The Nation Newspaper

Category: Special Report

  • ‘Where you are born determines your future’

    The Goalkeepers Data Report, which the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to produce every year through 2030, is timed to the annual gathering of world leaders in New York City for the U.N. General Assembly. OLUKOREDE YISHAU examines this report, which shows that despite progress made, the health and education indexes in Nigeria are far from desirable

     

    BILL and Melinda Gates have in the last few years worked to improve a lot of countries in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Nigeria is one country, where their foundation has an office, and they have partnered with Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote to help Nigeria get the health of its people right.

    Two days ago, they released their Gatekeepers Report 2019. One key takeaway from the report is: “Where you are born is more predictive of your future than any other factor.”

    The Gates’ observation tallies with a World Bank Human Capital Index, which shows that “children born in Nigeria today will be only 34 per cent as productive when they grow up as they could be.”

    Gatekeepers Report 2019 shows that Nigeria’s health indicators have improved.  In the late 1990s, it was estimated that two out of three Nigerians were living in poverty. That represented 68 per cent. Twenty years later, the figure has dropped to 32 per cent of the population or one in three Nigerians.

    Sixty-four per cent of children used to suffer from malnutrition in 2005. This went down to 37 per cent last year, according to figures supplied by the foundation.

    Only about half of Nigerians used unsafe or unimproved sanitation in 2018 compared to 80 per cent in 1990.

    As good as these improvements are, Nigeria still ranks 43rd of 52 African countries on a recently compiled sustainable development goal index. The implication of this is that the country has gone 47 per cent towards achieving sustainable development goals. The Gatekeepers Report lists the country as one of those who will not meet the SDGs 2030 deadline.

    Being the biggest Africa’s biggest economy, so why is it ranked so low? Gatekeepers’ report 2018 observed that poverty is concentrating on just a handful of very fast-growing countries. By 2050, for example, more than 40 per cent of Congo and Nigeria.”

    Closely tied to this is the fact that Nigeria still has the second-highest number of deaths of children under the age of five. It tags behind India.

    The 2019 report says life is better for boy-child. “No matter where you are born, your life will be harder if you are born a girl,” the report says.

    It added that across sub-Saharan Africa, girls have an average of two fewer years of education than boys. In Nigeria, according to the World Bank, girls get an average of 7.6 years, and boys get 8.7 years.

    The report recommends that “human capital investments should be designed to reach girls and prioritise those countries and districts that have to make up the most ground”.

    The report also observes that education is not enough to bridge the gender divide.

    “In some countries where girls tend to be well-educated they are still underrepresented in the workforce because they also face discriminatory norms and policies.

    “Africa’s youth population (people aged 0 to 24 years) is booming while the rest of the world is shrinking,” says the report.

    The median age across Africa is 18; it is 35 in North America and 47 in Japan.

    The report also showed that in Nigeria child mortality rate reduced from 109 per 1,000 birth in 2017 to 104 per 1,000 live birth in 2018 while child stunting reduced from 38.14 per cent in 2017 to 36.74 per cent last year.

    Malaria death, the report shows, reduced from about 166 per 1,000 population in 2017 to 160.72 per 1,000 population and cases of tuberculosis reduced from 351.8 per 100,000 population to 344.2 in 2018.

    Instances of Neglected Tropical Diseases, according to the report, went down from 52,566 per 100,000 population in 2017 to 50,584 last year. On a sad note, the number of people living in poverty increased from 66.83 million in 2017 to 67.48 million in 2018.

    The report showed that Measles-Containing-Vaccine second dose (MCV2) was low at 39.27 per cent, Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) immunisation coverage was 36.39 per cent.

    The report also revealed that the vaccine coverage for Pneumoccocal conjugate vaccines (PCV3) was at 35.67 per cent.

    The Gates in the 2019 Gatekeepers’ Report entitled: “Examining Inequality 2019,” say: “Gaps between countries, districts, and boys and girls prove that the world’s investments in development aren’t reaching everyone.

    “Using new sub-national data, the report uncovers the vast inequalities within countries that are masked by averages.

    “Where you’re born is still the biggest predictor of your future and no matter where you’re born, life is harder if you’re a girl.

    “Despite gains in female educational attainment, opportunities for girls are limited by social norms, discriminatory laws and policies, and gender-based violence.

    “As we write, billions of people are projected to miss the targets that we all agreed represent a decent life.”

    The foundation called for a new approach to development, targeting the poorest people in the countries and districts that need to make up the most ground to address persistent inequality.

    “Governments should prioritise primary healthcare to deliver a health system that works for the poorest.

    “Government should also deliver digital governance to ensure that governments are responsive to their least-empowered citizens, and more support for farmers to help them adapt to climate change’s worst effects,” it said.

    It added: “The report is designed to track progress in achieving the Global Goals, highlight examples of success, and inspire leaders around the world to accelerate their efforts.

    “The goal is to identify both what’s working and where we’re falling short,” it said.

    Bill Gates, in an interview to launch the report, said:” Nigeria is a super-important country and one that the foundation has an office there.  We did a lot of work in Nigeria on polio and we learned a lot doing that.  Nigeria has gone almost three years now without having a polio case.

    “The biggest priority we have, although making absolutely sure we’re done with polio remains a big priority, now we’re able to focus even more on the primary health care system.

    “If I had one wish for Nigeria, it would be that the quality and funding of the primary health care system would achieve the level of some other countries that are lower-income but have done a better job with the primary health care system.  So, it definitely is doable.

    “In Nigeria for a lot of the work we do there we’re partnered with Aliko Dangote, who helps us understand who the good partners are and exactly how we can reach out to groups like the traditional leaders and get them involved in these efforts as well.

    “So, Nigeria is important, I’m hopeful about Nigeria.  As you see in the report, the disparities within Nigeria are quite stark.

    “Also, one challenge that Nigeria has is that the amount of money that the government raises domestically is quite small compared to other countries.  A lot of countries at that level will be raising closer to 15 per cent of GDP and Nigeria is one of the lowest in the world down at about 6 per cent.  And so, it is a huge challenge that when you want to fund infrastructure, health, education, all those things, that over time the tax collection, the domestic resources are going to have to go up quite a bit.

    “That’s a long-term effort and I think partly by making sure the current resources are spent well like on primary health care, you gain the credibility that the citizens will say, okay, we want more of these things.  If we don’t raise the quality, you can get into a trap where they don’t feel like paying the taxes actually has that much impact, and so they’re not supportive of that.

    “So, we’re working hard.  I mentioned we do videoconferences with state governors.  If we can make the six states into exemplars, then these practices can be extended to all 18 of the northern states.  There are best practices down in the south as well that we can learn from that as well. And so, you know, building on what we were able to achieve with polio and the relationships we’ve built there and our commitment, starting with primary health care, we think that Nigeria can tackle its inequality.”

  • X-raying Oye-Ekiti varsity tragedy

    The circumstances that led to the death of two students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti are still creating a mournful atmosphere in Ekiti State. Different sides of the story have been heard but there are still more untold, reports RASAQ IBRAHIM

    When Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Ekiti State governor’s wife, planned a tour to Oye-Ekiti, the headquarters of Oye Local Government and home of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), she had no inkling that she would be at the centre of a tragedy, which saw the shooting of live bullets at students. Two died.

    The tour was day two of an empowerment programme tagged Obinrinkete tour. Mrs Fayemi’s visit was in continuation of her tour across the 16 local government areas of the state to campaign against gender-based violence, genital mutilation and rape among other women -related issues.

    The tour commenced on Monday, September 9, with visits to two local governments- Ekiti East and Ikole.

    Three local government areas, Moba, Ilejemeje and Oye, were billed for day two. The first two visits were peaceful.

    When the empowerment train arrived in Oye-Ekiti, it met a protest staged by the students of the Federal University over poor power supply to the community and other adjoining communities. The protest turned violent when the students and the security detail around Mrs Fayemi engaged in ‘mortal combat’.

    One of the protesting students, who craved anonymity, told The Nation: “We had gathered as early as 6:39 am in front of the gates of the twin campuses of the institution in both Oye and Ikole to press home our demands.

    “We were frustrated with the protracted issue of poor electricity in the academic area knowing full well it is a necessity to us as students. It was on this basis we proceeded to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) with Aluta spirit to vent our anger. If not for the appeasement by the policemen we would have burnt the offices to ashes.

    “The policemen appealed to us and we left for our various hostels. But when we heard that the wife of Ekiti State governor would be visiting the town for the empowerment and advocacy programme, we regrouped to interface with her and express our grievances.”

    Mrs Fayemi was received by hundreds of excited commercial motorcyclists when she got to the town. At the venue of the event, the old women were anxious for their food bank (Ounje Arugbo), school girls were waiting for their sanitary pads and artisans were there to benefit.

    An 80-year-old widow, Priscilla Adetilu, said the students bombarded the venue of the event.

    “When there were no more spaces inside the hall, I decided to sit outside. Suddenly, I saw a large number of FUOYE students with cudgel and stones. They approached the security operatives at the entrance to allow them into the hall. But they declined.

    “The students insisted that they wanted to see Erelu but one of the policemen said the First Lady could not break protocol and that they should allow her to finish her speech so that they could have an audience with her. It was then the students started shouting it is now! It is now! It is now,” she added.

    “And the next thing I saw was that they started throwing stones and broken bottles into the event centre. They destroyed vehicles in the arena with stones and big sticks. And that tinker the peaceful atmosphere. While trying to scamper for safety, I fell and lost my phone.”

    The protesting students barricaded the Oye-Ikole-Omuo-Lokoja highway and made bonfires to prevent the convoy of the wife of the governor from leaving the town. In an attempt to disperse the students, the security operatives used teargas canisters but the protesting students were unrelenting.

    In the end, two students, a 100- level student of Crop Science and Horticulture, Oluwaseyi Kehinde, and Joseph Okonofua, a 300-level student of biology education department, died. Several students sustained injuries of varying degrees. Also, over a dozen vehicles were vandalised, while that of the security operatives were burnt and two AK47 rifles seized by the rampaging students.

    Mrs Fayemi said her convoy was attacked by the protesting students with stones and sticks.

    She said: “While we were at Ilejemeje, we received a call from our advance security team that FUOYE students were protesting lack of electricity in Oye town.

    “We were told that more information would be provided on the situation. Shortly after, we received words that the students had dispersed and the coast was clear for my visit.

    “When my convoy got to the Oye-Isan junction, we were met by a convoy of excited Okada riders who led us into Oye town. We made a stop at the primary health care centre along the road for me to present delivery kits to expectant mothers.

    “There was no sign of any trouble. We proceeded to the venue of my town hall meeting at the civic centre with women in Oye Local Government. The atmosphere was very peaceful, the women were singing and dancing and there was nothing to indicate that anything was amiss.”

    Fayemi added: “Half-way through our event, there was a disturbance outside. The FUOYE students (and possibly infiltrated by local thugs) had re-grouped and were trying to get into the venue. The security officers prevented this from happening.

    “We finished our programme, and by the time we got outside, we found that vehicles from my convoy and those of my guests that were parked outside the venue had been vandalised.

    “As we were driving out of Oye town, we encountered at least two roadblocks that the students had mounted to prevent the movement of vehicles. I could see students/thugs throwing stones and large sticks at us as we drove by.

    “However, the casualties that were recorded did not take place while I was there. There are eyewitnesses, photographs and video footage to confirm this.”

    But, the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Publicity Secretary, Adeyemi Azeez, claimed that the crisis occurred because Fayemi’s wife refused to address the protesting students. He alleged that she ordered her security aides to be ruthless with the students – an allegation Mrs Fayemi denied.

    She described the allegations as a concocted falsehood and monumental misrepresentation of facts in all its measures.

    She said she didn’t come across protesting students, noting she couldn’t have objected to civil protest being a human rights crusader.

    She said: “I did not encounter any group of students when I got to Oye town. They had dispersed before my arrival, and when they regrouped I was at the venue.

    “It is possible, as I stated earlier, that the group that came to the venue trying to gain access with sticks and stones in hand might have included local hoodlums, but there was no way of telling the difference.

    “I am scandalised and shocked beyond words to hear that I instructed security officers to shoot at students.

    “If I had met a group of protesting students, as a social justice activist myself, I would have listened to their complaints and addressed them. I firmly believe in citizens’ rights to protest on issues of concern.

    “I am deeply saddened that at least one fatality has been recorded. As a mother, my heart bleeds. All these students are my children, and no mother prays to weep over her offspring.”

    The National Association of Nigerian Students/Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Ekiti chapter, condemned Azeez for his attempts to blackmail Mrs Fayemi to score cheap political points.

    A statement by Ogunleye Abiola Johnson, Ojo Pius Oluwaseun and Owaraye Damilola, chairman, General Secretary and PRO of the group said: “It is imperative to state that the version of the story been promoted by the self- acclaimed PRO of NANS is nothing but a mere conjunction of poorly package lies and blackmail by some rent-seekers who derive pleasure in cashing out from Nigerian students woes.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we will resist any attempt by some fifth columnist to turn this ugly and very regrettable recklessness of the Nigerian Police to a political instrument of blackmail or a paycheque for rent-seekers.”

    FUOYE’s Students Union Government (SUG) President Oluwaseun Awodola insisted that the students were unjustly killed by the governor’s wife’s security details.

    Awodola claimed the peaceful protest turned violent after he was slapped by a security detail attached to Mrs Fayemi.

    “The CSO to the Governor apologised and went to the extent of saying he was ready to take me to the Governor’s office and ensure the CTU officer apologised.

    “He also said we should meet with the governor’s wife but we were unable to meet with anyone as the students didn’t allow their leader to be taken away to meet anyone but kept requesting for the CTU officer.

    “I wasn’t sure what was happening any longer as I saw stones flying from different corners and stray bullets and CTU Officers advancing towards the road and entered the streets.

    “I had to run for safety as I couldn’t move well and fast. Although, where I was heading wasn’t so far, in a few minutes I was indoors as I narrowly escaped different stray bullets by armed police and CTU officers.”

    Ekiti Police Command spokesman DSP Caleb Ikechukwu said the students attacked the convoy of the governor’s wife. He also claimed the police fired no shots.

    The university management shut down the school indefinitely and suspended the students’ union. It also set up a panel to investigate the protest and the circumstances of the death of the students.

    The Ekiti State government sent a delegation to pay condolences to the families of the deceased students.

    The delegation visited Usi Ekiti and Ido Ekiti where the families of Dada Kehinde and Okonufua Joseph stay.

    A source close to the Government House said since the FUOYE incident, Mrs Fayemi has been in “emotional stress”.

    “Her heart is bleeding for those that died and sustained an injury in the occurrence. She is in her saddest moment.

    “It is unfortunate that the ugly occurrence could come at a time when the present administration in Ekiti State is trying to put things aright as a foot gap from the past administration.

    “Many people know that Erelu Fayemi cannot instruct her security detail to shoot the protesting students. It is just a cock and bull story to blight her good name.

    “She’s a mother after all. She understands the value of life. She knows what it means to bring forth and she is like most mothers would never pray for other mothers to lose their children,” she said.

  • Our raw deal with killer soldiers in Taraba

    Two of the five operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Inspector Sanni Abib a.k.a. Osha and his team member, Abu Yunus, have revealed how they managed to escape from the IRT operation vehicle in Ibi town, Taraba State when soldiers allegedly rained bullets on the vehicle in a bid to rescue the millionaire kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala Wadume.

    The IRT operatives had captured Wadume and were conveying him from Ibi to the police headquarters in Jalingo when some soldiers attacked their vehicle, killing three police officers and one civilian while they also left other occupants of the vehicle with bullet wounds, after which they unshackled Wadume and set him free.

    Narrating how he managed to escape being shot dead by the soldiers allegedly on a mission to rescue Wadume, who was believed to be very close to some of the soldiers, one of the lucky survivors of the attack, Inspector Abib, said: “I am the team leader of the IRT operatives who went to Ibi, Taraba State to arrest the kidnap kingpin Wadume. I was face to face with death but I conquered by the grace of God Almighty.

    “We had first gone to Jalingo, Kari Area Command to process our documents, after which we went to Ibi Police Station and booked our movement. There is only one road that leads into Ibi town, and it is the same road one must take to get out of it.

    “There are also three checkpoints on the road. The first is manned by soldiers. The second is manned by mobile police officers while the third checkpoint is also manned by soldiers. It means that if you are entering Ibi, the first checkpoint you see is one manned by soldiers. And if you are leaving the town, the first checkpoint you see is soldiers’ checkpoint. There is a gap of two to three kilometres between the checkpoints.

    “When we arrested the kidnap suspect Wadume, we handcuffed him and also chained his legs, put him inside our IRT operation vehicle and started our journey back to the police headquarters when the soldiers started attacking us.

    “At the time we left Ibi town and were about to cross the three checkpoints, we did not expect that the soldiers would attack us. So, it was a big surprise, because they were aware of our official movement and our mission.

    “On our way into the town, we got to the first checkpoint manned by soldiers and they passed us. The second checkpoint manned by mobile police officers passed us and the third one manned by soldiers also passed us.

    “After due documentation, we went and arrested Wadume. And as we headed back to the police headquarters, we passed the first army checkpoint and the second checkpoint manned by mobile policemen. But as we were getting near the last army checkpoint, we noticed that one Picnic vehicle was following us, and at a point, they started firing at our vehicle.

    “We were all the more surprised when we noticed that the occupants of the vehicle were soldiers. And as we were still wondering about the attack by soldiers in a Picnic vehicle, another vehicle, a Hilux GPMP with soldiers carrying machine guns, overtook the Picnic vehicle and started firing at our vehicle.

    “The way they sprayed bullets made our vehicle to summersault three or four times. To get out of our bullet-riddled vehicle which had tumbled, I had to use my leg to break the window glass. Seeing that the soldiers had not stopped firing, I crawled some distance before I dashed into a nearby bush. But on noticing that about three soldiers were pursuing us and firing at the same time, I jumped into a river and remained in it for about 30 minutes. When they could not see me, they went back to their checkpoint with their AK47 rifles and I came out of the river and continued my escape bid.

    “I walked carefully through the bush, knowing that it could contain various traps and dangerous snakes.

    “When I got to Ibi Police Station, I heaved a sigh of safety, then I fell down any fainted. When I rediscovered myself, I discovered that I had bullets brushes on my right leg and in the back. The officers at the police station rushed me to the general hospital in Ibi for medical attention.

    “It was at the hospital that I met my other colleagues who had also escaped from the bloody scene. That was where I saw Mark being operated upon to remove the bullets the soldiers had pumped into his tummy. I also met Mathias with bullet wounds on his right leg. I stayed in the hospital for five days before I was discharged and I went to Ibi Police Station from where we finally left.”

    Abib described the death of his colleague, Mark, in the hospital as a particularly painful experience, saying that he wept profusely when he saw the deceased colleague’s condition before he eventually gave up the ghost.

    Another survivor, Abu Yanusa, described his escape as sheer miracle.

    “My survival was a miracle. The way the soldiers were firing made me to think that the bullets got me. But to God be the glory, there was no fatal wound when I got to the general hospital,” he said.

    Asked how he managed to escape, he said: “It was the team leader that showed us the way when he used his leg to break the vehicle’s window glass. When he jumped out, I followed him. Even when he was crawling I followed suit. Because of persistent firing by the soldiers, crawling was the only safe way to get away from the scene as fast as possible.

    “However, when we noticed that about three soldiers were pursuing us fully armed with AK47 and firing indiscriminately, we ran in different directions. As for me, I ran in the direction where I could quickly get to the main road. But my mind skipped a beat when I saw some natives with machetes and clubs advancing aggressively towards me. They surrounded me and asked me to identify myself, and I did so immediately.

    “I told them how we came to arrest the suspect Wadume and how the army came to rescue him and how they fired our vehicle and wanted to kill all of us, hence our decision to run in order to save our lives.

    “After explaining to them, they believed me. They said they knew Wadume as a notorious kidnapper.

    They asked where I was going and told them that I was going to the area command, and they followed me down to the area. When we got to a point a few meters to the area command office, they pointed at the place and went back.

    “From the Area Command, I was taken to the hospital where I met my team leader, Inspector Abib and others who had escaped. I also saw Mark who they were operating on as a result of the bullets in his tummy.”

    The suspected kidnapper, Hamisu Bala Wadume, had confessed his murderous escape from the grip of the operatives of Intelligence Response Team on August 6 in  Ibi, Taraba State. Speaking in Hausa language, Wadume said he escaped from the custody of IRT operatives when they came under attack from soldiers attached to Battalion 93, Takum, Taraba State, as they conveyed him from the scene of his arrest.

    The Army later explained that the soldiers attacked the IRT operatives because they mistook them for criminals, following a distress call they had received. In the said attack, three policemen and a civilian were killed, while five other operatives sustained injuries.

    Wadume was, however, re-arrested on the eve of Monday, August 19, as revealed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

    In his confessions, Wadume, virtually implicated soldiers at the Battalion 93, Takum, Taraba State over his escape from the IRT custody. He said the soldiers were the ones who set him free by cutting his leg chains and handcuffs at an army base and he went home a free man before he was rearrested by IRT operatives in Kano.

    The kidnap suspect, who was alleged to have received millions of naira as ransom from his victims, had confessed thus:  “My name is Hamisu Bala Wadume. The police came to arrest me. When they arrested me, the army chased after them and opened fire. From there, they (soldiers) took me to their headquarters, and cut off my handcuffs. I went back to my house and the police came to re-arrest me.”

    Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that the suspected kidnap kingpin and the Divisional Crime Police Officer in Ibi community had exchanged 200 calls.

    However, it is still not clear when the army authority will release the findings of the panel they appointed to look into the matter towards proper trial of those indicted in the ugly incident.

  • The airport, the market and the abbatoir

    The Akanu Ibiam Airport is one of Nigeria’s five international airports. For years, it has been in a sorry state, which has led to its closure. CHRIS OJI examines the politics of this project, which is expected to be delivered before Christmas

     

    IT is an international airport. But until recently, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu had a major market as a neighbor. There was also an abattoir around it. Activities in the two places attracted birds.  There were also a number of buildings that should not be near an airport of international status.

    The poor state of the airport made Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika threaten to downgrade its status. After the threat, Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi relocated the market and dismantled the radio mast said to be interfering with flight communications.

    But more facilities are needed to ensure full operation of international flights from the airport. Now the airport is closed.

    Businessmen and other passengers who used the airport until its closure on August 24 are not smiling. Now, they have to operate through the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State. Only Ethiopian Airlines is approved to operate an international flight from the airport.

    South easterners were against the closure and claimed it was another subtle way of shutting out the zone economically. A meeting between Sirika and the Southeast governors in Enugu calmed down nerves.

    The minister in May rustled feathers when he announced the Federal Government’s plan to close the airport.

    Aside the presence of a market near the airport, which attracts birds and promotes bird-strikes, the minister also complained about the presence of a wrongly-placed radio mast, which interferes with flight communications, as well as the deplorable state of the runway.

    Prior to the development, there was a near plane crash as a result of some birds from the abattoirs of the nearby market that flew into one of the engines of the plane. But for the dexterity and experience of the pilot, the country would have lost a generation of Nigerian politicians who were on that flight.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), through its Corporate Affairs Manager Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, did not give the possible date of resumption of operations, and this was what worried users of the airport and stakeholders in the Southeast.

    The latest closure is the second time the airport is being closed for work. The first closure of the Enugu Airport in 2010 for the first phase of the expansion of the runway lasted between February 10 and December 16.

    After the meeting with the Southeast governors on August 31, the minister said: “Indeed, for us at the centre in this federating country, we take the city of Enugu extremely important because what Enugu is to the South East is what Kaduna, for example, is to the North or Ibadan to the South West.

    So contemplating to close down the runway in the heart of the Southeastern part of the country, very mobile, very enterprising people, it’s not done without complete respect and regard to the activities around this centre; it was purely based on safety to ensure that people that are flying into the airport do so safely. This airport is one of the five International Airports that we have, I want to assure you that we will take all the seriousness that it deserves, and we should be able to deliver this project all things being equal before Christmas.

    “We are conscious and aware of the hardships that you might go through but I believe it is worth it in the interest of safety and the committee that has been formed will discuss the palliative and we will also discuss the arrangement, planning.”

    The Southeast governors through their chairman, Governor Dave Umahi, said: “We acknowledge the safety reasons given to us by the Hon Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika for the closure of Enugu Airport. It’s a matter of need to save the lives of our people, the deterioration went for a long time but the status is such in a deplorable situation that we have to close it to save the lives of our people and we acknowledge his measures and we are very satisfied with his passion and his readiness to uplift the airport. Hon Minister of Aviation has assured us that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport will be reconstructed to meet the Abuja International Airport standard, the runway shall be reconstructed and extended, and the landing equipment shall be replaced with a better night landing light installation and he has assured that the work will go on day and night and it must be completed before December 2019.

    Other works like the cargo section, an extension of the tarmac, buildings that were damaged by rainstorm etc are also in the package. He has assured us also that two sets of contractors are pinned down for any of them to be used like Julius Berger as we requested and PW but in the weeks ahead we will be asking him that we have a choice of Julius Berger.

    “Palliative measures are being arranged and the Southeast governors will have a committee with Minister of Aviation and Minister of Works to discuss on the palliative measures.

    “We are very committed as Southeast governors for the safety of pour people, for the convenience of our people to ease all inconveniences and these we are going to do. Some states have already started and some states will also follow. And in the next one week we will totally roll out our palliative measures and we assure our people of their safety.”

    The Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, where most of the flights are being diverted, is being given a facelift.

  • Edo’s roads of nightmare

    Of all the major highways in Edo State, the Bénin-Okenne-Abuja and Benin-Ore-Lagos are the most strategic for travellers across the country. The two roads connect the South-West and the North to the South South and South East. There usually are heavy vehicular traffic on the roads, especially during festive periods.

    The nightmare experienced by travellers and motorists plying the Bénin-Auchi Road in 2016 has returned. Motorists had previously resorted to taking the Agbor axis or pass through Igueben to get to Ekpoma.

    The public outcry about the deplorable condition of the Bénin-Okenne highway had led to remedial work being done on it, but the heavy rains in recent times have destroyed the palliative work and rendered it impassable. The numerous potholes on the road are now giving motorists nightmares.

    At Obagie village near Ugha, the road has been cut off completely. Ehor Junction near Jehovah’s Witness has a big pothole that causes serious traffic jam while the conditions of many other sections of the road make travelling a tortuous affair.

    Some progress has, however, been made in the dualisation of the Bénin-Auchi-Okenne highway. The contractors handling the various sections of the road were sighted by our correspondent at different spots. A journey from Benin to Ekpoma, which ordinarily should take not more than between 45 minutes and one hour, now takes more than two hours, while a journey from Bénin to Okenne through Auchi takes up to six hours!

    The sections of the road that are particularly bad include Okpella, Ekpoma and Ehor. Sadly, as motorists make effort to avoid the bad spots as they pass through Okpella community, the locals block the road and demand for money before they would allow them to pass.

    In Ekpoma, the bad sections force motorists to pass through the township roads, which incidentally are also under construction. To ease movement, the Chairman of Esan West Local Government, Mr. Patrick Aguinede, arranged for the pouring of stones on the road between J5 Junction and Timray filling station.

    Some motorists who spoke with our correspondent said the government should urge the contractors, particularly the ones handing the Ekpoma axis of the road, to intensify their efforts.

    Aguinede, in a chat with our correspondent, described the condition of the road as pathetic, saying that he had spent millions of naira to fill the potholes with stones at the Ekpoma section.

    Lamenting the situation, he said: “The road was totally bad. I had to pour 15 trucks of hard core (big stones) on the road for vehicles to pass. I also had to pour another five trucks in other sections. The contractors should come and refund the millions of naira I have spent. I am tired of trying all the time to make the federal road motorable. The contractors in charge should do the palliative works needed on the road.”

    Also, the owner of Ray Royal firm, Rev Matthew Okpebholo, was also said to have helped in pouring gravels on some failed parts of the road.

    A commuter, Mr. Ibrahim Yusuf, who had just returned from a trip to Abuja, likened his experience to the tortuous journey of the Israelites in the bible.

    He said: “The roads are in such deplorable conditions. The Benin/Auchi Road from Ehor down to Ekpoma and to Agbede is almost impassable.

    “Government must urgently rehabilitate this road, especially now that the EMBER months, which usually involves mass movement of people and goods, are here.

    “My journey was rough because of the bad roads.”

    Transporters plying the Benin-Auchi route are considering raising the fare from N1,000 to N1,500 due to the losses incurred from vehicle repairs and the long hours they spend on the road. t press time, the transport fare had been raised to N1,200.

    The Manager of Afenmai Line, one of the private transport companies in Edo, Mr. Salihu Momoh, said the bad roads were affecting their business adversely as many of the buses in their fleet are always trapped on the road.

    He said: “As you can see, only one bus has returned from Auchi since morning, and this is 3 pm. Others are choked on the road. We had to tow two of our vehicles from that road yesterday.

    “Passengers are coming but there are no buses on ground. Drivers who used to ply the road two or three times daily can only make one trip now. Some of my drivers are even refusing to ply the road now. Bad road leads to loss of revenue.”

    A driver at the park of Afenmai Line, who gave his name as Abel, said drivers now spend six hours travelling from Benin to Auchi. He said they now have to go through Agbor to Ekpoma through Igueben just to reduce the time they spend to four or five hours.

    At Big Joe Motors, the fare to Auchi was N1,200 at press time. Micheal Akhigbe, a driver, said he spent seven hours on the road on Monday taking passengers from Benin to Auchi.

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Valentine Omoifo, who works at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Esan Central Local Government Area, said he and other members of the staff of the hospital now take alternative routes to Benin.

    He said: “That road is hell. Many of the staff coming from Benin now resume late. I have to drive through Igueben to navigate my way to Agbor Road, which is very far. The government has to do something to help the masses plying the road.”

    Robbery, kidnapping compound matters

    For the Bénin-Ore highway, the problem is not much about the failed portions of the road but the fear of being kidnapped or robbed. All sorts of persons, including the sales representatives of newspapers, have been abducted on the road with ransoms paid for their release.

    A lecturer at Igbinedion University, Okada, identified as Kelvin Izebeokhai, was recently killed by robbers on the road. Three women, Okuboere, Seifefa and Amara, who were travelling from Bayelsa to Lagos were also abducted on the road last month.

    Only last month, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar, ran into kidnappers on the road while he was going for a function at Okada, the headquarters of Ovia North East Local Government Area. His men had to chase the kidnappers away before motorists could continue their journey. The worrisome situation made Abubakar to personally patrol the road.

    What often provides cover for the kidnappers and robbers is the forest. Policemen stationed on the highway would not see them until they begin operation. A police source said the kidnappers would drag their victims through the forest to a road where motorcycles are waiting for them. The road is said to lead to Ondo and Lagos states.

    Apparently embarrassed by the daily occurrence of kidnapping and to keep the Bénin-Ore axis safe, the Edo State Police Command sought approval to clear a section of the forest along the highway. Five bulldozers were hired and the contractor was assured of adequate security while on site. The purpose is also to take the battle to the kidnappers’ den in the forest.

    Last month, the forest was cleared 50 metres inward between Ovia River and Okada junction. During an inspection of the forest by Abubakar, some live and expended ammunition were recovered under a shed close to the highway. It was believed to be the hiding spot of the kidnappers they struck.

    Speaking to newsmen at the clearing site, Abubakar said: “For the past three weeks, I have not stayed in my office. I am always on patrol. We have destroyed lots of kidnappers’ camps.

    “There is no alternative route to this road. This road is strategic to the East and the South-South. We will not allow what is happening elsewhere to happen here. This operation will be sustained.

    “You can see that from these spots, they can see our men but we cannot see them. This road must be kept safe. We will not allow kidnappers to remain.

    “The battle line has been drawn. We want to be seeing the kidnappers. We are experiencing pockets of attacks along this road. This is one of the black spots.

    “They operate guerilla style. We have foiled their operations severely. That is why we have huge traffic flow on this road. We do not want what is happening elsewhere to happen here.

    “This road is very strategic. It is gateway to the South South and South East. We are always on this road to give the public confidence.

    “We have made a lot arrests and recovered arms. We have charged many to court and others are under investigation. We are not sleeping. The fight is ongoing. We will not relent. They cannot have the opportunity to operate again once they move out. We will get them.”

    Last week, Abubakar reassessed the progress made on securing the Bénin-Ore highway and concluded that the kidnappers have fled.

    He said: “Since we cleared the forest, they have run away. We also carried out bush combing where we destroyed a lot of camps.

    “The hoodlums and kidnappers have relocated from Edo State now. For the past two weeks, there has been nothing like kidnapping along the highway.

    “The exercise is ongoing and we are going to sustain it. We will ensure that travellers are safe.

    “We have over 20 check points and there are senior officers tasked with the issue of supervision, and there is another patrol team going round the clock.

    “We have other security measures. Edo is a no go area for criminals.”

  • Air Peace: no need to pay for registration for our free flight

    AIR Peace has urged Nigerians in South Africa willing to return home to shun anyone asking them to pay any fee.

    The airline, in a statement, said it was reacting to a disturbing report that unauthorised people were illegally collecting $1000 from interested Nigerians.

    A Nigerian living in South Africa, Fred Okeke sent a mail, which  reads: “We heard that you are donating the flight for free evacuation from South Africa to Nigeria, but it is very unfortunate to hear that they are asking the affected victims to pay the sum of $1000 as registration to be eligible to benefit from the fight. So I want to bring it to your notice.”

    Read Also: NCAA audits Air Peace after aircraft hard landing

    Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema said: “We are offering a free trip to Nigerians in South Africa to return home after going through the traumatic experience of the attacks. Air Peace has said this is free and we are doing it in solidarity with the federal government.

    “We have not designated or recruited any agent in South African to collect money on behalf of Air Peace.  So nobody should pay money to anyone or group of persons posing as Air Peace agent or staff. Any Nigerian who has paid money for repatriation back to Nigeria with Air Peace should request for a refund and report to appropriate authorities.”

  • ‘Afrophobia partly to blame for violence against foreigners’

    SOUTH Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor acknowledged on Thursday that prejudice against people from other African countries was one of the causes behind deadly attacks on foreign-owned businesses, a day after Pretoria was forced to shut its embassy in Nigeria over threats of retaliatory violence.

    At least five Africans have been killed in attacks on foreigners in South Africa this week.

    On Wednesday South African companies MTN, and Shoprite closed stores in Nigeria after retaliatory attacks in one of the store.

    Pandor said the government decided to temporarily close the embassy in Nigeria for security reasons after a protest march was planned there and threats of violence were received.

    In an interview on the sidelines of a continental economic conference in Cape Town, Pandor said South Africa was in constant contact with Nigerian authorities and was also working to restore calm in areas affected by the violence.

    “There is an Afrophobia we are sensing that exists, there is resentment and we need to address that,” Pandor said.

    “There is targeting of Africans from other parts of Africa, we can’t deny that. But, there is also criminality … because a lot of this is accompanied by theft,” she said, describing the attacks as a complex phenomenon whose root causes were not easy to define.

    The National Association of Nigerians (NANS) yesterday held a peaceful protest in Ekiti State, calling on Nigerians to stop patronising businesses owned by South Africans.

    The protest was done in conjunction with the National Coalition for Yoruba Youth and Students.

    The students protested from Ijigbo to the popular Fajuyi Park, which hindered the free flow of vehicles on Ijigbo- Basiri highway for over an hour.

    The students carried placards of various inscriptions against the South African government over the persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

    Leaders of the protest, Sunday Ashefon and Ojo Raymond, who addressed the crowd, said the protest was to warn South Africans to show that students would not tolerate the violence against Nigerians living in South Africa.

    Raymond, who is Vice Chairman of NANS/JCC Ekiti zone, expressed concern over the killings of Nigerians, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the senseless carnage with immediate effect.

    He advised Nigerian consumers that they should move over to alternative network providers in the country.

    “You can’t be killing Nigerians and be expecting patronage for their businesses. Nigerians remain the major consumers of South African Companies’ products, is this the best way to pay us back?” he said.

    Ashefon called for the immediate release of the 36 persons arrested during a similar anti-xenophobic protest in Lagos.

    He declared that the trend was unacceptable to the youths in Nigeria, saying that South African police did not deem it fit to curb the menace, which he said signposted compromise and tacit support for crimes.

    The Youth leader said: “Nigerians in South Africa deserved to be treated with dignity, respect, freedom and mostly be protected from further provocation, looting and killings.

    “The Protest against Xenophobic attacks in South Africa by various organizations across Africa has continued to linger while citizens are expecting the authority to arrest the situation. This is the best they can do under this situation.”

     

  • APC urges Fed Govt to nationalise South African firms

    THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the Federal Government to nationalise all South African companies in the country.

    APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, who briefed reporters after the meeting of the NWC, said the South African government was nonchalant.

    He said: “We have discussed the attacks on foreigners in South Africa, particularly blacks who are predominantly Nigerians. Having listened to all the explanations from the authority in South Africa, we have come to the conclusion that these people are not being accused of being illegal immigrants nor are they involved in any illegal activities.

    “Those who have business permits to set up businesses, whatever business theyare involved in, they are operating within the letters of the law. Over the last one year, virtually every week, Nigerians are being wasted in one part of south Africa or the other.

    “We know that the government has had conversation with the South African authority, drawing their attention to these and other abuses that Nigerians have been subjected to. But the escalation of the attack on foreigners which include Nigerians has reached a level that is no longer tolerable.

    “At one time, people wonder whether these attacks have the backing of the south African government. What has been clear over the period is that the South African authority has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to bring these attacks to an end.

    “Inspite of the fact that the lives of many people have been wasted, not one South African is known to have been convicted ad sentence to prison for their role on the attack on foreigners, killing them and looting their businesses.

    “We have been able to watch some of the comments on the recent attack, particularly the one that was made by a deputy Minister of Police Affair that not only endorse the killing and looting of foreign businesses, but refer to the activities of those foreigners who are into legitimate businesses as tantamount to economic sabotage.”

    He added:  “As we speak, while South African government is envious of the small businesses which Nigerians are involved in south Africa, South African companies are making billions of dollars from Nigeria and repatriating same out of Nigeria.

    “For example, MTN is making huge profit, including sometimes breaching our national laws. South Africans cannot be envious of small businesses over there while their business giants are smiling to their foreign banks where they keep profit that the repatriate from Nigeria.

    “We are aware that not too long ago, MTN was enlisted in the stock exchange and some Nigerians have bought shares from MTN. I think that in moments like this and too send strong message to the south African authority and their people, it is worth it for the Nigerian government to take over the remaining shares of MTN that are owned by south African so that MTN become fully Nigerian own.

    “While government think of how to deal with this, I think that in our individual capacities, this is the moment to show our commitment to our fellow citizens and show sympathy to those who have lost loved ones by boycotting South African goods and services, beginning with Nigerians refusing to use MTN services.

    “Happily, we have indigenous networks like Glo, ntel and 9 mobile. But if Nigerians decides, at least for the next 30 days as a first step, to stop using MTN, they would have sent a clear message and pay befitting tribute to the life of those whose live have been wasted in South Africa. This will be more elegant rather than our people going to the streets and throwing stones against fellow Nigerians and a life being lost in the process.

    “This should also give us opportunity to reflect n why we should continue to allow DSTV to continue to repatriate millions of dollars to South Africa every year arising from their activities in Nigeria.”

    The Ooni of Ife Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Most Reverend Martin Uzuokwu, on Thursday urged South Africans to stop the attacking foreigners, especially Nigerians, as the act could endanger peace on the continent.

    Oba Ogunwusi described the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa on Nigerians living there and their properties as a shameful act that is unacceptable to the black race in Africa and in the Diaspora.

    The traditional ruler also advised Nigerians alleged to have embarked on reprisal attacks on South African companies in Nigeria to stop it and allow peace to reign.

    The monarch spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    “This attack is a shame on the black people, we all need to come together and see ourselves as one. The more we propagate our cultural ties across the continent, the more we will see and recognise that we belong to one big family,” he said.

    The traditional ruler said  that African countries only had artificial boundaries that had given a geographical expression of names to countries  inhabited by  of a group of people but all of us are of the same lineage.

    “We must erase the ongoing xenophobic killings in Africa, we only have artificial boundaries. We are all the same whether Nigeria or South Africa.

    “Also, we must not forget so soon that Nigeria helped South Africa to fight the Apartheid regime that led her to becoming a democratic country in 1994.

    “That development led to the late Nelson Mandela emerging as the first democratically elected president of South Africa,” he told NAN.

    He said that it was unfortunate that  the people involved in the xenophobic attacks either in South Africa or in Nigeria  were only being misled by those who never knew the history of Africa and had no stake to lose.

    “What is the percentage of those people’s business in the economy of South Africa? It’s very minute.

    Uzuokwu, who spoke with NAN in Minna also urged the South Africans to show forgiveness, love and peace for the overall growth on the continent.

    “We are all from the same continent, we need to love one another and also learn how to forgive for peace, progress and political stability in our continent.

    ” We cannot get to anywhere without forgiveness. If you do not forgive others, the Lord will not forgive you.

    “Many prayers offered by some people today were not answered because they did not follow what the Lord says,” Uzuokwu said.

    The Cleric condemned the senseless killings of innocent souls going on in some parts of South Africa.

    He said: “Africa is a blessed continent, God blessed us with human and many mineral resources but what needs to be done is to love one another to enable us to tap the abundant resources at our disposal.”

    He also called on the African Union (AU) to act against the inhuman treatment by South African xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other nationals.

  • ‘Fayemi didn’t attend WEF’

    EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi on Thursday denied attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in South Africa.

    Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said he was in South Africa to honour an invitation from a long-standing vote, Dele Olojede.

    The statement reads: “Contrary to some misleading online reports, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi was not at the World Economic Forum in South Africa.

    Read Also: Fayemi needs lawmakers’ support

    “Rather, the governor is in South Africa  to honour an invitation by a long-time friend and one of Nigeria’s most celebrated journalsits, Mr Dele Olojode at the “Africa in the World Festival of Ideas” which held in Stellensbosch far away from Cape Town. More importantly, the event already held before the decision of the Federal Government to boycott the WEF programme.”

  • Tiwa Savage, Burnaboy, Basketmouth protest

    SUPERSTAR singer Tiwa Savage has pulled out of her upcoming performance in South Africa following the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

    Tiwa, who was billed to perform at the DStv delicious festival on September 21, announced that she was boycotting the show in protest.

    On Twitter @tiwasavage, she wrote, “I refuse to watch the barbaric butchering of my people in SA. This is SICK.

    “For this reason, I will NOT be performing at the upcoming DStv delicious Festival in Johannesburg on the Sept. 21st.

    “My prayers are with all the victims and families affected by this,” she said.

    NAN reports that mixed reactions have trailed her announcement. While she has received massive support for her bold decision, some fans have continued to troll the singer.

    @Kellzamadi said, “I just developed a special kind and love for @TiwaSavage this is remarkable to say the list.”

    @Real Jae tweeted, “We didn’t Call you a Queen for Nothing Tiwa. You are an asset and you are fearless.”

    A South African, @ThusoMatsobane tweeted, “No one has butchered your people but it is fine. Thanks for taking a stand.”

    Tiwa replied that she was boycotting the show, not just for Nigerians killed but for other foreigners that have suffered xenophobic attacks.

    She said, “Killing anyone that is African are my people whether they are Nigerians or not.”

    Comedian Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth also cancelled his appearance at the upcoming Comic Choice Awards in South Africa.

    He announced his Instagram page @basketmouth, he wrote, “I am not sure how and when we got here.

    “I won’t be attending the Comic Choice Awards this weekend in South Africa as scheduled,” he said.

    Star musician Burna Boy, who has been very vocal about his disdain for what is happening to Nigerians in South Africa, has also vowed to never set foot in the country again.

    He said: “I have not set foot in SA since 2017. And I will not ever go to South Africa again for any reason until the South African government wakes the fuck up and performs a miracle because I don’t know how they can even possibly fix this.”