The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Thrills of Club World flight enroute Cannes

    Thrills of Club World flight enroute Cannes

    THE plane had barely stabilised from its climb of the cloud when I converted my corner in the British Airways’ Club World into a quick study. The thoughts which had followed me nagged crazier, as I left Heathrow for Lagos, being the second leg of a return journey from Nice, the closest airport to Cannes, venue of the 67th Cannes International Film Festival in France.

    Of course, the BA’s Business Class cabin and its luxury assisted my scripting flow, especially since I was running against deadline. I had seen more than enough films in Cannes that I didn’t bother about in-flight entertainment. The Club World exotic lounges, for my class of ticket, also provided more than enough at both airports that I jettisoned my three-course-meal on board.

    More than anything else, I reminisced events of the past few days, and I needed to take them one after another. First was Mali which came to share its version of ‘Boko Haram’ insurgency with the world at the festival. If you have seen a film called ‘Winter of Discontent’, an Ibrahim El-Batout’s portrait of Egypt and the Tahrir Square protests, then, this particular one, ‘Timbuktu’ by Abderrahmane Sissako will also remind you of how Nigeria has become a serial prisoner of history whose memory is wiped each time he tastes freedom.

    Egypt and Mali, in this contest, are examples of countries whose filmmakers understand their roles as custodians of history.

    I must have developed a heavy heart struggling against deadline, such that at the last dot, I heaved a sigh of relief even before going over the piece again. I must also have been beclouded, thinking about absence of sufficient activism on the part of Nigerian filmmakers, and this must have disturbed my thoughts about Cannes and the 67-year-old film event.

    The real journey to Cannes begins upon descent at the Nice Airport, about a 30- minute  drive to the city centre.

    There are so many things to behold of this city that has carved a niche for itself as host of the annual Festival de Cannes, otherwise called the World Cup of film festivals. Driving in the city’s narrow and winding roads is surprisingly free of traffic jam. The hills, valleys and rocks would give you a picture of what Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, could look like if it were so developed. You are also stunned by the tree culture that has greenish, lanky trees and giant flowers adorn roads and homes. The leaves get dry and fell at the sweep of the wind without visible evidence of state labourers, yet the city is clean.

    Perhaps because Cannes has come to be associated with strangers, it is easy to find six out of 10 inhabitants respond to you in English, should you be asking for directions. The city, a beautiful and charming region in Southern France that has an international reputation of glamour and culture, never sleeps.

    Cannes beaches are a big attraction. The vast yachts on the sea add to the scenic beauty of a cute city which has visitors all-year-round, enjoying their leisure with seaside food and drinks serviced on hotel sand or free public beaches.

    Because of the holiday culture in Cannes, 70 per cent of their hotels are modelled to accommodate families, with space for additional beds, beddable sofas, extra mattresses and duvets, cookers and cooking utensils. It helps an average worker on holidays because the city is quite expensive, and so it is only reasonable that with such hotels costing about 120 Euro per night (equivalent of N25) for just one occupant, an across the road grocery shop is advisable than eating some sugar-spiced source Chinese rice which appears to be the closest food that any African can identify with. It is unfortunate that unlike in Paris, there is no single African kitchen in the city of Cannes.

    However, ever since its creation, the Festival de Cannes has remained faithful to its founding purpose: to draw attention to and raise the profile of films with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide and celebrating cinema at an international level. Such was the fate of ‘Timbuktu’, a celebrated African film at the festival this year.

    The luxury of that journey was a perfect blend with the BA experience. And there is just so much about the innovation of the airline.

    Only recently, there was a test-run of what the airline called the “happiness blanket”. The hi-tech blanket changes colour, using brainwaves to ensure it offers customers the best flight’s sleep in the sky.

    Reports say the blanket, which is woven with fibre optics, uses neuro-sensors to measure a person’s brainwaves and changes colour, from red to blue, to show when they’re at their most relaxed and meditative mood.

    The airline hopes monitoring a person’s sleep and relaxation patterns during a flight will inform decisions made to improve aspects of the in-flight service from changing the timing of meals, what food is served and even the types of films shown  to make flying and sleeping on British Airways flights even more relaxing.

    I gathered that a group of volunteers on board the BA189 Dreamliner service from Heathrow to New York were among the first to try out the hi-tech “happiness blankets” for themselves and report on their experiences.

    According to Frank van der Post, British Airways’ Managing Director, Brands and Customer Experience, “this is the first time this technology has been used by any airline to help shape how service is delivered on board an aircraft.

    It is impressive how BA features special in-flight podcasts to encourage customers to relax and de-stress during their flight. Recently, it also announced the introduction of Slow TV programming on board a number of its long-haul flights. The “wallpaper” style footage, which features a seven-hour train journey through Norway, introduces a hypnotic quality for some viewers.

    The airline features more than 130 movies, 650 TV shows from around the world and some 550 audio albums and 225 radio shows in its in-flight entertainment systems.

    After food and drink has been served, they enter the next stage of “me time” used indulgently to watch films, catch up on box-sets, or possibly doing work. The final stage of “adjustment” sees the customer preparing for the new destination. This is the peak time for looking at the moving map, as well as getting changed and refreshing for the onward journey.

    A moment to remember was onboard its 747 a few weeks ago, when flying from  London to Accra, was when I watched the live screening of the Ghana vs Portugal match, whilst they were 30,000 feet up. This innovation is made possible through the airline’s WiFi enabled jumbo that has been specially fitted and allows live streaming of sports.

  • Port Harcourt: Garden City where business and pleasure cohabit

    Port Harcourt: Garden City where business and pleasure cohabit

    Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State otherwise called the Garden City, has in the last few years witnessed a lot of physical development and aesthetic upgrades. In this piece, SHOLA O’NEIL and BOLAJI OGUNDELE write about a city that has continued to grow in population and demands

    THE Garden City of Port Harcourt, is perhaps one of the cities in the South-South region where business and pleasure mix most easily. The older folk (those who lived there before and shortly after the Nigerian civil war) refer to it as Pitakwa (or Pota); the locals just call it Potakot. Whichever you choose, you cannot be wrong in this wonderful city of endless possibilities and opportunities.

    It is a city of many parts; each with its own unique history, landscape and denizens. “The parts of the city known as Town, Lagos, Diobu, and so on are the original Port Harcourt, from where the town started. You will also notice that those are the areas close to the waterfront and the port areas. The houses there are old and most of them are built without fence because in their times, there was no need for high security fencing. The city was peaceful,” James Nwokedi, an itinerant Igbo trader at the popular Mile 1 flyover told our reporter.

    But times have changed and the city has changed with it. The GRA (Government Reservation Area) Phase 1 (Old GRA) houses the government quarters and some prominent Rivers families. The architectural designs of their houses and style sometimes tell of their histories or what some call old money. There are also Phases 2 and 3 GRAs with massive structures and architectural masterpieces owned by politicians, oil magnates and top flying business executives.

    The Diobu area of the city is arguably the most planned enclave of the city, if not the entire Niger Delta region. Dominated mostly by the Igbo and other immigrants, this area, like Town (peopled by the Kalabaris), comprise of ancient apartment buildings in unfenced plot on well-linked network of roads.

    Port Harcourt is also the undisputable oil capital of Nigeria; a position enhanced by the presence of dozens of oil and services companies  from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Schlumberger, WEAFRI and others that fled Warri, Delta State in the heat of the Warri crisis found bases in Port Harcourt.

    The relocation of such companies have attracted greener pastures seekers from all over the country to the city peopled mostly by the Ikwerre and a motley of other groups from within and outside the state.

    With the growth in opportunities, the population of the Garden City (put at about 1.38 million in the 2006 census) swelled. The increase in population is fuelling a property boom that has opened up and linked the major Rumus (enclaves) of the city. The city has now extended from Emohua, headquarters of the local council through Choba, Mgbuoba into Rumuokuta, Rumuokoro, Rumuola and others, and turning it into a megacity.

    The blessings of its status as a fast-growing cosmopolitan city come with the headache of knotty traffic jams that sometimes stretch for several miles and span hours. Driving through Port Harcourt can be quite chaotic and unpredictable. There are some junctions in the city that seem jinxed to always remain locked, defying the efforts and wisdom of traffic marshals thereby creating unpleasant driving experiences for road users, especially private car owners whose miseries are compounded by bus drivers and their taxi counterparts. The state government has since abolished the use of okada (motorcycles) and keke (tricycles) in the metropolis.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi, like his successor, has also made several efforts to tackle the perennial traffic problem in the city. A number of projects have been undertaken to free the roads, including blocking U-turn points at bottle-neck junctions. At some other intersections, more human traffic controls are introduced to augment either the traffic lights or already existing number of traffic marshals. In other places, the critical junctions get flyovers. Eleme Junction and the Agip Junction Roundabout are two examples of massive efforts at restoring sanity to the roads.

    The current administration, at inception, embarked on decisive urban renewal efforts, leading to the widening of existing main accesses like the Ikwerre Road, which has been dualised with wide walkways, lying atop one of the most complex network of gigantic underground drains that empty into surrounding canals and creeks. Rumuola, NTA, Ada George and Elekahia roads, among others, have also been taken from the old to the new; dualised and widened with sidewalks.

    But perhaps the most revolutionary transportation scheme is the multibillion naira Mono Rail project, which was undertaken by the Amaechi administration. When completed, the light rail is expected to convey thousands of passengers daily. Experts believe that it would help reduce the number of vehicles on the road drastically and by extension alleviate traffic bottlenecks.

    Besides roads, new model primary schools and ultramodern healthcare centres have been built across the city. Those built close to the main roads accentuate the environment, printing some sort of serenity and beauty you only see in facilities belonging to multinational oil companies. At the Emenike Junction, in the Mile One area, along Ikwerre Road, St. Mary Primary School is outstanding with its lush green and impressive structures. This sight is replicated in different parts of the city.

    The Garden City is a place to be when you think of relishing fun and good life. Being a very busy place, with an ever growing population, including those of varieties of foreign nationals, Port Harcourt is replete with fun spots: hangouts, hotels, nightclubs, cinemas and so on. You will find them all over the city.

    There was, however, a time in the life of the city when a social dislocation, in the form of cultism or gangsterism, almost robbed it of the peace and fun it had always been known for, but the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration made the restoration of peace and order its first task when he assumed office in 2007. This restored normal life to the city, including a robust and bustling fun and recreation.

    The Abacha Road area of the city in the GRA Phase 2, parades an endless array of hotels, hangouts and club houses; Bourgain Villa, Aldgate Hotel, Casablanca, Aristo House, Elkan Terraces are a few of the places to be on Abacha Road. In some other parts of the phases of the new GRA you have places like Genesis Complex, which boasts of a state-of-the-art cinema and other facilities.

    Along Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway, the iconic Hotel Presidential defines the skyline with its unique architectural design and beautiful landscape. Just a few meters away on Tombia Street, the panoramic view of the Polo Club with its verdure lawns backing the Hotel Meridien and Golden Tulip hotels on the background captivates.

    “I could sit down here for hours just taking in the view; it is a wonderful city, this Port Harcourt,” Joy Nweke, a fashion designer who moved into the city in a few years ago told our reporter.

    “I fell in love with the city at first sight and since then, I find it difficult to leave. The life is fast and some people would tell you it is expensive. But if you cut you coat according to your cloth, you won’t have any problem,” Nweke said with a smile.

    The Silverbird Cinema is just a stone’s throw to the Old GRA, where you see the state’s version of the Three-Arm Zone; the Government House/state secretariat, the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and the Judiciary Complex are located here. You can hardly exhaust touring the city in a hurry.

    Perhaps it should be mentioned here that administrations in the current republic have devoted time and effort to restoring those features of the oil city, which bequeathed the status and appellation of the ‘Garden City’ on it, hence the heavy investments into reviving and resuscitating its greens, as well as its hygiene culture.

    The Dr. Peter Odili administration started a programme of planting special green areas and parks at strategic spots, to serve the dual purposes of recreation points and landscape beautification. Samples of this abound across the city; adjacent the Port Harcourt Air Force Base, along Aba Road; there is the large space bordering the Port Harcourt Barracks, also along Aba Road; there are a few under the various flyovers dotting the city’s space.

    Along most of the major roads, especially the recently dualised ones, the Amaechi administration planted trees, most of which are still growing. The move would not only beautify the city, but is a forward-thinking one that could reduce carbon dioxide because a tree is said to be able to absorb as much as 48lb of the pollutant in a year.

    In the past few years, the city has shed the derogatory tag of ‘garbage city’, a corruption of the Garden City appellation. The unpleasant tag was engendered by the sordid sanitation culture of the people of the city. In those days, mountains of refuse became regular sights in open places, like on major roads, in different parts of the city, coupled with the disorganised management of markets, most of which were occupying between half and one-third of the major roads.

    Today, the services of labourers saddled with the responsibility of sweeping the roads and clearing refuse from the roads everyday have now become recognizable as both drivers and pedestrians on Port Harcourt roads now have a semblance of real road.

  • Pastor’s stolen bible lands robbery suspects in police net

    Pastor’s stolen bible lands robbery suspects in police net

    A bible found with a robbery suspect has led to the arrest of five others by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command. The holy book in question was said to have been found with 32-year-old Monday Patrick, leading to the arrest of five other suspected members of a robbery gang, namely Adeagbo Michael, Ismaila Kareem a.k.a. Asmuo, Odu John, Nwoke Promise and Ifeoluwa Coker.

    A police source told our correspondent that the owner of the bible, Pastor Adesoye Zaccheaus of Unity Estate, Igando, Lagos had reported to the police that as he was driving his car into his compound at about 8 pm on May 26, he was accosted by two armed men who forced him to move to the back seat before driving off to the road that leads to the Lagos State University.

    At a point on the road, they pushed him out of the vehicle and drove off to an unknown destination. Pastor Zaccheaus then went to Idimu police station to report the incident. SARS operatives reported the matter to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who directed the officer in charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, to take over the case and fish out the culprits.

    The complainant led SARS operatives to Oko Filling area of Igando where Monday Patrick and Michael Adeagbo were arrested. An instant search conducted at the building where they were arrested revealed two pairs of army uniform and a black bag containing the documents of the car that was snatched.

    The two suspects were taken to the Scorpion House headquarters of SARS at GRA, Ikeja, Lagos where they confessed that the robbery operation was carried out by Adeagbo and Ismaila Kareem a.k.a. Asmuo, and that the vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was with Kareem.

    Kareem was said to have been arrested at Iyana-Oworo area of Lagos. He corroborated the statements of the suspects and also named one John Odu as the receiver of the snatched car. Odu, who pretended that he was in Port Harcourt, was later caught at Ikotun area of Lagos while trying to receive another snatched vehicle from the same Asmuo, who was promptly arrested. Asmuo confessed that he snatched the vehicle but that it had been sold to a Port Harcourt-based customer named Promise Nwoke. Nwoke was later arrested and the vehicle was recovered.

    Asumuo also claimed that he sold one Toyota Camry to one Desmond Iwerem and one Ifeoluwa Coker in Ondo State while Desmond is still at large.

    Monday Patrick’s father was said to be the owner of the house the operatives searched and recovered a gun. The building is located on Emmanuel Street, a slum where some boys were found smoking Indian hemp. It was there the police discovered a bible bearing the pastor’s name.

    Narrating his role in the robbery operation, Monday Patrick said: “I don’t know my age. I only remember that I was born in 1982 in Ibilo village, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. I trained as a fashion designer.

    “I knew Michael through my work. He came to my shop to meet me with a black bag. When he came, I was busy working and he just dropped the bag and left immediately. He did not come back until three days later.

    “I had become worried and wanted to know what was inside the bag. I thought it was a cloth he had brought for me to sew. Surprisingly, when I opened the bag, I found a gun, books and a big bible. I started looking for him.

    “I smoke Indian hemp, but I have not stolen a pin form anyone. I am happily married with a child. I smoke (Indian hemp) twice a day; once before I start work and once at the close of work.

    “I used to sew clothes for him and we are close friends. He gave me phones whenever he had no cash to pay. But that had happened only two times.

    “When I saw the pastor’s bible, I liked it because it is big. I took it from the bag. When his mother heard that SARS operatives were combing the area, she picked the gun and went to the backyard to hide it.”

    The second suspect, who was said to have gone to prison several times, Adeagbo Michael (29), a native of Ile-Ife, Osun State, said: “I live at No. 27 Emmanuel Street, Governors Road, Ikotun. I am an okada (commercial motor cycle) rider.

    “Somebody gave me a bike on hire purchase and robbers snatched it from me. The owner of the bike took me to the police, alleging that I was the thief. I was charged to court and later sent to the Kirikiri Maximum prison on remand.”

    Asked how he snatched the pastor’s bag, he said: “We were two: Desmond and I. The pastor was coming back from work on that Monday. We took positions and waited for the man to come down. As he came down to open the gate, we rushed towards him.

    “We overpowered him and carried him into the car. He had only N1,000 on him. I took the money. When we wanted to push him out of the car, I gave him N400 for transport. We took him inside the car to stop him from shouting.

    “I was the one who brought the gun. I brought it from my village. Nobody taught me how to rob. It was when they seized my motorcycle that I became jobless. I did not know the pastor before. I just said let us take a stroll and look for something to snatch. Asmuo did not give me a kobo after selling it.

    “As for the snatching of laptops, we operated four times. But the one of jewellery and handsets (phones) happened two times. It was Lucky and Kunle, who is now in prison, who did the work with me. Lucky was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the police.

    “I smoke marijuana (Indian hemp) once every evening. It was in the prison that I learnt how to rob. In the prison, there is no teacher for robbery lessons. Every inmate narrates his experience and others learn from it.”

    The third suspect, Ismaila Kareem a.k.a. Asmuo (27), is married with a kid and hails from Okitipupa in Ondo State. But he resides at Okoafo area of Badagry.

    “He said: “I used to see Michael at Oshodi market area where we rode okada together.I was the one that drove. When we got there, Michael showed the man a gun and put him at the back seat. We dropped him off at Igando area.

    “We had used a pipe gun to snatch a Jeep at Festac side. I did it with Michael. I do smuggling at the Seme border with a Volvo car. Michael told me that he had gone to the village to bring a gun. I am an ex-convict.”

    On why he sold the car without giving Michael a dime, he said: “We decided to be working with the car, but I later decided to sell it. I don’t know his house. He normally takes me to the nearest junction to where he is living for me to wait for him.

    “When I sold the car, I called him and told him that I had not collected the money. I sold the car for N290,000 at the New Garage, Ifako, Gbagada. I used the money to pay the balance of my house rent.

    “I went to Kirikiri prison for using a bike to snatch a bag. I used to operate on Victoria Island, Lagos. I spent two years and three months awaiting trial. A court in Ikeja discharged and acquitted me for want of prosecution as the investigating police officer was absent in court.”

    The fourth suspect, Odu John (39), a native of Ahoda, Rivers State, says he is married with four children and formerly worked with a construction company, Dredging Atlantic, in Port Harcourt. He said his appointment was terminated in 2010 no money was coming into the company and the staff were redundant.

    He said: “I was arrested in connection with the pastor’s car. The car was snatched and brought to me by Asmuo to buy. I knew Asmuo through one Kehinde. I knew that the car was snatched. The pastor’s car was bought for N290,000. Another Toyota Camry was bought for N180,000 and I resold it for N280,000 while the one of N290,000 was resold for N400,000.

    “I live at No. 10, Dele Street, Ikotun. I relocated to Lagos in March this year. I met Kehinde in a restaurant in Ikotun this year and it was he that introduced me to the gang. He said they normally got cars to sell.

    “I graduated in Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt.”

    The fifth suspect, Nwoke Promise (36), says he sells juice and is married with four children.

    He said: “I live in my own house, which I built in Ikwere, Port Harcourt. I bought the car for my senior brother for N400,000. The pastor’s bible was inside a bag. John and I attended the same primary school. He told me that his friend who works in the Customs had a problem and wanted to sell his Camry car for N600,000, but I later paid N400,000.

    “I did not know his work after primary school. He called me on the phone at a restaurant at the University of Port Harcourt and told me that he worked with Charles Ugwu, the previous NDDC Chairman, and I believed him.”

    The sixth suspect, Ifeoluwa Coker (28), graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who majored in Biology Education, said that Demond was his guardian in the church where they worship in Akure.

    He said: “I am a member of the Buccaneer fraternity. I was arrested in respect of a Toyota Camry. I worship with a new generation church.

    “I joined the Buccaneer in 200 Level. I was threatened to join them because I helped them to do their class assignments.

    “I went to Akure to receive the car.”

  • ‘OUR LIVES AS GHETTO DWELLERS’

    TWENTY-FIVE old John has spent almost his entire life in the area. Since his parents relocated to Idi-Araba, a large expanse of slum located close to the lagoon in Oworonshoki area of Lagos, about 23 years ago, John has known no other place he could call home. Interestingly, in spite of the hellish condition of his community, John insists “there is life in the ghetto”.

    For John, and indeed every resident of this community, originally called ‘Golugo’, Yoruba word for foolishness, with no access road, potable water, drainage, school, hospital or other manifestations of modernity, living is in many ways comparable to Thomas Hobbs’ state of nature where life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short; the state where man struggled against animals and other elements in the bid to conquer his environment.

    However, this has not in any form taken anything away from the pride of the residents, who in spite of their poor living conditions hold aloft their dream of a better tomorrow. This is the case with John who works as an estate agent in Ikeja.

    To gain access to his home, you would have to trek about 100 metres on a creaking plank bridge and then waddle through some murky water from the lagoon. The house itself is one of the few block buildings in the area. The floor is bare, with the water oozing out from the lagoon.

    Like John’s house, the entire community can only be accessed through a road strewn with dirt. The road takes you to a long stretch of narrow plank bridge on which the residents walk into their homes. With no toilet facility available to them, the lagoon serves as the platform for the residents to empty their bowels.

    The community is exposed to serious danger in the rainy season when the lagoon overflows its bank, driving reptiles into the living rooms of residents. But if you expect John to get despondent each time he closes from work and heads home, you are in for a surprise.

    “I have no reason to be sad or discouraged,” he said. “This is my home, and I am happy to live here. After all, it is my father’s house and I am proud of it.

    “Of course, I know that there is a difference between what obtains here and the situation in Ikeja where I am currently doing a part-time job because of the ASUP strike. Yet I appreciate the life around here. My brother, there is life in the ghetto.”

    Asked if he was being visited at the slum by his girlfriend, John expressed surprise that the question was asked in the first place. “I have a girlfriend and she comes here to see me. Like I told you, there is life in the ghetto and those of us who live here enjoy it. I am not the kind of guy that would be ashamed to bring his girlfriend here. I bring both my male and female friends to the community. I can never deny the area or speak ill of it.

    “When God blesses me, I will demolish the building and rebuild it for my father. If we abandon the community, who would come and develop it for us? It is a challenge that nature has dropped on our laps and we will face it headlong.”

    John is proud to be called a ghetto man, but not so for Akin. He (Akin) would go to any length to hide his identity as a slum dweller. Once he gets out of the community, he drops the garb of ghetto life and pose as a highly sophisticated and urbane man. For him, it is a taboo to bring a girlfriend to the community.

    Akin said: “I don’t bring my friends here, particularly the female ones. It is not possible for me to do that because most of them assume that I live in a high brow area. If you see me away from this community, you would never believe that I came out of this dilapidated wooden house, because I always dress very well.

    “If you were in my shoes, would you bring your babe here? No babe would ever want to have anything to do with you anymore if you bring her here. In fact, most babes in the area prefer to date people outside the community because they don’t want to remain in this condition longer than they have done.

    “If you are in this community whenever it rains, you would appreciate what we are talking about. The entire community is usually flooded. At times, parts of the wooden houses are blown away by storm. You could see that some residents are spreading their valuables outside for the sun to dry them.

    “The situation is worse if you are outside the community when it rains. This is because you will hardly be able to get into your house. Mosquitoes and other insects will deal with you mercilessly. The net can only protect you when you are sleeping. If you are not sleeping, would you be wearing the net everywhere? I think the mosquitoes have even become our friends and hardly do us any harm.”

    Another resident, Remi Adetayo, is also unhappy that she lives in the area. Claiming that she had spent 15 years in the area, she lamented the living condition of the people, blaming it more on the government, from whom she said the community had not received any form of attention over the years.

    She said: “I have lived here for 15 years. It has been challenging because the community has never received any form of attention from successive governments. The heap of refuse you are seeing all around the community is not our handiwork. It is not that we are dirty people who enjoy living in the midst of refuse. We are not. The community has been a marshy area from time. It gets worse whenever it rains.

    “To make sure we have something to step on when we are going out, we buy refuse from refuse collectors and fill our roads with it. We pay between N50 and N100 for a lorry load of refuse. We buy as many lorry loads as are needed to fill the area we need to cover. Kindhearted refuse collectors sometimes dash us the refuse they would ordinarily dump at refuse sites.

    “We also acquire rain boots for our children to enable them move around whenever there is heavy downpour. This also helps to prevent them from infections that may arise from walking barefoot in murky waters.

    “We have no basic amenities here. We go outside the community to get water for everything we do in the house. This is challenging because it requires so much time and energy to do this on a daily basis. Besides, we also spend a lot of money doing this every day. I am not a tenant. The house I live in is our family house.”

    Mosquitoes might be the worst enemies of the residents of this Lagos community, but the dirty water from the lagoon is also a veritable source of seasonal threat. In their battle for survival, the residents have devised ways of beating the water surge by raising the base of their structures very high in order to beat the water surge.

    But it is not that easy to escape mosquito bites, which have landed many of them in hospitals located several kilometres away. Despite the free treated mosquito nets distributed to them by the Lagos State Government, the residents, whose homes are made mostly of planks and rusty corrugated iron sheets and overgrown with weeds, are veritable breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Hence most of the residents regularly fall victim to malaria.

    “It is impossible not to have mosquitoes in an area like this. Malaria would have been killing us on a daily basis if not for the treated mosquito nets distributed by the Lagos State Government,” Remi said.

    While a first time visitor to the community would cringe at the sight of huge refuse and its nauseating odour, which gets worse whenever it rains, the residents struggle to buy truck-loads of it from refuse collectors and pour same on the paths that lead to their homes.

    “The refuse that litters the community may appear horrible to an outsider,” reasoned a resident who identified herself simply as Bose, “but it serves a good purpose here. We use it to fill the roads because we don’t have the resources to buy sophisticated materials to do that. They have been helpful all along.

    “We are used to the conditions in which we have found ourselves in the community. It is a natural habitat that many people would like to live in. Contrary to fears by people that cooking and eating in a place like this may lead to outbreak of sicknesses, I can confidently tell you that we have never had any such experience in the area.”

    Some of the wooden houses are occupied by their owners. The rent for the ones occupied by tenants ranges between N700 and N1000 every month. The rent for brick houses is between N2,500 and N3, 000.

    Taye Omonuberu lives with his grandmother. A graduate of the Yaba College of Technology, Taiwo, whose wife lives outside the community, has not been able to get a job since he left school. Left with no other choice, Taiwo said he was compelled to live in the squalor.

    He said: “I have been living here for the past 20 years. The community is another world entirely. It lacks all the basic things that one requires to live a happy life. As a young man, I am not comfortable living in the area. My wife could not even stay here with me because of the deplorable state of the community.

    “We live in Lagos, but we are worse off than most rural dwellers. We vote during elections and pay all the necessary dues and levies, yet we are regrettably not considered to enjoy the dividends of democracy. This is a ghetto to the core.”

    Issac, who said he had lived in the community for more than 20 years, does not see anything wrong with living in the area.

    He said: “I have been living here for the past 20 years. It has not been easy, but we thank God for helping us to weather the storm till this day.

    “The challenges we have in the community are multifaceted and they happen all the year round. It is, however worse during the rainy season. Whenever it rains heavily, the flood covers the planks that make movement possible in the area. This poses serious danger because one would not know where to put his feet in such an unpleasant situation.”

    Fortunately, the residents said they were yet to record any death resulting from a resident falling off the narrow wooden paths into the lagoon.

    Isaac said: “We have had situations where people fell off the plank into the water. But we have not recorded any case of death arising from such accidents. The saving grace is that many people in the community know how to swim very well. When they find themselves in such conditions, they always employ their swimming skills to get out of danger.”

    In spite their seemingly hopeless condition, residents of Idi-Araba have not lost the will to enjoy life. In the midst of the suffering, some of the shanties have satellite dishes hoisted on their roofs. These give their neighbours a sense of modernity as they gather round television sets to watch news from across the world on CNN, BBC and other satellite channels.

    Like most communities elsewhere, residents of Idi-Araba have devised ways to ensure their safety and ensure that the community is made unsafe for criminals who may be looking for safe havens.

    The head of the community, Chief Olorunwa Luwa, said his people had done well with the security problems by establishing a cordial relationship with the police. He, however, lamented the lack of basic amenities in his community, calling on the government to come to the aid of his people.

    “We are aware that the state government is doing very well, but we are yet to get their attention in our community. When you look around, you will see that we have little or no touch of government activities. The few developments we have here are through communal efforts.

    “We lack so many things in the community and would appreciate if the government could come to our rescue. We would appreciate if they help us with water supply, a health centre and a public school. We have none of these and it is having an adverse effect on our people.

    “If we have a health centre, our people will have quick access to medical attention and this would reduce the stress they go through travelling to distant places when there are emergencies.”

    Chief (Dr.) Aborewa John is the chief priest of the community. Together with other elders, he sees to the security and spiritual needs of his people.

    “Our community is a unique one in every sense of it. It is totally different from other ghettos you would find anywhere in the state. Unlike other communities where crime is prevalent, our community is totally free from criminal activities. We have put in place tight security measures which have made it impossible for criminals to operate in the area.

    “We have security men in every part of the community. They secure the entire area and make sure that nobody moves around after 9 pm. If anybody is found moving about, especially in a suspicious manner, they would apprehend the person and hand him over to the police.

    “We have a good working relationship with the police. It would also interest you to know that the community does not harbor people who would appear innocent at home, but go out to commit crime. We always keep eagle eyes on every member of the community to make sure that nobody tarnishes our image.

    “We may not have basic amenities but we have integrity. We also don’t condone promiscuity. It is totally against our principles in this area. If we find anybody engaging in promiscuous activities, we would quickly hand such a person over to the police.”

    Speaking on the state of slum communities in the state, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibiriogba, said the Lagos State Government woud not leave out any area across the state in its transformation agenda.

    Ibiriogba, who was responding to the condition of living in slum communities in the state, told The Nation that the Governor Babatunde Fashola administration is committed to bring development to every part of the state, including Idi-Araba community in Oworonshoki.

    He explained that the government had consistently warned residents about the need to always maintain a clean environment in other to avoid the outbreak of epidemic in their area.

    Ibirogba also explained other efforts of the government to ensure that residents in the state enjoy good health, which he said include the distribution of free treated mosquito net and free medical service. According to him, the state government’s free health service also includes the provision of free healthcare services to the people in all the local government areas across the state.

    “Well, let me first of all say that we have not forgotten about the slum in Oworonshoki. We are committed to bring development to every part of Lagos State. And that is why our impact is being felt in Badagry, Shomolu, Epe, Iyana Ipaja and every other parts of the state, where we are carrying out one project or the other.

    “You will agree with me that there is the possibility of an outbreak of an epidemic in any community where the condition of living is not hygienic. That is why we have upped our game as far as health for all is concerned. To solve this, we have established primary health centres in the local government areas so that people with minor ailment can easily go there for treatment.”

  • Funsho Kupolokun bereaved

    Funsho Kupolokun bereaved

    These are not the best of times for Funsho Kupolokun, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as death recently stole into his home and snatched his wife to yonder. The deceased, Bukola, passed away at a hospital in the United Kingdom where she was said to be receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

    The late Bukola was said to have put up a spirited fight against the ailment which had confined her to bed for months. However, she lost her gallant battle against the debilitating ailment as she passed away few days ago.

    Kupolokun, who enjoyed a sterling career in the petroleum industry before he was replaced by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua administration in 200, was married to Bukola for 36 years.

  • Tourism to improve South African economy

    Tourism to improve South African economy

    GROWTH in the tourism sector, with its substantial job creation spin-offs, could act as a partial antidote to the sluggishness of the economy, South Africa Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom, says.

    However, he warned that the hospitality sector’s positive effect could be undermined by South Africa’s new visa and immigration regulations.

    Mr Hanekom told parliament’s tourism portfolio committee that the visa and immigration regulations issued six weeks ago by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba could have a negative effect on the sector.

    In terms of the new rules, people wishing to visit South Africa would only be able to apply for visas at the country’s foreign missions, which in the case of a large country like China would mean only in Shanghai and Beijing.

    “It could potentially have a negative impact on tourism. We have to make it as easy as possible for person to come to our country,” said Mr Hanekom.

    “We are dealing with a very, very competitive international environment and people have choices. At this stage where we are getting a good share, with close to 10-million arrivals annually.

    “We can increase that share, but if we do the wrong thing that share can drop. We don’t want to slip backwards; we want to maintain it and we want to grow it.”

    Mr Hanekom stressed that it was “critically important” to remove unnecessary bottlenecks and said discussions were taking place with the Department of Home Affairs.

    Many significant role players, both local and foreign, had raised their concerns with Mr Hanekom and Mr Gigaba, pointing out that the new requirements would place quite onerous burdens on visa applications. This included the need for an unabridged birth certificate for children and the accessibility of South African missions.

    Mr Hanekom emphasised the importance of improving the road network to key tourist attractions such as the Kruger National Park.

    South African Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima said a key focus would be growing the domestic market, with the aim of increasing the number of domestic tourists to 18-million over the next five years. The agency had an “aggressive” strategy to grow the African market and planned to have five marketing offices in key African countries by 2020. There is an office in Nigeria.

  • Where is Faysal Harb?

    Popular businessman and socialite, Chief Faysal Harb, is a prominent player in the economic sphere and social space of Ilorin, Kwara State. Not only is he on the frontline as far as events in the capital city of Kwara State is concerned, his wife, Chief (Mrs) Jumoke Harbs, is also a famous socialite. In recent times, however, the businessman has not been as visible as he used to be on the social scene.

    Harb, a popular socialite, reputed for his high connections, appears to have cut down drastically on socialising. Unlike the past when he used to be the cynosure at major social events in Ilorin, these days, Faysal is hardly seen at such events. The grapevine is awash with the rumour that Harb’s business has fallen on hard times. He is reportedly battling with some forces that appear determined to see his chains of business nosedive.

    In response, Harb is allegedly engaged in a struggle to rescue his business ventures from the brinks. His apologists however, argue that the rumours about him are untrue stating that he is still financially solvent and has only withdrawn from the public glare for personal reasons. However, his wife, Jumoke, remains a regular face in social circles, her JMK Salon still hosts top celebrities in Ilorin on a daily basis.

  • Four Points by Sheraton to open in Ikot Ekpene

    Four Points by Sheraton to open in Ikot Ekpene

    STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, has announced the signing of Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, a new  hotel scheduled to debut in 2015. Owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, Four Points by Sheraton in Ikot Ekpene will be Starwood’s 10th hotel in Nigeria and its second hotel in Akwa Ibom after Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.

    “Looking back to when we first opened Le Meridien Ibom in 2007, we saw an opportunity in a city with limited infrastructure.Today Akwa Ibom has been transformed and modernised with new highways and a local airport, while the hotel was recently selected as an SPG Members’ Favourite,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East.

    “Our experience and shared successes with the government of Akwa Ibom leads us to believe that Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene is another milestone in the development of the state and we embark on this second joint venture with great confidence.”

    “This agreement is another milestone for the people of Akwa Ibom and the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene will strengthen the hospitality sector in the state,” Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said.

    Starwood’s Four Points by Sheraton brand ‘best for business’ approach provides travellers with everything that matters, including timeless design, uncomplicated comfort and a genuine and friendly approach to hospitality and service.

    Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene will feature146 guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar, 814 square metres of meeting and event space, as well as a fitness centre and an outdoor pool.

    Located at the crossroad between two major highways with easy airport access, the hotel will be the first high-rise tower in Ikot Ekpene as well as the first purpose-built internationally branded hotel in the iconic town.

    Reflecting the brand’s promise and insight into the needs of today’s traveller, the hotel will also offer all of the brand’s defining elements, including the signature Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort bed and free bottled water in the room, complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas, a delicious breakfast with great coffee and refreshing local beer with Best Brews, helping guests to start and end the day right.

  • Ademola Adunola becomes Ikeja Club president

    Lagos-based freight forwarder and Managing Director of Admore Group Ltd, Prince Ademola Adunola, has added another feather to his cap with his election as the president of the prestigious Ikeja Club.

    Ademola, who is the immediate past Vice President of the club, garnered overwhelming votes to beat his opponent during the election. With his victory, the 45-year-old businessman has made history as the youngest occupant of the seat.

    The amiable socialite who recently launched into hospitality business with the opening of Dansaky Hotel in Ijaye-Ojokoro, a suburb of Lagos State, shortly after his election promised to take the club to the next level.

    He said: “I am grateful to all the members of our great club for electing me as their new president. Trust me; I will turn around the fortune of the club by giving it a facelift through the renovation of its sports section and provision of facilities such as swimming pool. These facilities will no doubt project the club better and by extension boost the image of members.”

  • CLAM Pastor donates N20m children ward to hospital

    Pastor Wole Oladiyun of the Christ Living Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), is one clergyman who derives joy from giving to the society.

    The General Overseer of the Omole, Lagos-based church has just donated a N20 million children’s ward to the General Hospital in his home town, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State. Pastor Oladiyun was said to have initiated the building project two years ago in his bid to provide succour to the masses of the area in terms of healthcare.

    The project was commissioned on July 2nd with the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, in attendance to receive the facility on behalf of the government and people of Ondo State. The governor was visibly elated by the Pastor’s gesture.

    He was full of praise for the man who has continued to make humanitarian service an integral part of his pastoral mission. Trust politicians, Governor Mimiko was quick to identify the man of God’s gesture as one of his cardinal goals as a governor.