The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

Full text of Donald Trump’s victory speech

Thank you. Thank you very much, everyone. Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business, complicated. Thank you very much.

I’ve just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us. It’s about us. On our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard-fought campaign.

I mean she fought very hard. Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.

I mean that very sincerely. Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division, have to get together, to all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.

It is time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all of Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country. As I’ve said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their family.

It is a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will.

Working together we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and renewing the American dream. I’ve spent my entire life in business, looking at the untapped potential in projects and in people all over the world.

That is now what I want to do for our country. Tremendous potential. I’ve gotten to know our country so well. Tremendous potential. It is going to be a beautiful thing. Every single American will have the opportunity to realize his or her fullest potential. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none, and we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it. We will also finally take care of our great veterans who have been so loyal, and I’ve gotten to know so many over this 18-month journey.

The time I’ve spent with them during this campaign has been among my greatest honors.

Our veterans are incredible people. We will embark upon a project of national growth and renewal. I will harness the creative talents of our people and we will call upon the best and brightest to leverage their tremendous talent for the benefit of all. It is going to happen. We have a great economic plan. We will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world. At the same time we will get along with all other nations, willing to get along with us. We will be. We will have great relationships. We expect to have great, great relationships. No dream is too big, no challenge is too great. Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach.

America will no longer settle for anything less than the best. We must reclaim our country’s destiny and dream big and bold and daring. We have to do that. We’re going to dream of things for our country, and beautiful things and successful things once again.

I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone, with everyone.

All people and all other nations. We will seek common ground, not hostility, partnership, not conflict. And now I would like to take this moment to thank some of the people who really helped me with this, what they are calling tonight a very, very historic victory.

First I want to thank my parents, who I know are looking down on me right now. Great people. I’ve learnt so much from them. They were wonderful in every regard. They are truly great parents. I also want to thank my sisters, Marianne and Elizabeth who are here with us tonight. Where are they? They’re here someplace. They’re very shy actually.

And my brother Robert, my great friend. Where is Robert? Where is Robert?

My brother Robert, and they should be on this stage but that’s okay. They’re great.

And also my late brother Fred, great guy. Fantastic guy. Fantastic family. I was very lucky.

Great brothers, sisters, great, unbelievable parents. To Melania and Don and Ivanka and Eric and Tiffany and Barron, I love you and I thank you, and especially for putting up with all of those hours. This was tough.

This was tough. This political stuff is nasty and it is tough. So I want to thank my family very much. Really fantastic. Thank you all. Thank you all. Lara, unbelievable job. Unbelievable. Vanessa, thank you. Thank you very much. What a great group.

You’ve all given me such incredible support, and I will tell you that we have a large group of people. You know, they kept saying we have a small staff. Not so small. Look at all of the people that we have. Look at all of these people.

And Kellyanne and Chris and Rudy and Steve and David. We have got tremendously talented people up here, and I want to tell you it’s been very, very special.

I want to give a very special thanks to our former mayor, Rudy Giuliani. He’s unbelievable. Unbelievable. He traveled with us and he went through meetings, and Rudy never changes. Where is Rudy. Where is he?

Governor Chris Christie, folks, was unbelievable. Thank you, Chris. The first man, first senator, first major, major politician — let me tell you, he is highly respected in Washington because he is as smart as you get, senator Jeff sessions. Where is Jeff? A great man. Another great man, very tough competitor. He was not easy. He was not easy. Who is that? Is that the mayor that showed up? Is that Rudy?

Up here. Really a friend to me, but I’ll tell you, I got to know him as a competitor because he was one of the folks that was negotiating to go against those Democrats, Dr. Ben Carson. Where’s been? Where is Ben? By the way, Mike Huckabee is here someplace, and he is fantastic. Mike and his familiar bring Sarah, thank you very much. Gen. Mike Flynn. Where is Mike? And Gen. Kellogg. We have over 200 generals and admirals that have endorsed our campaign and there are special people. We have 22 congressional medal of honor people. A very special person who, believe me, I read reports that I wasn’t getting along with him. I never had a bad second with him. He’s an unbelievable star. He is — that’s right, how did you possibly guess? Let me tell you about Reince. I’ve said Reince. I know it. I know it. Look at all of those people over there. I know it, Reince is a superstar. I said, they can’t call you a superstar, Reince, unless we win it. Like secretariat. He would not have that bust at the track at Belmont.

Reince is really a star and he is the hardest working guy and in a certain way I did this. Reince, come up here. Get over here, Reince.

Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy. It’s about time you did this right. My God. Nah, come here. Say something.

[Reince Priebus: Ladies and gentlemen, the next president of the united States, Donald Trump! Thank you. It’s been an honor. God bless. Thank God.]

Amazing guy. Our partnership with the RNC was so important to the success and what we’ve done, so I also have to say, I’ve gotten to know some incredible people.

The Secret Service people. They’re tough and they’re smart and they’re sharp and I don’t want to mess around with them, I can tell ya. And when I want to go and wave to a big group of people and they rip me down and put me back down in the seat, but they are fantastic people so I want to thank the Secret Service.

And law enforcement in New York City, they’re here tonight. These are spectacular people, sometimes underappreciated unfortunately, we appreciate them. So it’s been what they call an historic event, but to be really historic, we have to do a great job and I promise you that I will not let you down. We will do a great job. We will do a great job. I look very much forward to being your president and hopefully at the end of two years or three years or four years or maybe even eight years you will say so many of you worked so hard for us, with you, you will say that — you will say that that was something that you were — really were very proud to do and I can — thank you very much.

And I can only say that while the campaign is over, our work on this movement is now really just beginning. We’re going to get to work immediately for the American people and we’re going to be doing a job that hopefully you will be so proud of your president. You will be so proud. Again, it’s my honor.

It’s an amazing evening. It’s been an amazing two-year period and I love this country. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you to Mike Pence.

November 9, 2016
How to succeed at work.

A successful career doesn’t happen by chance but, as a result of skills, hard work, attitude, and a strategic action plan. Our attitude and looks greatly affect how our persons and work are perceived, especially in the workplace. Here are some things to do to shine at work.

Always do a great job– More often than not jobs come with job descriptions which set out your employers expectations of you. Success at work means doing your job well at all times. Always endeavour to meet and exceed all targets set by your employers. It is always best to under promise and over deliver, when you are known as the staff who gets the job done, you are well on your way to a successful career.

Dress for Business Success- I like the popular aphorism “Dress as you wish to be addressed.” Unfortunately, some ladies are yet to understand that no one can tell the content of your character and depend on your manner of dress, and attitude to assess you. As such, donning the right attire will go a long way to help your career. Dress to impress, not titillate, bearing in mind your industry and role. This means suits and blouses or camisoles for bankers, lawyers, and ladies in conservative job roles. For those in Telecomms, a Business casual dress code does not mean that you can wear your weekend attire of jeans and casual tops to work no, rather don dresses, blouses, and/or jackets atop tailored classy pants, or jeans in a dark wash. Make statements with your accessories, especially shoes and bags. Makeup should be subdued and natural.

natural looking. In all, the professional mode of dress should hint at your efficiency and professionalism, not necessarily your fashion sense.

Never get your honey where you get your money- Even though some people see nothing wrong with dating a colleague, it really is not such a good idea. Bringing the drama and emotions of your love life to the workplace detracts from the energy that would be better directed to your job. This is why many employers demand that one party leaves the firm when two of their staff choose to get married. The workplace is the place we spend a large part of our day, and lives, however, our personal and personal lives should be distinct. Some ladies also don’t see anything wrong with dating the boss, another no no. Why? It never pays to be a sexual plaything, especially because women who do that are perceived to be inept, and sleeping their way to the top, which might not necessarily be the case. So babe, do the wise thing and focus on your job.

Act professionally– A professional demeanor means conducting yourself in a polite and professional manner. No late coming or tardiness, no gossiping, not taking extended personal calls (if at all) during work hours. It means doing the job you are paid to do in a professional manner, giving a positive image of yourself and your employers, at all times.

November 8, 2016
Things you must do before ‘checking out’ of Nigeria

Mr Abiodun Ladepo started as a journalist with The Guardian, before leaving for the US in 1988 for greener pastures. An alumnus of the University of Ibadan, Townson University and University of Maryland, both in the US, he works for the United States government. Ladepo is a regular contributor to many frontline online publications where he shares analyses and opinion on the state of the polity. He was in Nigeria briefly and HANNAH OJO caught up with him.

My advice to anybody is contained in that article published online titled, “thinking about checking out of Nigeria? Read this first!” Anybody who wants to leave should go and read it. The summary for me is this: if you already have a degree in any discipline and you are under 25, you should stay in Nigeria.Even if you do your masters and you don’t get a job, if you stay two or three years later, you may likely get one. Whatever job you got, 20 years later, you will not be a junior staff anymore. You can’t have a masters degree and be a junior staff. You would have gotten married, have kids and maybe have a parcel of land somewhere you are developing.

Even if you do your masters and you don’t get a job, if you stay two or three years later, you may likely get one. Whatever job you got, 20 years later, you will not be a junior staff anymore. You can’t have a masters degree and be a junior staff. You would have gotten married, have kids and maybe have a parcel of land somewhere you are developing.

Yes, you will be in this nasty traffic and the heat but by the time you are 50 when your first child is now 18 or something, you go to the same church or the same mosque, you are somebody in the society. But if you leave, especially if you left the country with a visitor visa to the United States or the United Kingdom, it will take you not less than eight years for your stay to be regularised.That may include having to marry an American. If you don’t have any plan of coming back home, then you can leave because coming back home is more difficult than when you are leaving.

That may include having to marry an American. If you don’t have any plan of coming back home, then you can leave because coming back home is more difficult than when you are leaving.

November 7, 2016
Infographics: How Clinton fares against Trump

Less than a week until the United States of America (USA)’s presidential election scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016, which will be the 58th quadrennial U.S. presidential election.

Amidst several criticisms and revelations that have graced the campaigns, Hillary Clinton‘s once commanding national lead has slipped to less than 3 points over the weekend.

Although Donald Trump is still far behind in the electoral count, his chances have vastly improved over the last week.

According to DailyWire, after suffering a bloody October where all of the business mogul’s positive momentum from September was undone, he has begun to climb again in the national polls, while Clinton falters following a series of damaging headlines — most notably the reopening of the FBI’s investigation into her private email server.

Though Trump still trails in most of the battleground states — including North Carolina, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado — he has closed the gap in many and regained the edge in the crucial swing states of Ohio and Florida, only narrowly anyway.

Below are the most recent polling numbers for the three traditional key swing states as reported by DailyWire:

FLORIDA

In Florida, as of Oct. 30, RCP’s poll average finds Trump back in the lead, though by a minuscule margin. In a four-way contest, Trump holds a razor-thin 0.5% lead (44.8 – 44.3). The results of the two-way polls show the same gap: 0.5% (45.7 – 45.2). The two candidates were tied in late September. Clinton led the state by over 4% in mid-August and over 2% in mid-October.

OHIO

In Ohio, as of Oct. 30, Trump maintains a narrow lead over Clinton. In a four-way race, Trump leads by 1.3% (45.8 – 44.5) and by a 1.5-point margin in the head-to-head surveys (46.5 – 45). Trump held an over 3-point lead in the first week of October, while Clinton led by 5 points in late August.

PENNSYLVANIA

In Pennsylvania, as of Oct. 30, Clinton holds a 5.2-point lead in a four-way contest (46.5 – 41.3), a 3-point slip from a month ago. Head-to-head surveys show her with a similar advantage: 5% (46.7 – 41.7). In mid-October, Clinton held an over 9-point lead.

November 7, 2016
Ex-journalist advice Nigerians who want to ‘check out’

Mr Abiodun Ladepo started as a journalist with The Guardian, before leaving for the US in 1988 for greener pastures. An alumnus of the University of Ibadan, Townson University and University of Maryland, both in the US, he works for the United States government. Ladepo is a regular contributor to many frontline online publications where he shares analyses and opinion on the state of the polity. He was in Nigeria briefly and HANNAH OJO caught up with him.

What bits of fascinating experiences can you recall while growing up?

I was raised in Zaria. My grasp of Hausa is as good as my Yoruba. I started elementary school in Zaria and I finished in Bukuru, a small village in Jos. Because my father was a bank executive, we used to be transferred all over the place. I started secondary school in Ikirun, Osun state and I finished in Banbanloma, Jebba. Thereafter I did A levels at the Oyo State college of Arts and Science, which was UNIIFE before it became OAU. I went to UI where I studied linguistics. I lost my dad when I was in form four and things changed dramatically. Part of the reasons why I had to leave Nigeria eventually was because getting ahead in life became my own responsibility, so I had to do what I had to do.

Your work with the US government involves extensive travels; can you share your most remarkable travel experience?

I will actually say it was my first driving experience from Ibadan to Accra, Ghana. I had driven 21 hours from Kuwait to Iraq to Baghdad. I also drove 13 hours from Frankfurt in Germany to Naples in Italy back and forth. I have driven to London many times. I find my first travel from Ibadan to Accra most exhilarating because some of the things I saw made me feel like we suffer a lot in Africa. We don’t cherish what we have. If you have such a long expanse of road by the ocean (which is what they have in Togo) in the US, it will be filled with all kinds of five star hotels where people will want to stay just to watch the beautiful ocean. It is the kind of thing you have in California where you have long stretches of houses by the ocean and people pay to stay there.

What was the experience like as a Nigerian immigrant working in the US?

The good is that in 30 years of living and working in the US, my pay cheque was never delayed, even when I worked for private firms. You can imagine how hard it will be if I was working in Nigeria at the moment and in some states, people have not been paid for eight months. The first obvious thing about living as an immigrant overseas is that you are not with your family and friends. Whenever I come to Nigeria, I feel like I’m home. The universities I went to in the US, I can’t even remember somebody with whom I am still in touch but I am still in touch with my friends here. Then the other thing is the racial part but what I discovered in the US is if you are hardworking and honest, you will be respected regardless of where you come from. Are there discriminations? You have them here in Nigeria too.

One of your widely read articles on the internet is titled ‘five big problems I have with Nigerian pastors’, what is your take on religion?

I am a born again Christian but I am not stupid. It is one thing to go to church and it is another to take everything the pastor says hook, line and sinker. In my sojourn in the US, I have met so many people who have been taken by their pastors. I was a deacon and a choir leader in the church in the US. For me, religion is something between you and God. It is sad when you have a church leader sleeping with church members; a church leader visiting voodoo men and burying charms under buildings’ foundations, it happens in Nigeria and Ghana. You have pastors embezzling church funds. There are just too many religious men and women who don’t care about God. Some churches have built private universities, how many members can afford to send their children to those schools? A lot of them on the Lagos-Ibadan high way don’t care what happens when they are having their programmes. Why can’t the church invest on the road by expanding it in order to ease traffic? My house in California, there are four churches on my streets, I don’t hear their service. In Ibadan, I have a church right behind my house and I can’t sleep well during their revival. Will I pray for that pastor?

You seem to be a huge fan of President Muhammadu Buhari… do you still hold him in high esteem in spite of recent developments?

I still hold him in high esteem. If we have a leader who is serious about corruption, more than half of our problem is solved. I hate to criticise my friends in the media but the problem Buhari has is his media team. His media team needs to go and learn how to set agenda just like the media in the US. You write a piece of information to put out every week to control the news cycle to manage people’s expectations. What we now have is the opposition being able to go into people’s mind and turn them against the president, knowing that this man did not cause the problem that we have right now. The fact that petrol is N145 now is not Buhari’s fault; we should have been paying 145 a long time ago. Even at N145, we pay less than Ghana for fuel. The first thing is to condition our minds to being patriotic, that is one major difference I find between Nigerians and the Americans. What the ministry of information should be doing right now is leading all kinds of propaganda to help Nigerians to be patriotic.

The ministry of information came out with the ‘Change begins with me campaign’ but Nigerians are saying change should begin from Aso Rock?

I think that campaign was improperly launched. What the ministry is trying to do is to tell us to change ourselves too. Some of us bribe the custom agents at the boarder because we don’t want to pay duties on goods. We need to change but in the middle of hunger, when you tell Nigerians to change, they will look at you and say you need to change and give us food. I attended a meeting of my party ward and there are people asking me for money. When you ask your leader to give you money, he is going to steal that money back.

People have the impression that President Buhari’s anti-corruption war is one sided?

They said the same thing about Obasanjo, next time when the PDP gets power, let them go after APC thieves. Bukola Saraki is a very senior member of the APC too. I am not saying he is a thief but let him prove himself in court. Alex Badeh is not in any political party, he was supposed to be a retired air force officer. So let him prove himself in court.

Some members of the President’s cabinet are facing criticisms in terms of performance, how does this hamper on delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians?

In a political dispensation, you have to also factor in politics. There were politicians who worked their butts off to get the government in power. If you look at the cabinet, there are technicians who are not strong party members. I am sure Kemi Adeosun was not an APC ward member. Godwin Emefiali was not a strong party member and a few others like that. Of course people who have contributed to the emergence of the party will get something. People like Kayode Fayemi is a brilliant person that should be in anybody’s cabinet. The president has to think about the mix.

I am dissatisfied too with some of them. I don’t think the ministry of communication should be a cabinet post, I think it should be a parastatal that is filled with technocrats. But you can’t have 36 Babatunde Fashola in government. You have the A-class cabinet members as well as the B and C class members.

Your work schedule in the US involves extensive travels, yet you find time to write frequently on the state of the polity, what kindles your interest in Nigerian politics?

Nigeria gave me the opportunity to dream. My dreams were accomplished in America so I give both countries the credit. I will never say anything bad about the United States of America because that country has been good to me and my family and so is Nigeria. I have never spent my annual leave outside Nigeria since I left the country, so why would I be a Nigerian and not know what is going on in Nigeria? Eventually when I retire from service, I will probably return to Nigeria and I will like Nigeria to be better than the way it is. I hate to be a critic, Prof Wole Syoinka and the late Tai Solarin are people who spend their lives as critics without getting into government. When I was in UI, there was a symposium held at Trenchard hall where Professor Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana and Gani Fawehinmi were present. I was in the crowd and I asked if they could take their discussions outside the gate and change to vernacular so that people in Beere, Oja Oba can understand. I believe social critics should also get on ground and get into politics if their employment allows it.

Is there a possibility of you contesting public office when you eventually retire to Nigeria?

I will definitely not be idle. I will contribute to Nigeria wherever I can be useful having spent the last 20 years in security/military issues. I am definitely not going to be quiet. I will be writing but I will back up my writing with political activism. I will be in a political party and I will still be writing. That way I can put my money where my mouth is. That is if I retire to Nigeria!

You are married to an actress, how does it feel like watching her act?

I am married to Oluwatoyin Adeyoola, she is the famous Adunni Alapa dollar. She is an actress, vivacious, she studied Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University. She has a movie coming out soon that she shot here in Nigeria. I once saw a movie where an actor kissed her and I poked fun at her asking, ‘why does he have to pull you like that to kiss’? What attracted me to her was reading what she wrote. She is a short story writer and I fell in love with her style.

How do you make time for relaxation and family?

I drink Hennessey. That is my relaxation whenever I come home from work. I am a voracious reader of news. I am on CNN all the time and I read news about Nigeria online.

What is your advice to Nigerians coming to the US to seek greener pastures?

My advice to anybody is contained in that article published online titled, “thinking about checking out of Nigeria? Read this first!” Anybody who wants to leave should go and read it. The summary for me is this: if you already have a degree in any discipline and you are under 25, you should stay in Nigeria. Even if you do your masters and you don’t get a job, if you stay two or three years later, you may likely get one. Whatever job you got, 20 years later, you will not be a junior staff anymore. You can’t have a masters degree and be a junior staff. You would have gotten married, have kids and maybe have a parcel of land somewhere you are developing. Yes, you will be in this nasty traffic and the heat but by the time you are 50 when your first child is now 18 or something, you go to the same church or the same mosque, you are somebody in the society. But if you leave, especially if you left the country with a visitor visa to the United States or the United Kingdom, it will take you not less than eight years for your stay to be regularised. That may include having to marry an American. If you don’t have any plan of coming back home, then you can leave because coming back home is more difficult than when you are leaving.

Why is that so?

I have been extremely lucky, so you can’t use me as an example. People don’t look at the other end of the story; they look at the beginning because of the hardship here. There are many Nigerians who are in their 60s in the US and the crisis they have now is how to return to Nigeria.

November 5, 2016
The trouble with Premarital sex

Sex is such an innocent sounding word – three letters with far reaching consequences.

A wise man once said of sex, “Sex to a man is like a hungry man walking into a Mr. Biggs outlet for lunch, what is his business with who cooked the food?” Therein lies the trouble, a healthy male animal wakes up with an erection and sees nothing wrong with finding a ready female to assuage his desire. So while the lady thinks she is in love, and in a relationship with a future, the guy is only having fun.

To the ladies, at the risk of sounding like I’m preaching a sermon, having sex with a man you are not married to is such a big risk. Even when he says he loves you, he might or he might not. And can take the age old tack of telling a woman what she wants to hear to get what he wants from her. This is why many Romeos run away from or deny their Juliets when pregnancy shows up.

The first time I got this insight was in a conversation with an older colleague who was gisting about sowing his wild oats as a young man. Even though he had met his wife, and had decided to marry her, he had this side chick that used to spend the weekend at his bachelor pad, his wife on the other hand never passed the night. She only visited on Sundays after church, because her work schedule made it impossible for her to visit during the week. Meanwhile the other babe arrived on Friday after work, and left early Sunday morning.

After months of sleepovers, the side chick asked bros where the relationship was heading, and he said he was not ready for any commitment, not long after she stopped visiting, and he went on to marry his wife. So I asked him why he was sleeping with the other chick when he had no intention of marrying her, and he said, “When she was giving me the thing to chop nko?” I really don’t want to go into the rights and wrongs of such a relationship, but I wonder if the side chick could have saved herself the heartache if she had simply kept her legs tightly closed.

Sexologist and researcher; Fernando Enriques in his book, Modern Sexuality says that the male sexual appetite has remained mainly promiscuous even in societies that has forced monogamy on men. He posits, “The male sexual urge has retained its strongly promiscuous, if not polygamous nature.” That could be the reason why the exigencies of modern life that has delayed marriage until into the twenties, thirties, and even beyond means that men have to find a way to slake their thirst by any means possible, even if the experiment leads to unwanted pregnancies, abortions, or STDs.

The sad thing is that while the men who do this are hailed as studs, their female counterparts are seen to be tarts. There can never be equality in such matters. Many men look down on their female conquests, and see nothing wrong with moving on to the next available female. For the female folk, I say there is nothing wrong with deciding to be a plaything, if that is what you want, if not, you might want to rethink your choices, and lifestyle.

November 5, 2016
Can Abuja secure the land and property rights of its teeming residents?

The recent attacks by Fulani herdsmen in different parts of Nigeria has brought the issue of land reforms to the spotlight. The process of registering land and property in Nigeria is still very much opaque and the means to do so, much more outdated. Information is very vital for securing land and property rights. But are the government agencies responsible for land management performing their statutory roles?

By Kolawole Talabi

“It has been over five years since the [federal] government began work on that bridge,” Umar the Uber driver in whose car I sat on the way to my hotel complains bitterly. “Yet they are still allowing Arab Contractors to continue work on it. I’m very certain the contractors have been bribing government officials.”

Umar’s frustration stems from having to take a longer route to our destination in the bustling Utako district of Abuja. Just after the Alfreso market in Utako, the smooth roads for which the purpose-built Nigerian capital is renowned gives way to a dirt one. Street lighting and road signs are also conspicuously absent.

But Utako is unlike Asokoro, the upscale district where Umar had picked me. Yet both districts face similar challenges.

Asokoro is the undisputed doyen of the districts in the Federal Capital Territory, and it is widely regarded as the most secure district in Abuja. The head of state of the federation lives and works there in a fortified compound popularly known as Aso Rock Villa. Beyond the walls of the president’s residence, the Asokoro landscape is dotted with other important government buildings. The Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Nigerian Police Force and even the regional body, ECOWAS, all maintain a physical presence in the district. The tree-lined streets, stately mansions, and modern office blocks all add to the charm of the district. Due to such exclusivity, the premium cost of land and property makes Asokoro a district that is out of the reach of most Nigerians. However through lapses in land management by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), some of Abuja’s homeless population are able to share living quarters with the rich and powerful in Asokoro.

Milton Obote Street is an untarred close that leads to nowhere in Asokoro. Like the dirt road that led to my hotel in Utako, the close is devoid of the least of street furniture. Located off Jimmy Carter Street, Milton Obote Street seem like an afterthought in Abuja’s master plan.

“Where are you going, sir?” one of the men squatting under the overpass bridge at the end of Milton Obote Street asked loudly. “This road does not lead to any place.” The men appeared nervous as I looked around. They were eager to see me leave.

As the car drove away, I brought out my smartphone to conduct a search on Google Maps for the street name. The app couldn’t locate Milton Obote Street. But then if Milton Obote Street doesn’t exist on digital maps, would it be found in FCTA’s official records?

Land management in Abuja, the federal capital of Nigeria is vested in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), a public institution headed by a cabinet-level minister. Muhammad Musa Bello is the current FCT minister. One of the mandates of the FCTA is “the provision of safe and secure environment” for FCT residents. Through the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), the FCTA carries out this mandate by ensuring “the removal of illegal structures at the expiration of issued notices and the issuance of relevant notices as it regards physical developments” among other statutory tasks. Another department under the FCTA, the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) is responsible for street naming and house numbering in the FCT. The state of the road on Milton Obote Street, the lack of essential street furniture, and the presence of squatters at the end of the close cast doubt on the efficiency of the public agencies responsible for maintaining land and property rights in Abuja.

“This new [FCT] minister is only interested in raising money from commercial transporters,” Umar adds. “He wants to be seen as doing his work.”

A freedom of information (FOI) request was sent to the FCTA, AGIS and AMMC for records of street names approval, house numbering and street signs for Milton Obote Street in Asokoro district as well as certificates of occupancy issued to title owners in the same address.

Four days later, a letter from the FCTA stating that the request is being processed was received. The official response is a well-worn excuse for non-disclosure of public information.

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), a civil society organisation based in Abuja, promotes citizen participation in governance through its advocacy work that monitors and reports public finance expenditure. Since 2014, PPDC has curated and published an FOI compliance ranking for public institutions in Nigeria. In the first-ever ranking, the Federal Capital Territory Administration was tied 7th with 11 other state agencies among a total of 67. Two years later, the FCTA had fallen to 95th position together with the Ecological Fund among a record number of 131 public institutions in the latest ranking. It still takes about the same time for the FCTA to respond to FOI requests: more than two weeks. The freedom of information act which former president Goodluck Jonathan signed into law in 2011 mandates public institutions to respond to FOI requests within 7 days. The FCTA hasn’t done well in another key indicator too; on the metric for responsiveness to FOI requests, it had gone from full disclosure to non-disclosure.

“The FCTA had no proactive disclosure of public finance related information on their website in 2014,” says Ifeoma Onyebuchi, a program support officer at PPDC. “Yet they were able to respond to FOI requests within a short period of time. In 2016, the requested information was not provided, neither was the information disclosed on their official website.”

Onyebuchi attributes the sharp drop in FCTA’s 2016 ranking due to their lack of response to FOI requests. She reiterates the need for public institutions in Nigeria to comply with the provisions of the law. “It is commendable if information is available to all so that administrative costs are avoided. Some institutions are already doing this in accordance to the FOI Act.”

As at the time of publication almost eight weeks after the FOI request was made, no correspondence has been received from AGIS and AMMC, agencies under the management of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Kolawole Talabi is an independent journalist who covers the environment, science, culture and development from his native country, Nigeria. This report is the output of a media fellowship from the Institute of War and Peace Reporting.

November 4, 2016
How to remove an insect sting

So you were bitten by a bee, an asp or some insect that leaves a painful sting behind, so how do you take it out?

Take a good look at the spot you were stung and search for the sting, (it will be the most painful spot).

You will notice that it has a tiny hole where the insect’s stinger plunged the sting into your skin.

Using a key, place the outermost edge of the inner circle inside the key close to the hole (of the sting) and apply pressure until the sting comes out fully.

You will see what looks like a tiny piece of wood emerge painlessly from the site of the sting. This is the sting deposited by the insect.

Viola! The sting is out, no allergies, pain, or swelling.

November 3, 2016
How to use Coconut oil to beat fungal infections

Coconuts have been enjoyed the world over for centuries, this is why women from various cultures like Bali, India, Peru, Jamaica and various parts of Africa use it for almost everything — from lip balm and skin moisturiser to cooking oil, and as a remedy for stomach complaints.

Coconuts are also hypoallergenic, and they contain antibacterial, antiviral and anti-parasitic healing properties. But now researchers have discovered what traditional cultures have known for centuries: Coconut is a powerful anti-fungal treatment — especially against common yeast infections, like Candida albicans.

Al Sears, MD, physician and researcher reports, “Not only is coconut oil a powerful natural healer, it has none of the harmful side effects that come with prescription drugs.”

He, therefore, prescribes ingesting it, and also in cooking. He prescribes, “I recommend you add a few tablespoons of this oil to your existing diet to naturally manage any yeast infections. Look for virgin, unrefined coconut oil. I recommend adding two to three tablespoons of coconut oil to your daily diet.”

He concludes: “You can also use it as a topical treatment. Clean and dry the affected area thoroughly. Then apply a thin layer of virgin coconut oil to the infected skin. Repeat this two to three times a day until the yeast infection is gone.”

Some other uses of Coconut you might want to add to your beauty regimen; it helps prevent obesity by speeding up your metabolism, provide a quick energy boost, reduce sugar cravings, help prevent diabetes by improving insulin efficiency, promote healthy thyroid function, improve symptoms and inflammatory conditions associated with digestive and bowel disorders, support your immune system, break up blood clots, moisturizes and protects skin, and repairs dry damaged hair.

November 3, 2016
What you need to know before you start swimming lessons
Whether you’re a neophyte or an experienced water baby, am sure this article by Crawford Swim Wolrd’s Mathematician turned Swim Coach – Tayo Orekoya, will help you perfect your swimming techniques to swim effortlessly
- Becoming Harmonious With Water
Have you ever wondered how fishes move through water with superlative grace and ease? If a fish wanted to learn to walk, it must assume the carriage and movement pattern of a human. So is the same with swimming; If you want to swim like a fish, you need to understand how fishes move through the water.

Looking closely at the way fishes move in water, fishes do not propel their bodies by pulling and kicking vigorously as humans do; they use rhythmic body undulation to move through the water. A keen study of the world’s best swimmers at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games that ended recently reveal the same undulating and rhythmic body movement. Their swim stroke is like those of a dancer, dancing to a virtual symphony.

The upper body sets the rhythm, the arms and legs move in congruence thereafter. PS: I just left a hint for any swimmer that want to make it to the Olympics. (It is not how strong you are, it’s is how well you dance to a virtual symphony called rhythm).

Sequel to the foregoing, my scientific deduction imply that swimming or indeed swimming faster in water has nothing to do with the strength and speed of your arms or how strong your legs are. It definitely has nothing to do with the vigorous quick alternating repetition of the arm and leg movements as many coaches and students of swimming believe in Nigeria. If I am beginning to sound like a poet or a philosopher, then in fact I am. That is why it’s called the philosophy behind the art called swimming.

Just as fishes move in harmony with the water, humans need to also become harmonious with water. The human body was not designed to move easily (Streamlined) through the water. The important question to ask is this – How can I achieve harmony with water?

The answer to this humongous question is one simple word – Balance. This skill pretty much automatically puts you in harmony with the water. When you learn to balance in the water, you not only stop struggling in the water and wasting energy, but also achieve comfort and ease, which allows you to develop every other swimming skill much faster.

Unfortunately, balance is the ingredient least likely to be developed by swimmers because virtually most swimmers, instructors, even coaches do not fully grasp the technique.
- Two Steps to become balanced in water?
First, while lying on the water (face down), keep your head in a natural, neutral position (looking directly on the pool floor) with your chin tucked in slightly.

And second, with both arms stretched forward such that the shoulder pressing on either side of the ear, you begin to shift your body weight forward by resting on your chest cavity. Keep pushing down into the water until you feel as if you’re being supported by the water. It should feel like you are going downhill.

With Balance, your swimming will become instantly effortless and faster. Certainly, mastering balance is indeed the core, immutable foundation of swimming like a fish. A step that must be taken by every would-be swimmer before anything more advanced is attempted.
November 1, 2016