential

    Recently, the Speaker of the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, caused a buzz when he was shown visiting his expansive farm showcasing diverse crops including animal husbandry. The import of that media blitz of the Speaker’s is that the elite clearly understands that agriculture holds the key to sustainable development.

    Before Dogara’s, we are witnesses to President Muhammadu Buhari showcasing his herd of cattle most times when he is in his hometown of Daura. The cheering news about this is that it is not just the elite that are given to the idea of investing in agriculture. We have entertainers like music star, D’Banj, who has commercialized his farm produce with the popular Koko garri, actress Halima Abubakar, veteran actor Yinka Quadri, the ‘jaga-jaga’ crooner, Eedris Abdulkareem, film producer and actor, Taiwo Hassan amongst a host of others.

    In an interview not too long ago, D’Banj was quoted as saying: “I engage in agriculture personally to encourage millions of African youths who look up to me as a role model. I need to let them know that unlike the old stereotype of farming which was considered as a form of punishment, modern farming on the contrary, is a cool source of employment for many graduates. Agriculture is life and it is everything that we live for. It is the only way forward for us in Africa. There are so many potentials in it and if we could focus on it, the continent can actually feed the rest of the world.”

    Nothing can be farther from the truth that the value chain in agriculture is immense if properly harnessed.

    Let’s take the case of former journalist Rotimi Williams who is reputed to own the second largest commercial farm rice in the country. Williams, 35, has a farm that measures 45, 000 hectares in Nasarawa state and employs more than 600 indigenes of the state without counting the spiral effect of the job creation and investment in the area and beyond.

    As a country that consumes more than 5 million metric tons of rice every year, with a significant portion from imports, people like Williams are exemplars that with the right policy by government, the country’s quest for self-sufficiency is possible after all.

    It is in this regard that the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme powered by the Central Bank is a vital instrument. The significant aspect of the intervention, which I find compelling, is seeing agriculture as a business driven venture and not simply as a subsistence endeavour.

    Therefore, taking the route of business-driven agriculture to the grassroots through the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), by deploying an innovative nation-wide field structure to support 225,000 farmers should be applauded.

    Under the Project Monitoring Reporting and Remediation Office (PMRO) with units located in each state and the federal capital, the NIRSAL is realizing its core mandate of making agriculture more attractive for private sector investment by de-risking the agricultural value chain.

    Speaking not too long ago on the importance of the PMRO, Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed, explained, “The PMRO structure is very critical to our operations. Agriculture is a field business. They would act as our eyes to ensure that agricultural projects that we facilitate finance for are executed in line with agreed terms and also serve to extend the reach of our interventions.”

    Despite all of these, they are people who think that it is still a long road to Uhuru, and rightly so. In a country that even productive ventures are seen as tools for political patronage, there is the urgency by these agencies to demonstrate that they are insulated from the vagaries of politics and the shenanigans of politicians.

    Besides this, policy inconsistency is a major drawback. We have seen government rolling back programmes only to reintroduce them either under a new nomenclature or with slight modifications. In a situation where farmers and investors are unsure of the policy of government for a sector that requires medium and long term planning, then there is little hope of getting the right people to show genuine interest and commitment.

    While most Nigerians think this government has done well in boosting agricultural entrepreneurship, the new worry centres round President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit to President Donald Trump of the United States.

    On many strategic fronts, the visit is a plus and reinforces the vital nature of Nigeria in global affairs, the nagging doubt of what type of agreement was entered into by the president persists.

    It is a given that with myriads of security challenges, the country needs the security might of the U.S in tackling the threats of Boko Haram and other existentialist groups but are we counting the cost when there are other alternatives to our common good? In the global agricultural and trade war, countries like Nigeria become pawns in the hands of the major players, therefore, a lot of tact and guile is required if we are to protect our local markets and investors.

    Without a doubt, the U.S. and China are in a bitter trade war with agricultural produce at the centre of it. It is known that owing to some Trump’s business decisions on Chinese businesses that China is enforcing new tax policies on American agricultural products and to absorb the outcome of the enforcements, President Trump is looking to countries like Nigeria, Argentina and Brazil as buffers.

    So to sign a deal that will see U.S. agric produce, which by the way are heavily subsidized, flooding the Nigerian market at a time that America is not buying our crude is to adversely undermine the potential of the efforts of government to not only ensure food security, grow our economy and job creation, but to seriously eat into our forex market.

    What government needs to do is to create a buffer of tax exemptions for farmers and other incentives to keep our farmers afloat while seriously tackling the menace of armed banditry and insurgency on farming communities, as well as properly ensure that all imported produce pay the correct tariffs and duties.

  • Mother’s Day: A Celebration in Million Times

    A mother is someone who supports and motivates us throughout our life. Mothers can replace anybody in our life but nobody can replace our mother. She never expects anything from us except love.

    A mother is a person in our life who gives us birth, who teaches us how to live this life, who enlightens us on the good and bad times. No matter how much we get successful in life, no other thing can give us peace as the  mother’s lap

    No matter how hard we try, we cannot pay her debts in our entire life. She sacrifices many things for her children. She deserves to be honored. For honoring the mother, motherhood, maternal bonds and her influence in society, we celebrate Mother’s Day also known as Mothering Sunday every year. This is a global day usually celebrated on second Sunday of May every year in Nigeria except in some instances where people misconceived this day with the International Women’s Day in March.

    The origins of this celebration date back to the Ancient Greek times, but the way which it is celebrated today began in America in 1908.

    The ancient Greeks dedicated an annual spring festival to maternal goddesses, and ancient Romans also celebrated a spring festival called Hilaria which was for a mother goddess called Cybele.

    Other stories say that this date was to honour mothers. A prayer service was also held in church for the Virgin Mary and children would bring gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their mothers.

    This day had almost died out completely by the 19th century.

    Read Also: Special global prayers to mark Leah Sharibu’s 15th birthday

    After this, in America the idea of an official celebration for all mothers came in 1872 from Julia Ward Howe, an activist, writer and poet.

    She became famous for her Civil War song “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and suggested that June 2 should be annually celebrated as Mother’s Day and should be a day dedicated to peace.

    Julia also delivered a passionate appeal to women in 1870 in Boston and urged them to rise against war, and she initiated a Mothers’ Peace Day service on the second Sunday in June and annually held the meeting for a couple of years.

    The writer worked hard to have Mother’s Day declared as an official holiday, but it was later replaced by the holiday now celebrated in May in America.

    Anna Jarvis is recognised as the woman who invented Mother’s Day in America after she held a memorial for her mother in West Virginia in 1908.

    Having established a clear background of the celebration, there is a need to know its significance in the 21st century and understanding the actual essence of the celebration.

    On this note, the writer bring to the knowledge of the reader the amazing ways to celebrate this great that can be best described as “A Celebration in Million Times”

    The celebration of Mother’s Day is now done by people all over the world by presenting gifts to mother and every motherly figure. Today celebration of Mother’s Day is all about gifting flowers, cards, jewellery and visiting restaurants or giving a holiday surprise to mother.

    These are the ways people choose to express their gratitude of making mother feel special on the Mother’s Day and to pay thanks to mother for all her contributions for shaping the society.

    Today, the celebration of Mother’s Day is done in a way that pleases us and not the celebrants, our mothers. Many at times fail to understand the deep meaning of Mother’s Day and this leads them abusing the essence of the celebration.

    However, you can best celebrate this day by recompensing the love of motherhood in your special way. It is a day you must sacrifice to stay with your mother and make her feel important. Don’t forget that your mother is the greatest asset that you can ever have and you must make do with this day to celebrate her unfailing love in your life.

    In summary, every year, a theme is dedicated to the celebration of mother’s day. The theme of celebration of Mother’s Day 2018 is “There is nothing like the love of a mother”. Theme for the Mother’s Day in the year 2017 is “Every Mother knows”. The theme for the Mother’s Day in the year 2016 was “Hands of the Mother”.

    The writer wishes to dedicate this piece to all mothers who have lost their lives to the ongoing killings across the federation and also to all mothers in the world at large.

  • Is Nigeria faltering on Open Government Partnership (OGP)?

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s ride to power in 2015 was hinged on two assurances—a promise of change and a direct mandate to fight corruption. It therefore did not come as a surprise when Nigeria joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in 2016, committing to an alliance for domestic reforms devoted to making government open, accountable, and responsive to citizens. The alliance is a partnership between government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), working in collaboration with the civil society on specific commitments. It is focused on the core areas of the National Action Plan developed by stakeholders and is geared towards fiscal transparency-public finance, anticorruption, access to information and citizens engagement.

    Passing a verdict on Nigeria’s participation in the international alliance under the Buhari administration, Yusuf Shamsudeen, a senior programme officer with the Centre for Democracy and Development, opined that the inability to officially release an action plan for the National Anticorruption Strategy, a move that is significant to meeting part of the core commitment of the OGP, three years into Buhari’s administration does not argue well for the country’s effort in meeting the commitments of the OGP alliance.

    While canvasing for journalists to do more stories around OGP in order to mount pressure on government to be proactive, Shamsudeen bemoaned the controversy surrounding the passage of the Proceeds of Crime (POCA) Bill. The POCA bill is aimed at enhancing the process of managing recovered access, by establishing a central agency to manage proceeds recovered from convicted criminals.

    “…Both the ministry of justice and the EFCC are claiming to have the mandate to manage looted assets. The way out of the rivalry would be the quick passage of the POCA bill which provides for an agency to see to the effective management of recovered assets in order to ensure they are not re-looted,” he told The Nation.

    Whither the National Action Plan?
    As a condition for OGP membership, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with civil society developed a National Action Plan (NAP), which contained concrete commitments with milestones and timelines. Ifeoma Onyebuchi, the OGP contact person at the Public and Private Development Center (PPDC), confirmed that open data, accountability, citizen participation and the use of technology are visible across all the 14 commitments in the NAP. The commitments are embedded in the OGP principles and very pivotal for attaining milestones and impacts key for improved service delivery and social accountability.

    According to Onyebuchi, the open contracting commitment under the fiscal transparency theme of the OGP is currently being implemented by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), a government agency responsible for building an efficient country procurement system that meets international best practices. The BPP in its aim to leverage on the power of technology through partnership with civil organisations has created the Nigerian Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) which is expected to go live during the OGP week which begins on the 7th of May, 2018. The portal is expected to address inadequacies associated with manual contracting by providing citizens with timely access to public finance related data needed for tracking public resources.

    “…Data related with receipts and expenditure will be proactively published by government agencies, while integrating data standards into record keeping”, Onyebuchi further said on the expectations of NACOPO.
    It bears stating that the effectiveness of the portal in fostering citizens participation across governance programmes to promote accountability would be determined in the coming days after the launch.

    While the government appears to be set on a path of progress in leveraging technology for citizen engagement, the same cannot be said of the commitment to the fiscal transparency agenda of the OGP. Oftentimes, the amount spent on the execution of public projects are often easily accessible. Although the budget office releases implementation report but it is usually not the implementation report of each MDA.
    Abayomi Akinbo, a programme officer with BudgIT coordinates the Open Alliance. Assessing Nigeria’s commitment, Akinbo revealed that the Open Budget Survey Index puts Nigeria at a low score of 90 on the 2017 ranking. Nigeria dropped from its initial score of 85 to 90.

    “This shows that Nigeria needs to do more in improving the openness of its budget details to the people. This goes beyond pushing out the huge figures on the budget, but the capital components of the budget should be known.

    “The Minister of Finance stated that the FG has released N2.45tn in capital expenditure from the 2017 Budget. However, there are no information on the capital projects funded by this release. Procurement/Open Contracting laws should function optimally, but there is little or no openness around the allocation that went into funding each project,” Akinbo submitted. However, he appears optimistic that an effective implementation of the OGP National Action Plan and the Open Contracting Partnership, would lead to success in Nigeria’s open budget systems.

    Accessing information and open data
    Information is a key asset in the pursuit of good governance since it increases trust among citizens. It’s left to be seen how the access to information commitment upheld by the NAP would be effective in a nation where issues of public interest are often shrouded in secrecy. In fulfilling the OGP mandate, it appears a challenge identified with compliance is knowledge and capacity on the part of the MDAs who make up government parastatals.

    Akinbo who further spoke on the progress being made in the area cited the effort of the Access to Information working group. He added that the FOI unit of the ministry of justice is developing a mandatory reporting scheme for all MDAs for uniformity and accountability as well.

    On proactive disclosure, the PPDC spokesperson, Onyebuchi is of the opinion that the commitment to access of information contained in the NAP will ensure timeliness and compliance of public institutions with the FOI act enacted in 2011.

    “From our experience in ranking MDAs based on their responsiveness and compliance with the Act annually, we have progressively witnessed improvement in compliance especially in regard to proactive disclosure. Also, MDAs have continued to request for trainings on access to information to help improve their proactive disclosure mechanism”, she said.

    Although desk officers are being trained on the FOI Act, so they can understand the legality of the information to be provided and the consequences of non-compliance, the reality of the effect of these training differs from the experience of some citizens who have been denied access to information on issues of national interest in some cases. This and many other observations is an indication that Nigeria may be faltering on the Open Government Partnership.

    Reporting done as part of BudgIT Media Fellowship

  • How Army earned Buhari global accolades on security

    Understanding How Army Earned Buhari Global Accolades On Security

    By Richards Murphy

    Armed local conflicts are difficult to manage in any part of the world. Countries which have had this unfortunate experience and eventually salvaged, reserve a special chapter in their history to recount the disgusting tales.

    African nations like Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda and hordes of others like Syria and Pakistan have gone through hell on earth. The unpredictable and highly dynamic character of terrorism, armed local conflicts and insurrections makes it difficult for leaders and armies of such nations to effectively curb it. Curtailing bile terrorism is not a tea party anywhere.

    Such conflicts are a complex mix of politics, ethnicity, religion and all manner of combustible sentiments, inflame it unimaginably. Therefore, it requires much more than just equipping the army or security agencies. To make any impact in extinguishing these burning fires, intellect, energy, planning, adoption of various tactics and strategies come into play and nothing is left to chance.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s security team has been able to achieve this milestone within two years. The Service Chiefs have made the nation proud, with a profound statement that Boko Haram terrorism and other allied acts of terrorism cannot keep Nigerians in perpetual bondage.

    Of course, the entire globe is aware of the extent Nigeria was crippled by terrorism prior to the Buhari Presidency. Northeast, was the epicenter of consuming and untamable insurgency. Boko Haram had captured and were effectively administering 23 local governments in the region, within the sovereignty of Nigeria.
    Even the declaration of state of emergency in the areas failed to deliver the needed relief, as terrorists under the satanic leadership of Abubakar Shekau waxed stronger. They freely committed all manner of atrocities’ and heinous crimes against humanity and consistently boasted about their unchallengeable might.

    Elsewhere in Nigeria, Abuja was under the furnace of terrorism; Most major cities in the North, like Kano and Kaduna were not spared the fury of terrorism. Almost daily, people were killed in churches, mosques, schools, marketplaces and government offices.
    Security formations were not spared the sword of terrorists. But the mindless abductions and gruesome killings have ceased. Abuja has not heard the sound of a bomb, since Buhari became President. The phobia of terrorists attacks during special festivities like Christmas and sallah celebrations have vanished. No single Nigerian territory is under the captivity of Boko Haram terrorists anymore.

    Life was meaningless, short and brutish for most Nigerians. But the Buhari Presidency has changed the narrative to peace and prosperity. With the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Abayomi Olonisokin and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai on the saddle, respite has undeniably docked in Nigeria.

    Many Nigerians are not aware that the counter-terrorism war has been fought on many fronts. Terrorists have been battled on the field, in the trenches, forests and caves of Sambisa forest, much as they have been battled on the cyberspace.

    From every angle, terrorists have been humiliated, humbled, decimated and defeated. The Nigerian security team worked ahead of the intelligence of terrorists. The rescue of thousands of abducted Nigerians from Boko Haram captivity, and the surrender of scores of top Boko Haram commanders and dozens of foot soldiers incontestably attest to the victory of Buhari’s security team over terrorists and their covert agents.

    The current efforts by the Nigerian military to clear Sambisa forest and make it a tourist destination are some of the legacies that have endeared Nigerians to the Nigerian military. It explains why the world keeps pouring torrents of recognitions on the Nigerian military. So when Boko Haram’s factional leader, Abubakar Shekau lamented of frustrations with the war and opted to discontinue, it was apt testimony that his camp of evil doers had hit the brick wall. It was clear the incensed devils could no longer march the strength of the Nigerian military.

    The Nigerian Security Chiefs have received global accolades from famed world leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and former United Nations (UN) Chief scribe, Mr. Banki-Moon. Gen. Buratai particularly, has been feted with international awards and recognitions for his efforts in decimating and defeating Boko Haram terrorists. The Chief of Army Staff was particularly invited to Brazil and decorated with its highest military honour as a mark of appreciation of the successes that he has led the Nigerian Army to post within a short period of time.

    Therefore, when leaders of the world’s best armies converged in Abuja a few weeks ago for the Nigerian Army and the United States Army Africa (USARAF) co-hosted African Land Forces Summit, it passed a silent message. It confirmed the special recognition world armies are extending to the Nigerian military over its marvelous demystification of Boko Haram terrorism.

    The summit, themed; ‘Unity is Strength: Combatting Africa’s Security Challenges’ offered a platform for African military leaders to share experiences with the Nigerian military on combating terrorism. The attendance was far reaching and impressive, as military chiefs of other nations from Europe and the Americas featured.

    The Nigerian Army again proved it competence and strength to the largest continental gathering of senior military leaders, with the ‘Operation Silent Kill’ exercise. It thrilled the World’s Army Chiefs with the use of armed drones in combating terrorism in Nigeria. It means the Buhari’s security team is indubitably in control of its briefs and indeed working very hard to finally bury the monster of terrorism in Nigeria.

    The Nigerian military and especially, the Nigerian Army has earned Nigeria global recognition and accolades on defeating terrorism in just one score. Apart from observing international best practices in their engagement with the civil population, Rules of Engagement (ROE) are strictly observed. There is great improvement in safeguarding the human rights of Nigerians and reduced casualty rate on the part of troops and civilians. And
    equally important, Nigerian troops are not just winning the anti-terrorism war anchored on nothing. The excitement to battle terrorism, the high morale, determination and courage they exhibit at all times stems from the inspiration of a fortified welfare and incentives. With immediacy, the commanders decorate deserving and gallant troops with ranks and medals right on the battlefield. Promotion of military personnel is effected as at when due. These are manifestations of a different style and approach to the counter- terrorism warfare, which exudes with military decency and discipline. It obviously has deepened the professional bond of the Nigerian military with other armies and strengthened the relationship between the Nigerian Government and the US Government.

    So, detractors are free to run their partisan and sentimental commentaries on the Nigerian military. But it does not obliterate the footprints of progress on the anti-terrorism war.

    Murphy is a security consultant based in Calabar.

  • Stopping the menace of Human Trafficking

    Human Trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the traffickers or others.

    This may encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage, or the extraction of organs or tissues, including for surrogacy and ova removal; it’s occurs within a country or trans-nationally.

    The recent repatriation of the denizens of our dear nation from countries like Libya, Spain, Italy etc., is a pointer to the fact that human trafficking have eaten deep into the moral, social and economic fabric of our country.

    There is an urgent need to curb this menace.

    Human Trafficking is a crime against the person because of the violation of the victims rights of movement through coercion and because of their commercial exploitation.

     According to the research made by the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) in 2012 was about 21million victims are trapped in modern day slavery, that 14.2 million (68%) were exploited for labor,4.5 million (22%) were sexually exploited and 2.2 million (10%) were exploited in state imposed forced labour.

    National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) as an agency is saddled with the onerous responsibility to bolster its tracking and monitoring apparatus in order to sanitise not only our physical space, but also the squalid mentality that breeds and encourages human trafficking and exploitation especially amongst the youths.

     

    TYPES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

    1. Children Trafficking
    2. Sex Trafficking
    3. Forced Marriage
    4. Labour Trafficking
    5. Trafficking for organ trade

       

    STRUCTURAL FACTOR

    1. Poverty & globalization
    2. Political & institution challenges
    3. Commercial demand for sex

     

    EFFECT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

    1. Psychological
    2. Health
    3. Societal
    4. Economic effect

    Below are some of the ways in which human trafficking can be prevented in our society:

    1. Pray
    2. Learn
    3. Read good books
    4. Express your concern to your political representatives
    5. Support local law enforcement
    6. Be responsible to consumers
    7. Be alert when traveling
    8. Trust your gut instincts
    9. Man up!
    10. Woman up!
    11. Speak up!
    12. Host a dinner
    13. Sponsor a child
    14. Get involved
    15. Protect by prevention
    16. Give
    17. Use your talents
    18. Set an example
    19. Think outside the box

    It is imperative we join forces and resources together as a people to stop human trafficking in our society. Governments should encourage and collaborate with private and nongovernmental organisations to educate and enlighten our citizens on the dangers of trying to cut corners in order to travel out of the country.

  • A review of the book ‘Fortuna in Lagos’               

    Fortuna in Lagos is a story from an film  Un-shot script written in 2006. Fortuna in Lagos is a fictional piece of work , and is of interesting uniqueness because of the down- to-earth truthful fear  exhibited by a mortal towards an immortal. Normally, authors write about love between mortals and immortals irrationally.

    Is it really easy for a man to fall in love with a Goddess?.    A personality who you know has some strange powers beyond your knowledge comes to love you and you would also love the personality back?  Of course, this only happens in movies.

    No author has yet written about fear to love an immortal even with the feelings growing from the mortal. Funny though, movies and books have established it in the minds of persons that it is easy to just go ahead and love, date  or marry an immortal but Fortuna in Lagos tells how Chris kills his affections, feelings and love for Fortuna because of his fear of her powers. The first edition of this 167 page e-book boasts of 54,761 words under ISBN 9781387603534 Is sold for 5.50 USD online for now.

    What is Fortuna in Lagos by Austin Anyai about? Fortuna in Lagos by Austin Anyai  is a story about the truthful fear of confessing love to a higher power in a world of lower and same power . The goddess Fortuna escapes from trouble on planet Venus  and meet with Chris in the city of Lagos who his afraid to confess his love for her.

    The publications of this book was first done online at amazon on February 19 2018 and lulu.com on march 1 2018. It is about the goddess Fortuna, a resident of planet Venus. She possesses the power to give a chance for an attempt at something worthwhile which  result in the acquisition of Fortunes.

    Fortuna was loved by Venus de milo, the queen because of her uniqueness, respect and fear for the ruler of planet Venus the mention of Fortuna’s name as a possible choice for the throne angered the heiress Venus, who attacks Fortuna from which she escapes  and find her self on earth in Lagos. Really , Fortuna wasn’t interested in the throne, she respected princess Venus and enjoys her lonely life. Mortal men have stopped meeting her because while many hate working hard to get a fortune,Other want it in a flash, impatient with the open chance she gives for the manifestation of the fortunes there of.

    RAISED ISSUES :The story show cases Lagos and it attracting tourism beauties . A few of its aquatics splendor, cultural heritage especially the eyo masquerades.  The new transport facilities that has made the city a rising development among its kind. The emergence of new sites on the island part of the city, where water has been pushed  back for the creation of estate and mansions with sea views and overlooking oceans.

    The ghetto and street of Lagos that have in printed determination on the minds of many raw talent and ideas and propelled there exit from the popular face to face rooms to bungalow and duplex in rising estates of the city.

    It also clamors for investing in the show biz and entertainment industries of this most populated city in its continent.

    Appreciating and giving a comprehend to the e-book Fortuna in Lagos by Austin Anyai takes a lot of empathy because one needs to look seriously at the scenario of a love between man and god, a lower power and a higher power, an ordinary and a powerful personality.

    EFECT OF THE BOOK: In the fiction movie  twilight, Bella falls in love with the vampire Edward, with full knowledge of his  abilities and power. She knew he could kill her with his finger, she also knew he was an immortal  and would never grow old but like all movies she falls in love and even marries him.

    In Fortuna in Lagos by Austin Anyai the love Chris has  for the goddess Fortuna couldn’t be demonstrated. It was better kept has admiration from afar.

    Yes Fortuna was pretty, fair to look upon an endearing  but according to Chris, which rational human being would really fall in love and go ahead to have a physical, loving and romantic relationship with a goddess.

    Even the popular song by SIR VICTOR  UWAIFO—GUITAR BOY, Calling for a song to be done for a mermaid popularly called  mammy water in pidgin whenever a human see her. It sounds like a joke from the music maestro.

    He advises  the mortal not to run rather, to sing a song of sweet melody, a song  of love. But we all know that this only happen in fiction movies and books.  Many youth have a chance of becoming something big in life especially when they reside in a city like Lagos. The musicians and comedians of this land can attest that about 90% of them have their egg hatched  in Lagos if not laid . The open arms , the foundation and investments coupled with the development and population of the citizen and non—citizens residing have given open doors to many and propel them to becoming stars today. So Chris and others have been able to get the avenue and stepping stone to greatness with what  Lagos has laid for those who do not seek the white collar jobs which of course is packed full with on vacancy always.

    Chris was a young man trying to get his talent to use and he could sing, he knew he had learnt it from the street after much teaching from  goons and hustlers but lacked the confidence to face a stage crowd of which he failed when he finally atemted. but who would give him and many others  another chance?. The story depicts what the city of Lagos has to offer both the residence and tourists alike. Lagos is a mega city that has a lot to offer everyone no matter the industry one belongs.  The entertainment and hospitality industry has taken the highest share of occupying Lagos. The city boasts of night clubs, large entertainment ground and hotels, including (5 stars). It boasts of call-cabs and taxis, call- bikes, all at the top of your android internet enable phones.

    Although Chris was a fine young man who passed through the street of his area in Fadeyi and came out clean without any connection with drugs, robbery, cultism, rape, and other social vices, he was also one of those youth that love to show-off with pretty ladies. Artistes like to be identified with very pretty women of which Lagos is full of. Their main motive is to cruise the city, walk on red carpets into shows, sit with the prettiest at entertainment and relaxation sport, appear on top magazines and have these pretty women as their baby mamas . Ann was pretty and Chris had seen that she wanted ready made men. He notice her lust and seductive antics towards Johnny T, the second richest musician in Lagos, but Chris still wanted to have her as his girl. He wanted  hails and respect for being the boyfriend of such a pretty dark-skinned lady like Ann.

    OMMITED ISSUES: The author omitted certain tourism places that Lagos has been beautified with recently. new mini parks for amusement relaxation and sight-seeing .Zoos, conservations center  and wild-life parks have sprung-up and found a place on the island.

    The new security outfit of the city called neighborhood  watch and the citizen funded security trust fund have drastically reduce bank robberies and kidnappings that formally challenge the city. I would have loved to read more about Ann and the funny Jesu-seun Ojuelegba. Austin Anyai wrote that Ojuelegba does not mean eyes of the cane-holder. This is controversial because many believe “OJU” is  a Yoruba word for eyes aslo a description of the area Ojuelegba on the internet boastfully translate “OJU” as eyes. I did some research by asking some Lagosians and Yoruba and scholars who regretted their assertion of the meaning of “OJU”

    There  are other Yoruba words that have “OJU” in them Yoruba words like Oju-Ona  (the road place/path), Oju-Ofurufu (the hair place/path) e.t.c. The book also brings me to the knowledge that Ojuelegba is a household name, bore by Lagosians who are indigenous sons of the soil.

    The  book also refuses to mention the nation where Lagos is. But according to the author, his focus is on Lagos and the beauty it offers tourist to behold . Also Austin Anyai did not mentioned in book. He also omitted the largest church visited by foreigners in this continent  i.e. The synagogue church of all nations led by TB JOUSHUA. There is no doubt that, the amount of foreign nationals that visits the synagogue are nearly half of the city’s recorded visitors.

    The E-book Fortuna in Lagos by Austin Anyai brings to fore the issue of the new addiction to the luxury of been in Lagos. It tells of the opportunities that await every skilled talented and innovating youth that are either residence or non residence, it also welcomes both white caller business and solution- providers who wants to join hands with the city’s government .

    The different hidden desires and open ones of the characters mentioned cannot be over emphasized.  Chris desires Ann but Ann want Johnny T. Manuel wants wealth, but get a sugar mommy. Seun desires pretty curvy women, but get none. Venus De-milo is disappointed that the next ruler of planet Venus is a whore to mortal. Venus the heiress  desires love and sex more than anything else. Artemis desires a lover but want to remain pure forever. We all have costly desires , but because of the thought of the satisfaction to be personally derived, we do not look beyond it .

    Biggest of all my criticism his ability to brings us new and unpopular mythology of other immortals especially  goddess of the popular roman and Greek empires. Movies and book have always featured Zeus, Poseidon, pazeus , Hercules , Thor e.t.c , but Austin Anyai in the book Fortuna in Lagos reviwed women  immortals that have not received any form of recognition for their existence and powers. Funny though his ideas at connecting their personalities with their origin, love, battles and decision makes the book really interesting to read.

    RECOMMENDATION:I recommend the book “Fortuna in Lagos” by Austin Anyai  to all citizens of great nations and beyond. To those who have never been to  Lagos since birth, to all those seeking a city for vacation and tourism in a populated, friendly, hospitality,  aquatic city where under-development is fast becoming a thing of the past which is also a reason for the next business to invest, to all lovers of practical things and actions rather than abstract theories- a down to earth book,  and to all who love women and urban contemporary stories. the book is a sure bet for a sweet siesta and a little or more of things that make the city fondly called Lasgiddy.

    COMMENDATION;I commend the author, Austin Anyai for not waiting and wasting his time and talent in writing for help to publish the hard copy of this book. With this online publication,  on this two big publishing renowned companies, Austin Anyai has put himself on the market for either an author agents or a movie production companies to come calling. Also thumbs-up to him for writing about Lagos yet not connected or connecting to any of the citiy’s personalities or officials for favor recognition and recommendation. Despite his condition as a glaucoma patient, he his not hindered, obstacle or submerged in his unfortunate visual , impaired challenge. He his a first-time author who wants to be criticized for his talent as a book-write. His  innovation in creating this new and Untold-of characters from his fictional ideas picks him out among up and coming writers who started late but heading for a place beyond where writers finish.

    The ebook could be gotten online at Lulu and Amazon

  • MAY DAY: ADP aspirant Segun Adewale assures workers better welfare package

    …Says Workers Should Be Better Served
    A leading aspirant in Ekiti state governorship election under the banner of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Otunba Segun Adewale has assured workers that if elected later this year, his government would tackle all socio-economic ills that have being troubling the state.
    Otunba Adewale gave the assurance in his message to commemorate the 2018 May Day celebration, saying workers are the lifeline of the state development upon which his administration will be built upon.
    The business mogul decried the agonising experience faced by the workers due to several months of unpaid salaries, assuring that as a governor, he would evolve solutions to ensure adequate payment of their entitlements and regular supports to ease the conduct of their respective tasks.
    “Despite the unfavorable situations you (workers) are facing in your respective posts, your patriotism have being something that strengthens our resolve to build a virile Ekiti state.
    “While we don’t intend to trade blame but no excuses can be enough to rationalize the obvious failures of the Ayo Fayose government to pay salaries as expected, which has caused untold hardship on you (workers).
    “But be rest assured, I’m determined to tackle the socio-economic ills head-long and bring reliefs to your aging pains.”
    Otunba Adewale said if elected, his government would treat workers welfare with uttermost urgency and facilitate a friendly relationship withthe labour, so that together, “we can attain the enviable heights of progress in our beloved state.
    “I assure you of my cooperation and understanding, as partners in progress. Your welfare will be prioritised by our government, so as to collectively work for the progress of our state.
    “Our government will ensure a conducive atmosphere devoid of incessant industrial action as a way to avoid loss of man hours and accordingly promote high productivity.
    “I further assure you that as governor, we will not only work together but will always protect workers’ rights and shall promote incentives for great productivity and hence, greater posterity,” Otunba Adewale said.

  • Nigeria is committed to the principles of human rights – Buhari

    It has been a pleasure and honour to visit Washington DC at the kind invitation of President Donald Trump.

    Nigeria and the United States share a long history of close and cordial relations, which encompass political, economic, military, social and cultural cooperation. Our two countries maintain a strategic partnership for peace and security, conflict resolution as well as the global fight against terrorism.

    We also share common features as secular federal states, practicing a similar democratic model of governance and committed to the universal values of fundamental human rights and freedoms, free enterprise, social justice and the rule of law.

    President Trump and his team and myself and the Nigerian team discussed issues related to security, trade, governance, human rights and humanitarian crises.

    SECURITY

    We congratulated the leaders of North and South Korea on their historic summit and we applaud them for the positive commitment they have made towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. President Trump deserves a great deal of credit for his statesmanly role in transforming so dramatically the course of events in that region.

    We also congratulated the US government on the important role it played in the defeat of ISIS, although some of the remnants have found their way to the Sahel region. We recognized the strong US support in our fight against terrorism and also appreciated very much the US’ agreement to sell twelve Super Tucano A-29 war planes and weapons to Nigeria to effectively fight terrorism.

    To contain the spate of insurgency in Nigeria, the Federal government has adopted a multi-sectoral approach, involving relevant government agencies to address the socio-economic and political dimensions while the Armed Forces of Nigeria assist the civil authority to provide security and maintain law and order.

    As part of efforts to address emerging cases of insurgency in the country, the Nigerian Military adopted a non-kinetic counter terrorism/counter insurgency approach code-named “Operation safe corridor”, to de-radicalize, re-habilitate, and re-integrate willingly surrendered Boko-Haram members into the larger society. This programme is currently embarking on a number of projects including: skill acquisition centers and integrated farms; comprising poultry, fish pond and greenhouse farming, among others. A number of international partners, including the International Organization for Migration have contributed to the success of Operation Safe Corridor. We indicated that we would appreciate whatever support we could also get from the US.

    We expressed gratitude for US support in the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the North East of Nigeria, as well as humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), through agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other international partners. The USA has been to date the biggest contributor to the humanitarian response and last year gave approximately 500 million US Dollars in cash and in-kind contributions through the United Nations and other inter-governmental organizations. These have mainly supported protection activities, health, food assistance and shelter.

    We are doing all we can to secure the release of the remaining abducted school girls from Dapchi and Chibok. In this context, we will continue to welcome US collaboration in intelligence gathering, hostage negotiations and information-sharing.

    VIOLENCE BETWEEN HERDSMEN AND FARMERS

    The government is taking necessary steps to promote the peaceful co-existence of herdsmen and farmers, by focusing on boosting security and enforcing legislation that will guarantee herders and farmers access to land;

    TRADE AND INVESTMENT

    I extended sincere congratulations to President Trump and his government on the impressive performance of the US economy under their watch.

    Our aim is to diversify our own economy by focusing on agriculture and food security; power and infrastructure. We have cut the importation of rice by about 90% thereby saving a significant amount of money. We very much welcomed increased US investment in the Nigerian economy, especially in the non-oil sector.

    Economic relations between Nigeria and the United States are anchored on three major instruments, namely: the Bi-National Commission (BNC), Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Bi-National Commission in particular, comprising bilateral political, economic, developmental and humanitarian partnership, is a basic economic framework for engagement between our two countries.

    Nigeria’s trade volume with the United States stood at $6.07 billion according to 2016 statistics and comprised $4.176 billion worth of Nigerian exports to the US and $1.894 billion US exports to Nigeria. We urged greater effort to increase these figures substantially.

    GOVERNANCE AND ANTI-CORRUPTION

    We thanked the US government very much for the cooperation we have received in our effort to recover stolen funds. Our two governments have put the machinery in place for their respective Attorneys-General to collaborate in ensuring the return to Nigeria of over five hundred million United States Dollars ($500) of looted funds siphoned away in banks around the world. In this connection, we congratulated the US government on launching a Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative which was spearheaded by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering. We hoped that we could continue to count on US support in this area.

    HUMAN RIGHTS

    The Government of Nigeria remains deeply committed to the principles of human rights as well as the promotion and protection of people’s freedom, even in the process of fighting terror. We commit to ensure that all documented cases of human rights abuses are investigated and those responsible for violations held accountable for their actions.

    BEING THE PRESS STATEMENT BY MR. PRESIDENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE WHITE HOUSE ROSE GARDEN, DURING HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

  • Dogara and his Political Vendetta against NEMA

    How time flies for Yakubu Dogara. Now that he is the Speaker of the almighty Federal House of Representativeness, he is now a “god” that hand down decrees, and what have you on people he perceives as political enemies. While it is ok to play politics at the highest level, we should be careful not to burn bridges because we might not know when we might need the same bridge to cross over to safety.
    Let me give a background, before the election that produces Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the governor of Bauchi State, directed Bauchi lawmakers to vote for the party’s candidate at the time who was Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as against Yakubu Dogara who wasn’t the party’s candidate. If we all recall that the elections that produced the Senate President and the Speaker almost disintegrated the party.
    Having emerged as Speaker without “home support” Yakubu Dogara consequently felt that he must take his pound of flesh from the governor who denied him “home support” and as they say, the rest is history with various versions of the rift between the governor of Bauchi state and the Speaker. In some quarters it is alleged that the speaker is nursing a gubernatorial ambition. And if that is true, I don’t see how that can be actualized with his disposition to issues in Bauchi state, and by extension people, he has labelled his enemies.
    One of such people is the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, who happens to be a close friend of the Bauchi State governor. Even though from Yobe state, his sin before Yakubu Dogara is that since he is a friend to his enemy, so, therefore, he is also an enemy.
    And that is the point of departure for me. I say this concerning ongoing probe into the activities of NEMA by the House of Reps Committee on Emergency and Disaster. While it is commendable, however, the bone of contention is that everything smacks of a witch-hunt and a mockery of democracy.  The position of the House of Reps committee is somewhat questionable for asking that the suspended directors be reinstated despite the myriads of evidence against them. Also, the shifting the focus of the probe to between January to December 2017 also gives out the motives and the brain behind the whole episode.
    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFFC) investigated the activities of NEMA and found the former director general and the suspended directors culpable on acts of economic crimes and even went ahead to release a preliminary report, consequently leading to the suspension of the indicted directors pending final investigations. I see nothing wrong with such activities. But I see everything wrong for the House of Reps Committee to ask for their reinstatement stating that the process of their suspension did not follow due process.
    Wait for this. They also brought up the issue of the award of contracts and what have you. And interestingly, contracts that were awarded by the previous administration were heaped on the present administration. And even if you want to do that, would it not be common sense to at least invite the former director general?  But all of these doesn’t make sense to the honorable members of the committee because there is a standing order from Speaker Yakubu Dogara, which is “Mustapha Maihaja must go down” if this is not a political vendetta, I don’t know what else to call it. I must also add that it is even belittling for an individual like the speaker to be involved in such illegality.
    I must also add that if this is how high ranking public officials abuse their office, Yakubu Dogara should not be seen to be one of such unless he wants to stretch his luck too thin. As the speaker of the house, he should be able to rise to the occasion instead of encouraging abnormalities. In my opinion, the rational thing to do is for the speaker to rise above primordial sentiments and instruct the committee to do the right thing or suspend the investigations completely.

    When I heard the acting Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ali Isa said the ongoing public hearing was not targeted at anybody and that there was no vested interest by the National Assembly, I smiled. I smiled again when he said; the committee was explicitly vested with the mandate to investigative the violation of public trust in NEMA for the last one year.
    And I said to myself? Why the last one year? Who gave the mandate? And what is the objective? These are questions only the speaker can answer because from what I gathered, what we see in the probe is the voice of Jacob and the hands of Esau. At sundry times, some people have asked this question – “why do some people in spite of their religious assertions, affiliations, titles, and positions are involved in some shady dealings?” I would like to say here, that people do such things because there is a missing factor, that is, “the knowledge of God” If you don’t know your God, you will do anything.

    The history of Nigeria is replete tales of high raking public officials that misused their positions for pecuniary gains or ulterior motives. And they ended up in the hall of shame. I am not sure that is where Yakubu Dogora belongs. That is if he retraces his steps and does the right thing. From experience, two things might likely be the case. Its either he succeeds now and fails woefully tomorrow, or he maintains decorum and succeeds tomorrow. In whatever we do in life, the choices we make either make or mar us. A word is enough for the wise.

    Adamu, a political scientist

  • World Intellectual Property Day: Through the eyes of the creative

    As writer, I have the responsibility to be creative, break bounds, be innovative in ideas. Intellectual Property ( IP ) is my exclusive preserve.

    I stay awake at night to make this happen. I work hard to put in creativity into writing and eventually come up with ingenious write ups that not only stand the test of time but also improve the social, political and economic aesthetics of my country.

    Often times, the challenge is getting a publisher with the right set of skills and attitude to birth the brainchildren to reality.

    The arduous processes of writing, editing, proofreading and other publishing processes are a few of the brain and hand work a typical writer experiences.

    There is nothing as disappoint and heart-rendering like someone else reaping the reward of your hard work by plagiarising it.

    According to dictionary.com, Plagiarism is an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author’s work as one’s own, as by not crediting the original author.

    To curb the menace of plagiarism, legislations in the form of Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks were created by the World Intellectual Property Organization ( WIPO ) which was established in the year 2,000. It protects the intellectual property of the creative.

    WIPO creates awareness to how patent, copyright, trademarks and industrial designs operate.

    WIPO saw a need to protect intellectual property and came up with the global celebration called World Intellectual Property Day celebrated yearly on the 26th of April to promote creativity, innovation and intelligence.

    Intellectual property ( IP ) refers to creativity in minds such as inventions, literary and artistic works, industrial design and symbol names and images used in commercial.

    IP aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish.

    The theme of this year is Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity.

    This day celebrates the brilliance, intelligence and courage of women who are driving change in our world and shaping our common future.

    Usually women have to work extra hard and be extra creative, influential and energetic so that their works and ideas are not swept under the carpet.

    One very quintessential example of such women is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; she is one of the frontiers of the new generation of Nigerian authors.

    Chimamanda has won the Common Wealth Writer Prize for the best first book “Purple Hibiscus”.

    She created an intellectual property around her works and has swiftly grown  her reputation and shaping the future.

    Another is Nike Davies Okundaye,  a professional textiles artist and a painter.

    She is known for colourful batiks and paintings.

    The founder and director of Nike Arts Gallery and she offers training to young artist in visual, musical and the performing arts.

    However, intellectual property has been an important prerequisite for development of advanced goods and services. It entails patent , copyright and trademarks.

    Patent is a government authority or licence conferring a right or title for a set period especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using or selling invention.

    While copyright is a form of intellectual property protection provided by the law.

    Trademark is recognizable signs, design or symbol which identifies products and services of a particular source from others.

    Nevertheless, WIPO is poised to protect our intellectual property from being plagiarized and the protection is available for the original works of inventors that are fixed in  tangible forms, whether published or unpublished.