The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Top hotels line up at Akwaaba

    The best Hotels in Africa will be at the African Travel Market taking place in Lagos from the 22nd of October to the 24th to showcase their services.

    All the great hotel chains in Africa will compete in different markets and Nigeria, with the largest travelling audience in Africa presents a huge opportunity to extend their connections, tidy up businesses and meet new customers.

    The Starwood group 0f Sheraton,Meridien and Fourpoints by Sheraton will be there to rub shoulders with the new comers like Movenpick. The South African group includes, Protea, Sun International, Legacy group , Lonrho and Southern Sun, While from Ghana, will be the Golden Beach Hotels, African Regent, Fiesta Royale and Travel Express. The Zimbabwe chain of African Sun will be there along with their best western brand. Holiday Inn, Accra will be showcasing too. First timers like Best Western Port Harcourt will be joining the old hands at the exciting 3-day exhibition.

    The Gambian Hotels will be there in large numbers too. The hospitality seminar with the theme “(1) 5 star or fallen star: Standardizing Hotels in Nigeria with Mr. Alex Gassuer, The Area Manager Starwood Group (owners of Sheraton, Le Meridien and Four Points Hotels) will be on Wednesday the 24th of October.

     

  • I joined my company with false name, age and address, says security guard who allegedly led a gang to rob his employers

    I joined my company with false name, age and address, says security guard who allegedly led a gang to rob his employers

    A security guard who allegedly led a 10-man gang to rob the company he was posted to guard has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command.

    Narrating his involvement in the three-hour operation, the suspect, 26-year-old Adebayo Wasiu a.k.a. Wahab Kabir Adams, said: “Whenever I want to go on robbery operation or seek new employment somewhere, I change my name and age to avoid being recognised by the police or victims. Besides, changing my name enables me to hide my criminal records.

    “I was posted to the company, Edysmart Nigeria Ltd, a cosmetics producing company located at 14 Acme Road, Ikeja on guard duty on July 12, 2012. I am an indigene of Oyo State, but I don’t know my village, my local government nor anybody from there because I have not been going home since I was born. I reside in Sango-Ota, Ogun State and I am yet to get married.

    “I was the one who planned with nine others to rob the company I was guarding. What happened was that on September 18, I planned with Ismaila, Isiaka, Sule and others who are at large to rob Edysmart Nigeria Limited.

    “We started the operation at about 8 pm. I was in the company’s premises when my gang members arrived and knocked at the gate. I knew that they were the ones at the gate, so I opened the gate for them.

    Immediately they entered, they first attacked the three other security men in the company. They tied their hands and legs, blindfolded them and marched them to the store at gunpoint. They went to the safe and broke the key with gas cylinder and collected all the money. They also broke the key to the store’s gate and looted assorted chemicals and finished products. They also carried new products that had not been launched.

    “They also broke the key to the fuel tank belonging to the company and filled the tanks of three vehicles, including the one they came with and two others parked in the company’s premises. After filling the tanks of the three vehicles, they also collected extra 100 litres of diesel to make sure they had enough fuel.

    “The goods they loaded in the three vehicles were worth N13 million. Apart from the finished products and chemicals, there were new products that the company was yet to launch into the market but they carted everything away.

    “The moment they drove off, I went home. I avoided my phone, particularly calls from the company pending the time the tension in the company would die down. The residential address I gave to the security company that employed me does not exist.

    “The address is 14, Adeyemi Street, Gbagada. I gave it to the security company when they wanted to employ me. They were in haste to get enough people to work for them. They had a contract and had no time to scrutinise any information given to them. Hence, when I gave them a false name, age and address, they never bothered to cross-check the information. They would have known that I am a confirmed armed robber if they had taken time to verify the information I gave them, especially my curriculum vitae.”

    Asked how he was arrested, he said: “I was enjoying myself at a beer parlour when I got a phone call from a gang member, Akin a.k.a. Chairman, to come and collect my own share of the loot. He did not tell me how much I would get. He only told me to come to Iyana Ipaja bus stop. To my greatest surprise, the moment I landed at the bus stop and alighted from the okada (motorcycle) that took me there, I saw some people closing in on me. Before I could think of what to do, one of them held me from the back and the other searched me as if I was carrying an explosive while the third person handcuffed me immediately.

    “I asked who they were and they said they were operatives of SARS. That was how I was arrested.”

    The second suspect, Ismaila Aremu (28) a.k.a. Akim Sule, claimed to have worked in a flour mill as a machine operator before he was retrenched last year.

    He said: “When I was retrenched, I started looking for job. I first went to a hotel in Oju Elegba but I could not secure employment in the hotel because I could not afford the N2,000 consultation fee demanded by the agent. It was Wahab who told me that there was vacancy in the hotel when we went somewhere in Ajegunle for a naming ceremony.

    “One Saturday, they called me and said I should go to Tolu area in Ajegunle to meet one Lawrence, a panel beater, and tell him to bring his gas cylinder and other tools. I did as they directed me.

    “When we reached Oshodi, we called Isiaka to bring his jeep (SUV). He brought his Toyota RAV4 and used the jeep to carry us to the front gate of the company we intended to rob. I carried the gas cylinder into the company’s compound around 9 pm, dropped it there with other items and went home.

    “The following day, Isiaka called me. He said they had done the job perfectly. Two weeks later, Isiaka called me again and gave me N30,000 while he gave Wasiu N50,000. It triggered a quarrel between us. Wasiu asked Isiaka what I had done to merit N30,000, but Isiaka later settled the quarrel.

    “It was Wasiu who opened the gate when we entered, but I did not know who tied the security men before they were escorted into the toilet and locked up. It was the panel beater who loosened the ignition wires and started the engines of the two company vehicles we used to pack the chemicals and new products the company was yet to launch.”

    On how he was arrested, he said: “Isiaka called me to come and receive money, but it was SARS operatives that I saw and they handcuffed me immediately. If Isiaka calls me again, I will not answer him. He is not an intelligent criminal. He should have coded the information by coughing or whistling and I would have known that there was danger. But he wanted all of us to be arrested, which is against the oath we took. I will never work with a dull brain again.”

    On his part, Isiaka (52) claims he is married with two kids and that he hails from Okene in Kogi State. Asked what was responsible for the wound on his left arm, he said he had an auto accident after the robbery operation at the cosmetics producing company and that he had been a mobile trader going from one company to the other, buying scraps, empty drums, gallons and plastic containers.

    He said: “It was Akim who introduced Wasiu to me. He said they wanted to trade in chemicals used in producing plastics. I asked him to call Wasiu so that we could discuss. Wasiu said he wanted to leave the company and had something to sell. He wrote down the samples on a sheet of paper and gave it to me. I started looking for buyers.

    “I then called Akim to know where to meet. We met at Guinness area in Agege and started planning with other members of the gang. I gave Akim N1,000 for transportation to go and get a welder. The day they wanted to do the operation, they called me and I went to meet them at Oshodi.

    “I left for Mowe to wait for the gang members to call me after the operation so that I would know what next to do. Around 5 am, they called me and said they were coming. I led them to Ibadan where they offloaded the consignment.

    “There, Wasiu told me that they had two company vehicles. After offloading, I came back to Lagos. I was given mobilization fee in installments. The total money I collected was N730,000 while N270,000 was used to clear my hospital bill at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos over the accident I had after the operation.

    “I also collected N400,000 when I was discharged. From it, I gave Wasiu N50,000, Akin N30,000 and our engineer N150,000.

    “I was at my home at No. 18, Ighado Close, Ishaga when a friend, a LASTMA official, called me and asked where I was. I told him that I was at home. Within a few hours he came in with policemen and I was arrested by SARS operatives.”

    The fourth suspect, Sule Useni a.k.a. Solomon (39), a Ghanaian who resides at 48 Anuoluwapo Street, Shasha, Lagos, said Lawrence, the panel beater, told him to help him keep his tools, including a gas cylinder, in a shop around his area. “I kept it at Shasha. On the day of the operation, I entered the company to help the gang load the finished products and chemicals. About 10 of us were assigned loading job. There were those whose job was to tie the security men. Others were busy breaking the keys and ignition wires of the two vehicles belonging to the company.

    “We started loading around 9 pm and finished around 1am. I later carried the truck to Emeka’s brothers, Pius and Uche at Alaba Market. I am very happy because nobody died during the operation. We value human life.”

    The Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko, said the suspects would be charged to court. He vowed to get other members of the gang who were at large.

  • Scott Tommey pampers self with private jet

    Scott Tommey pampers self with private jet

    That Scott Tommey is doing well for himself as one of the smartest entrepreneurs around is a fact that can hardly be disputed. And saying that the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Osmoserve Global Limited has an exquisite taste would amount to stating the obvious.

    Information reaching Happenstances now is that a few days ago, he acquired a brand new private jet as a birthday gift for himself. Those who sighted the private jet informed Happenstances that the Bombadier Challenger is one of the latest and most luxurious jets around.

    Some of his close friends are still celebrating the new acquisition with him in London where he is currently taking a short break from his tedious schedule.

  • Bimbo Odukoya’s daughter set for the altar

    Bimbo Odukoya’s daughter set for the altar

    Lovely daughter of the late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya of the Fountain of Life Church is getting set to don her bridal assortments and stroll down the aisle with her sweetheart of many years.

    After getting engaged in an elaborate introduction ceremony in July, the happy couple is ready for the ageless institution of marriage.

    The brilliant and amazingly gifted crooner, Tolu, who recently featured the elegant stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, in her song, will be proudly wedded to Olumide Ijogun, one of the directors at Oba Otudeko’s Honeywell Group of Companies.

    The wedding, slated for November 3, 2012, will kick off with an engagement ceremony in the morning. The church service will follow immediately at the Fountain of Life Church, after which reception will take place at Balmoral Events, Oregun, Lagos.

    Arrangements are in top gear to ensure that the day is made a memorable one for the young couple. Party planners and extras have been engaged to ensure that all goes well.

    The wedding, though coming seven long years after her mother’s death in the crash of Port-Harcourt bound Sosoliso Airline Flight 1145 on December 10, 2005, is certainly one that would have made her mother proud.

  • ‘I have better houses but opted to live in 100-yr-old mud house’

    ‘I have better houses but opted to live in 100-yr-old mud house’

    Sunday Laoye (aka Hakuna Matata), is the elder brother of the Deputy governor of Osun State, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori. He was a factor in the former Oyo State. He still participates actively in the present Osun state politics. He was once detained in police cell and eventually remanded in prison. The 66- year-old man is still full of vigour and energy. for more than one hour, while this interview was being conducted, he stood on his feet without showing any form of fatigue. Laoye shares his experience with GBENGA ADERANTI about his activisim, relationship with his sister, why he is still strong at 66 and his life style.

     

    How old were you when you were arrested?

    Like the other people who used to jack up their age, I don’t do it. I don’t desk my age because I’m not a civil servant. I was born on 23rd October 1946 and I was arrested on April 15, 2008.

    You were talking about your son, what really happened?

    Let me tell you one truth, except we want to deceive ourselves, I have been in this game for so long and there is no governor in this state, you can ask anybody , that I don’t participate in the process of his winning. I’m born to win, that is what lots of people call ‘born to win’. I’m a very lucky person and I have a strong political armoury. I’m the leader of the Renaissance Front .

    I was to be celebrated last year; I was to be given a chieftaincy title on October 23 last year by the Oludo of Ido because of my struggle, because of the part I took in liberating some political friends. When my son died on September 20, last year, there was nothing called chieftaincy title again.

    Our group, Renaissance Front, is made up of a lot of professionals, professors, architects. The governor of the state knows the team called Renaissance Front, because Renaissance Front is supportive of his cause. We are always for him. We are not anti-government, we are pro-government. Most of the time, we proffer solutions to the problems in this state. We are not proud, if you see us you will love us. Our spread is balanced, we are in more than 30 states with one area office.

    Besides I’m a compound man. I live among my people, that is Orubuka Compound. that is where the present deputy Governor, Titi-Laoye Tomori, was born. I don’t live in an estate, I’m not a GRA man.

    Why do they call you hakuna matata?

    Hakuna matata is a Swahili language which means ‘no problem’. A cousin who was a lecturer, who had been in Kenya for 15 years came and said there was no time I had problem, he said I was always happy. then, he gave me the name hakuna matata. If you see where I live, though I dress properly you would not believe that this is where hakuna matata lives. If you come on a Wednesday, you would see an array of cars in my compound, they are the professionals who have come for political meeting. It will surprise you, though I have properties elsewhere, I still prefer to live in a mud house that was built over 100 years ago, I’m happy there. I shit in pit latrine.

    Since high politicking goes on in your compound, I’m correct to say you are the Baba Orubuka of Osogbo land or let me compare you with Adedibu.

    Ask my political opponents, they refer to my place as agbala (compound). I’m not like Adedibu. I don’t take money from the people I want to assist. that is why when you see this poor phone and the N3,000 credit that is there, you will be happy.

    Will you relive your arrest and detention experience?

    I was picked up on April 15 , 2008 around 3:30am. the person who came to pick me up regrettably, when my first born, Dapo died, came to commiserate with me. I was picked up. They took me to FIB along the express road. they were asking me questions, before I was taken to Ataoja Police Station. I was there, I wrote my statement. They wanted me to implicate my good friend, my leader, the governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola which I refused to do, they took my statement.

    They came the second day, they sat me down. I was surrounded by three AK47 guns. During the course of the stupid questions they asked me, they told me to write an additional statement and I asked them what they meant by additional statement. I took the paper they gave to me and I rubbished them.

    I threw the piece of paper on the IPO. And I asked them to shoot if they wanted to shoot. By and large, they left furiously with the 407 the car they were using to operate. They nearly somersaulted at the gate. They came as early as 6.30 the second day, they took me to the magistrate’s court. The magistrate in attendance asked me after reading their charge, ‘Sunday Laoye vs Commissioner of police.’ They said I was involved in a bomb blast. I said what do you mean? They now asked, if I wanted my case to be tried there, I said no. he said where? I said high court. I provoked him. They now took me to SARS. I was in SARS for almost 33 days. Again, they said they wanted to refer me to the court, I refused. it was from there I was remanded in prison for almost 30 something days.

    You still drive yourself all around town, why is this so?

    I still retain my small gulf car. Between six and seven, you won’t find me driving this Mercedes jeep. you see me inside golf alone, I drive myself. I’m not chauffeur-driven because I hate a lot of things big men do to their drivers. Some of the big men, when it remains two or three days to pay, they sack their drivers. When I had a driver, between 26 / 27, his salary was paid. But right now, I can’t afford to pay a driver.

    Was there anytime your family discouraged you from the struggle?

    (Long pause) I have a very very strong wife, she does not discourage me from politicking.

    Even at the risk of your life?

    She was always with me when I was being detained at SARS. She would come 10 am and would not leave till 9pm, even my late son and others, none of them discouraged me. If they had discouraged me, my temple would have crumbled. As you see me so, health wise I’m sound. I’m always alone in this car.

    When are you going to quit activism?

    Till death do us part. I can not leave politics, I cannot leave the struggle. More importantly, the present governor is not a coward, he is very tough. I love him, he is a great man.

    What role did you play in the choice of your sister as the deputy governor? Was it as a result of the part you played in the struggle that made her to be appointed a deputy governor ?

    No. Rather because my sister is the deputy governor, it has created more problems for me because I cannot take any major position in government. A lot of people come to me for obligations which the two of them (the governor and deputy) are meeting. I go to neither deputy governor nor governor’s office but let me tell you the truth of the matter, my hands are in both offices. There is no time I write my leader, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, that he will refuse to come to my aid. We communicate at different times positively; I don’t get negative answers from the two of them. I’m okay, I’m rich in mind more than any serving commissioner.

    Where did you imbibe the culture of activisim?

    I took my political tutelage from the Cicero of Esa Oke (the late Chief Bola Ige). When I was young, I was always in the struggle. I led a team protesting against our principal when I was schooling in Freetown. I attended government college Freetown, we were agitating against the authorities, I was to be expelled alongside other students. imagine a guy who went to Freetown because he could not get a place in Nigeria, he had nobody, my father died when I was eight years. imagine you had a chance to school in Freetown, you were leading a protest, forgetting that you are not a Sierra Leonean. I took part in the process of activism through my senior in school in Sierra Leone, I used to admire him. I copied this my senior in school and when I came to Nigeria, I was involved in activisim. When I saw the Cicero of Esa Oke after returning to Nigeria, I was impressed. He had what I could call oratory prowess, he was a commander. I loved him, he was a man of so many languages. Luckily, I met Chief Awolowo, December 5 1978. I was the one who mobilised all the youths in Osogbo for the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). it was there the Cicero spotted me and gave the job of organisiing secretary of the defunct UPN.

    How come you have so much political influence here?

    I have mixed with a lot of present and past leaders like Dr. Hammed Oladepo Kusamotu of blessed memory; the late Major-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the elder brother of the late president, Umaru (he has my picture in his home); Arthur Nzeribe, he is a friend. I’m younger to them but very close. If I go to Oguta, I will sleep in his house. I was here in 92/93 to work for the election of Chief Kolapo Olawuyi Ishola and when Osun State was created, I came home with Dr. Wale Adeniran. Adeniran happened to be the pioneer Education Commissioner here.

    What about Oyinlola’s government, did you take part in the election of the governor too?

    I took part. But after the election, I didn’t like the position they gave me – the Chairman of the State’s Sports Council and I also had a grouse with the governor then. by and large Action Congress (AC) came. My wife is a politician too,very powerful. At present, she is treasurer of the party at Olorunda Local government. She left me in the PDP, she went to join the AC, which later became the ACN. Immediately the ACN people saw her, they said Hakuna would soon join them.

    I refused to go to the office, they refused to sack me. I now said if I wanted to be sacked, the best thing I would do was to join a friend of mine when he was going for a political rally. I now joined him by holding a broom during one of his campaigns. Oyinlola saw it. the second day, they brought my letter of sack. I was happy to take the letter of sack and we celebrated the sack by going to The Place (a joint in Osogbo). We celebrated my sack. I now fully joined ACN and we started dismantling the structure from Olorunda that we helped them to build.

    I have to thank God today over the growth and development we are seeing in Osun State. I swear over the dead of my mother and son. The PDP can never win any election in Osun again. See what ACN is doing, see roads, see what is happening; see O’Yes thing, they employed over 20,000 people a thing which Oyinlola refused to do. In the next few months, the roads will be tarred. When that one is done, you will have a smooth ride with your vehicles and they are not stealing money. There are lots of changes on our roads, in every facet of lives, but Oyinlola, for seven and half years, they did nothing.

     

  • Care for foot this rainy season

    RAINY season takes a particular toll on the feet. Many problems may occur with feet such as blisters, heel pains, moles, cracked heel and particularly bad odour. Foot problems especially bad odour and infection are big risks during the rainy season.

    And while you might think that covering them up protects them from the rain, the fact is that the damp weather combined with cold temperatures are a potentially hazardous combination for the feet.

    People, and women in particular, do not give much thought to preventive foot wellness, only taking care of unsightly foot problems after they develop. With just a little bit of care and caution, you can keep your feet in top shape. You should monitor your feet; they need more care in the rainy season.

     

    Tips on how  to help your feet survive the rains

    •After walking through murky water, wash your feet with medicated soap, rinse with water and later soak in warm salt water solution.

    •Always keep your feet warm, don’t get your feet wet in the rain and if such happens, follow the procedure above.

    •Spray your feet with antiseptic foot spray for protection against bad odour: odour occurs from bacteria and sweat glands’ reaction, especially if your shoes are damp or airless shoes.

    •Use quality lotion to keep the skin of your feet soft and moist, but don’t put any lotion in between your toes.

    •Smoking decreases blood supply to your feet.

    •Never walk barefoot or in extremely flat shoes.

    •Soak your feet in warm water for about twenty minutes at least once a week. It is helpful for blood circulation to the feet, feet relaxation and tenderness after long walk.

    •For protection against callous dead cells under the foot, scrub your heels once a week or when having your bath.

    •To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not walk barefooted on sand.

    •Keep your nails trimmed, whether artificial or not.

    •Do not tear your cuticles, this will break the layer of the skin and cause injury. Instead look for cuticle remover cream or cuticle clip.

  • Black and white is huge this season!

    Black and white is huge this season!

    DESPITE the array of colourful designs on the fashion scene, black and white has been one of the biggest trends on the red carpet this season. Whether it is colourful or subtle, there are plenty of ladies who love this look. Black and white dress is a fashion trend that you wouldn’t want to miss, it is classy and sexy!

    Since the beginning of the second quarter of this year, the whole world has hopped on board the black and white madness train! Pants, shorts, tops, shirts, full-on dresses, all made of black and white! Sometimes it is the skirt or parts of the sleeve or perfectly colour of the two.

    How to rock the look

    IT might be the most tried-and-true colour combination, but the sharp punch of ebony and ivory is ever modern. Turn formality on its head in graphically-minded pieces. Or use it to give geometric motifs new class. The perfect accessory: an elegant touch of silver.

  • 7-star luxury hotel berths in Nigeria

    The growing profile of Lagos as one of the cities where top hopitality brands are currently jostling to make their presence felt was boosted early this week with the signing of an agrement for the hospitality management group, the Starwood. The agreement signing involved the owners of the hotel, the construction company, Koray and management Group, Starwood. The hotel was initially designated as a Le Meridien’s four-star property brand. The project is being constructed by the Koray Construction Company, a leading construction company in Turkey.

    Initially designated as a Le Meridien, it was later raised as a luxury collection brand. According to the West African Regional Manager of the Starwood Group, Mr. Alexander Gassuer, the hotel when completed will be the ‘key that unlocks the world’s most treasured destinations.’

    In his address, the Chairman of the Robert Dyson and Diket Limited, owning company of the hotel, Chief Sunny Odogwu expressed his happiness that the realisation of the hotel dream was becoming a reality. He said the property, when completed, will be the ‘first Starwood 7-plus star Luxury Collection mixed Resort and Apartment in Sub-Region Africa.’

    He said the construction of the hotel project was painstakingly done to reflect, so that it will have a 7-star luxury finishing. His words: “During the construction of the project, and while the development was on the 14th floor, the promoters and developers had the intuition to visit other foreign countries in Europe, American and Asia to ascertain whether their thoughts and designs of the ongoing project fall within the standard visualised to be the finished 7+star development. The enlightenment and success achieved during the trip convinced us to return to the drawing board, if we were to achieve the envisaged objective.

    “We re-assessed and re-arranged the financial structure and the appointment of a renowned foreign contractor to achieve a first-class finishing. On completion of the construction, you will all agree that the delay of the finished product was worth it.

    “Consequently, Starwood considered it prudent to upgrade the product from Le Meridien Brand to lucxury Collection Brand, which is being launched today. Furthermore, it is the custom of Starwood to identify with or give the development the name of the historical founder of the town on which the property is located. This will be done with the cooperation of the Lagos State Government who are fully represented here on this occasion.”

    Chief Odogwu used the opportunity to thank both the Federal and the Lagos State governments for their support, saying the hotel will be named after a historic individual in Lagos. He said: “Without the support of the Lagos State Government, the incentives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, especially the Federal Ministry of Finance, the cooperation of first-class and experienced consultants, it is doubtful if any private sector organisation would ever think of embarking on such a project and hope to succeed.

  • Exploring the essence of Lagos

    Exploring the essence of Lagos

    The deserts, to many people, are huge heaps of wasteland with seemingly no tourism value. After all, many think, what would one be doing in a vast sand dunes that look alike? But in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), tour operators put together leisure trips to these huge expanse of sand in the country. They built exciting content around them. Thousands today troop to that country just to experience a safari in the desert. For those who have experienced a desert safari, it is an enjoyable sight. The thrill and excitement is much- the break-neck speed of four-wheel drive through the undulating sands, the late evening view of the sun from the wilderness,the sand barging as the land cruisers speed by, it is best experienced. It is a feeling like no other. The tour operators built a product and a tour content out of nothing. It turned out to be a hit with the rest of the world and now it is a multi-billion dollar business.

    For many Lagosians, as those living in Lagos are called, there is this false sense of familiarity with the mega-city that the idea of going on a leisure tour seems rather unreasonable. After all, it is a city that one lives and daily plots how to navigate through the ‘landmines’ of traffic gridlock and other things that make Lagos peculiar to itself. So, there is nothing to see.

    When the opportunity to go on tour of the city came, the first question was that what is there to see that one had not seen at one time or the other? It turned out to be a wrong perception. Indeed, a tour of Lagos is exciting and something individuals, families and organizations could undertake. It gives one a better opportunity to understand the city better.

    The tour was packaged by S.J. Tours. The take off point was at the end of the Ahmadu Bello Way, linking Adetokunbo Ademola Street, beside Kuramo Beach. The tour guide, Mrs. Abiola Ogunbiyi urged every member of the tour team to visit the Bar Beach as this might just be the last time one might have the opportunity to see the beach.

    Indeed, all that is left of what used to be known as Bar Beach has become a semi-lake that is gradually being taken over by the reclaimed sand. In the next few months, Bar Beach will give way to one of the most ambitious urban development project in the whole of Africa- that is the reclamation of land from the Atlantic Ocean and turning it into a high yielding, up-scale zone that makes both Victoria Island and the Lagos Marina look obsolete. Despite the gradual phasing out of the beach, there were still vendors and urchins that are still scrapping out a living, despite the disappearing water. It was as if the more they stay, the greater the chances that there might be a reversal.

    Walking on water

    The next stop was the corporate headquarters of the Eko Atlantic City. Here, the local tourists were shown an audio-visual stimulation of what the Eko Atlantic City would look like when completed. It is best seen and also difficult to fully conceptualise.

    As if to confirm what one had just seen, there was a drive to the land reclamation site. It becomes a little unreal as one drove deep into what used to be the Bar Beach water fall reclaimed from the ocean.

    After driving for close to 10 minutes, the vehicle stopped at the waterfront near what is now referred to as the Lagos Wall. It was built with a reinforced concrete barrier that has been scientifically tested to withstand ocean surge. It is expected to last for about 1000 years. Here one sees the much touted final solution to ocean surge in Lagos.

    The land so far reclaimed from the ocean is almost twice the size of Lagos and it has not ended. The reclamation is still on, demarcations of choice land acquired by individuals and corporate organisations is also on.

    Peep into the past

    According to the tour itinerary, the next point was the National Museum, Onikan. If the trip to the Eko Atlantic City was a trip into the future, the museum was a return back in time. Right from artifacts of thousands of years back to those of the recent past, the museum captures them succinctly. The most poignant is the section that captures Nigeria’s leadership past and present. Here, apart from portraits of the past leaders, the ill-fated 1976 coup that consumed the then Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed is well documented at the museum. The Mercedez Benz limousine he was riding in, with its bullet ridddled body is well captured. It makes the incident internally vivid in the imagination of visitors to the museum.

    Essence of a people

    Arts captures the totality of a people’s life. In Lagos, nowhere is this captured broadly within the same building like what is seen at Nike Gallery, Lekki, off the Victoria Island-Ajah Expressway.

    At the entrance to welcome the tour group was a local dance troupe that drummed and danced enthusiastically that many of the tourists had no choice but to join. At Nike Gallery, many of the tourists confessed to having an experience of a life time.

    Chief Nike Ekundaye is an individual who understands the import of tourism in the life of a developing country and as such, collaborated with the S.J. Tours, the tour operators, to put together the tour experience.

    The group were treated to hot akara (beans cake) and puff puff (doughnut) from a woman who was frying it in front of the building. Next was a lesson in textile art. Every tourist was given a piece of clothe to test his or her dyeing skill after being taught the fundamentals. Like little children, each tourist’s face disssolved into smiles watching the dyed material transform into a spectrum of colours. It was not over yet.

    The next was a lesson in traditional dance. This was after the Eyo dancers had finished entertaining.

    The dance lesson was both entertaining and also an exercise. The experience at the gallery was both educational and entertaing that none wanted to leave. But they had to go.

    Chief Nike Ekundaye was on hand to say good bye to the tourists. The tour group was to head for Lekki market but this was cancelled because it was already late. So, Terra Kulture, an all-inclusive leisure spot was the next port of call. Here, one had an opportunity to enjoy the best of local cuisines in an ambience that was trulyAfrican.

    the impression one got from the tour is that it is important, once in a while, for individuals, groups and corporate organisations to embark on such tours.

    If one takes time out to tour Lagos, one discovers the soul of this enigmatic city.

  • There are four guys who say they love me but I have eyes for someone else

    Please, Aunty, i am confused, there are four guys who say they love me but I have eyes for someone else. B.

    As far as I am concerned, you do not have business with the four boys running after you. The one you want should be your main focus. But if the one you love doesn’t feel the same, do not rush to meet any of the four waiting in the wings. Wait until you meet another person you truly admire. There’s no point in managing people we honestly don’t feel anything for just because we want to be in a relationship.