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Tag: 2018

  • Buhari signs Discrimination Against Persons with disabilities bill into law

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Discrimination Against Persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Presidential Liaison to the National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

    The new Act, he said, prohibits all forms of discrimination on ground of disability and imposes fine of N1, 000, 000 for corporate bodies and N100, 000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for violation concurrently.

    He said that it also guarantees right to maintain civil action for damage by the person injured against any defaulter.

    The statement reads “It provides for a five-year transitional period within which public buildings, structures or automobile are to be modified to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, including those on wheelchairs.

    The Act further provides: “Before erecting any public structure, its plan shall be scrutinized by the relevant authority to ensure that the plan conforms with the building code.

    “A government or government agency, body or individual responsible for the approval of building plans shall not approve the plan of a public building if the plan does not make provision for accessibility facilities in line with the building code.

    “An officer who approves or directs the approval of a building plan that contravenes the building code, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N1, 000, 000 or a term of imprisonment of two years or both.’’

    Read also: Onnoghen: Buhari destroying democracy – Secondus

    “Discrimination is prohibited in public transportation facilities and service providers are to make provision for the physically, visually and hearing impaired and all persons howsoever challenged.

    “This applies to Seaports, Railways and Airport facilities.

    The rights and privileges include education, healthcare, priority in accommodation and emergencies.

    “Furthermore, all public organisations are to reserve at least 5 % of employment opportunities for these persons.

    “The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with Executive Secretary as the head.” he stated

  • 2018: Political events of the year

    The out-going year witnessed major political developments in the country. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines issues that made the year remarkable.

    Life has been full of ups and downs in this outgoing year. Many of them will shape 2019, when elections into various political offices will hold. The various interest groups used the pre-election year to position themselves. There were some natural occurrences like death of outstanding political figures and those rumoured to be dead. Nigerians reacted with mixed feelings on the government performance and particularly wanted it to tackle the menace of killer herdsmen, kidnapping and other societal deviants.

    The country observed the sequence of the following happening;

    January 2: Former governor of Kaduna State Lawal Kaita died at 85. He was governor of old Kaduna and was elected the governor on the platform of National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He served from October to December, 1983.

    January 4: President Muhammadu Buhari visited Kaduna on the killings in the North Central states. He later commissioned newly acquired 10 coaches and two locomotives. They are to service the Kaduna Inland Dry Port.

    Nigerians decried the President for not condemning the herdsmen who carried out the killings.

    January 6: There was electoral violence that marred Delta State council polls. The widespread council polls was pronounced in Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Aniocha North local councils.

    On that day, Buhari approved the appointment of Ahmad Rufai Abubakar as the Director-General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

    January 10: Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose held an emergency security summit with hunters from the 16 local government areas of the state. He urged the hunters to set up a 24- hour surveillance of the state to prevent attack by herdsmen.

    January 14: Pastor Tunde Bakare criticised Buhari on the bloodletting in the country. He strongly condemned the insecurity in the country and charged the President to end the carnage and other societal ills going on in the country.

    January 15: Ekiti State under  Fayose banned Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Finance Commissioner Dapo Kolawole from holding any public office in the state.

    The Senate demanded sack of some cabinet members and service chiefs for under performing.

    January 19: An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan declared as illegal the installation of 21 new monarchs in the ancient city by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    January 22: Nigerians resident in London protested against herdsmen’s killings. They equally denounced the slow response of the President  to the menace constituted by the herdsmen.

    January 23: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo warned Buhari against seeking reelection. The former President said seeking a another term in the 2019 polls would be counter productive.

    He made his position known through a letter which received mixed reactions in the country.

    January 30: Cameroonian soldiers invaded Nigerian Cross River community. Cameroonian soldiers had violated the country’s territorial integrity on some occasions in the past.

    January 31: ‘Third Force”  was  launched in Abuja, it was considered  as political opposition party. The followers of the movement trooped to the Yar Adua Centre, Abuja, for the official launch.

    It later metamorphosed to  Obasanjo’s ”Coaltion for Nigeria Movement.

    February 2: Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme who passed on was buried in his home town, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government, Anambra State. He was Vice President between 1979 and 1983.

    The Federal Government renamed the Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi State as Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo. He died November 17, 2017.

    February 5: Buhari nominated Edward Adamu as a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Born on June 22, 1959,in Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe state.

    On the same day, the Benue State Government said it had lost confidence in the Federal Government over killer herdsmen. It declared that Benue State had lost confidence in the ability of the country’s security agencies to bring to justice herdsmen accused of killings people of the state.

    February 7: The House of Representatives called on President Buhari to sack the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Hon.  Abubakar Bambura at a plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    February 17:  Former President Obasanjo performed ground breaking  ceremony in Bayelsa State for the construction of the first private modular refinery in Niger Delta.

    February 20: Outrage as Kaduna State Governor Nadir  el-Rufai demolishes APC factional office. The crisis within the APC Kaduna turned messier when the buildings at 11B, Sambo Road, GRA, Kaduna, belonged to Senator Suleimon Hunkuyi was brought down.

    February 22: Council of State approved $1 billion for agric, livestock, others. After a six-hour deliberation on the prevailing insecurity in the country, the economy and electoral matters.

    February 23: The Dapchi school attack got every attention it deserves. President  Buhari assured the families of students reportedly abducted from the Government Girls Technical College the said no efforts would be spared in bringing succour to them.

    February 24:  The Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka was officially decorated as “Honorable citizen of Caphaitain, capital of the northern region of the Caribbdean Island Country. He was formally handed key to the country’s second largest and most touristic city.

    February 27: The former National Chairman of the ruling APC chief John Odigie-Oyegun survived renewed efforts to outst him as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party extended his tenure by an additional year.

    February 28: Hate speech offender to die by hanging in Senate’s new Bill. The new law according to lawmakers is that any person found guilty of the hate speech that resulted in the death of another person should die by hanging upon conviction.

    March 1: The United Nations demands release of 110 Dapchi school girls of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Yobe.

    March 4: Lagos State APC  kicks against tenure elongation for APC National Working Committee (NWC).

    March 8: Gideon Okah gets life sentence for October 1 bombing.

    Parents of Kidnapped Dapchi school girls staged a protest at the National Assembly, Abuja.

    March 12: Army drew battle line against killer herdsmen, warns those going about with AK 47.

    March 14: Anxiety at the National Assembly as Buhari rejects poll bill, while senators seek legal option.

    March 16: Lagos government slash land use charge by 50 percent.

    Buhari orders Ministers, Director Generals to defend 2019 budget.

    March 19: APC tried to reconcile Buhari, Saaraki others.

    46 senators resolved to back Buhari in polls order battle.

    March 22: Dapchi girls released unconditionally by Boko Haram.

    March 25: Former Minister of Defence Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma urged Nigerians on self- defence. The comment generated controversy.

    March 28: Buhari killed plot to extend Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s tenure as APC national chairman.

    April 2: Government released list of looters of treasure, it included former governors and senators.

    April 10: Buhari told APC NEC that he will run for 2019 election.

    April 19: Outrage as thugs snatch mace at the Senate chamber, Senate quizzes IGP, DSS over thugs invasion.

    April 25: Buhari back Adams Oshiomhole as APC National Chairman.

    April 26: Dino Malaye’s arrest forces Senate to shut down, summons IGP over the issue.

    May 4: Presidency hits Obasanjo over Buhari’s visit to the United States of America.

    May 18: Saraki, IGP fight dirty over arrested killer cultv suspect.

    May 21: APC, nPDP in talks to avert Saraki, Dogara, others exit.

    June 4: Police indicted Saraki, Ahmed for Offa robbery

    June 8: Buhari honours MKO Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi, declared June 12 as democracy day.

    June 25: Oshiomhole emerged as APC National Chairman.

    July 31: Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed decamped from APC to PDP.

    August 6: Senator Godwill Akpabio meets Buhari in London ahead of defection to the APC.

    August 8: The Department of State Services (DSS) boss Lawan Daura fired.

    August 28: Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo tackles Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, Jonathan over oil cash.

    August 31: APC adopt direct primary for presidential candidate, others.

    Octorber 7: Atiku emerged the PDP Presidential candidate for 2019 election.

    October 16: Buhari travel ban on 50 VIPs sparks legal battle.

    November: 27 Buhari says aggrieved APC members free to seek legal battle.

    December 18: Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Barde was assassinated. The late air officer was standing trail over alleged N3.97 billion preferred against him by the federal government.

    December 18: Buhari refused to assent the electoral act of 2018.

    December 19: There was a rowdy session at the National Assembly during President Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 budget. Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) jeered as the budget was read. Nigerians across the country condemned the act.

    December 28: The APC announced its Presidential Campaign team made up of Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo, the APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and other Nigerians.

    December 28: Former President Shehu Safari passed on. He was aged 93, he died at the national hospital, Abuja after illness.

    December 29: Founder of Moni-Pulo Indigeneous Oil Company Chief Olu Lulu-Briggs has passed on at age 91.

    The Philantropist hail from Abonnema-Kalabari, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of River State. He is the father of Dumo Lulu-Briggs, River State Accord Party governorship candidate for next year election.

  • 2018 Maltina Teacher of the Year entries extended

    A new window of opportunity has opened for teachers as the deadline for submission of entry for the 2018 Maltina Teacher of the Year has been extended to Friday, July 20.

    The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries, Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem explained that the extension was due to pressure from teachers across the country who wanted more time to complete the process.

    The Maltina Teacher of the Year, an initiative of the Nigerian Breweries Plc-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, identifies showcases and rewards outstanding teachers in Nigeria.

    The entry for this year’s edition opened on Friday, May 25 and was to have closed last Monday.

    Ekanem enjoined interested teachers to avail themselves of the new opportunity by downloading application forms from the Maltina website.

    According to him, the 2018 Maltina Teacher of the Year will receive N1 million, a trophy and another N1 million every year for the next five years, and a block of classrooms built at the school where he or she teaches.

    The first runner-up he said will have N1 million and a trophy, while the second runner-up will be rewarded with N750, 000 and a trophy. In addition, each state champion, including the winner and the first and the second runners-up will get N500, 000 adding since inception in 2015, the Maltina teacher of the year initiative has produced three grand winners.

     

  • Nigeria leads with 15 medals at African Wrestling Championship 

    Nigeria leads with 15 medals at African Wrestling Championship 

    Nigeria has won a total of 15 medals (six gold, three silver and six bronze) in the Cadet Category event to lead the medals table in the opening day of the 2018 African Wrestling Championship holding at the  Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt.
    The gold medalists are Sunmisola Idowu Balogun (65kg), Tolu Ogunsanya (46kg), Yetunde Oluwatoyin (40kg), Cecilia James (68kg) and Mercy Adekuoroye (53kg) in the Women’s Wrestling, while the only gold medal in Greco Roman was won by Ukoro Peter (55kg).
    SportingLife reports that Nigeria have qualified in three Olympic weight classes (40kg, 53kg and 68kg) of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina later this year.
    In the Women’s wrestling 53kg, Mercy Adekuoroye, a niece to World Wrestling silver medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, defeated Soud Bouksir of Algeria 10-0 to secure the gold medal.
    In the 65kg, Sunmisola Balogun defeated Natasha Nabaina of Cameroon 5-4 in a tight final. She defeated Chaimae Taibi of Morocco 10-0  in the semi final after overpowering Natasha Nabaina 2-0 in the first round and South Africa’s Charmone Oosthuizen 11-0 in Round 2.
    Tolulope Ogunsanya won her gold by defeating Lamia Rtibi of Tunisia 10-0 in the 46kg weight class.
    Natasha Essien gave the country the only silver medal in the Women’s Wretling 73kg weight class, while Esther Kolawole (61kg), Esther Asaolu (43kg) and Aina Ohida (49kg) won bronze medals in the category.

    Read Also: Nigeria wins 2nd Africa Zone 2 Junior Swimming Championship

    In the Greco Roman, Ukoro Peter delivered gold for Nigeria by beating Omar Abdelaziz 4-0 in the final of the 55kg class. He defeated Lu Shawn Leonico of South Africa in the semi final. He defeated Linus Katujanda of Namibia 15-7 in Round One before beating Yassine Jaa of Morocco 8-0 in Round 2.
    Perediegha Ogidi won silver in the Greco Roman 48kg. He defeated Mervin Eixab of Namibia 9-3 in Round One but lost 6-4 to Mohamed Dridi in the second match.
    Ntem Moses Ifiok also won a silver medal in the GR 65kg class.
    In the GR 51kg, Damilola Gabriel Fayolemi defeated Yassine Chekly of Morocco in the bronze medal match. The other two bronze medals in Greco Roman were won by Yahaya Yahuza (92kg) and Ikechukwa Robinson (60kg).
    Egypt are second on the table with four gold, three silver and six bronze medals, while Tunisia are third with four gold, two silver and a bronze medal.
    Algeria are in the fourth position on the table with three gold, two silver and two bronze medals and are followed by Cameroon with two silver medals.
    South Africa are in the sixth position with one silver and four bronze medals, while Namibia won just one bronze medal to place seventh on the table after the Day One event of the championship.
  • Tourism 2018: Stakeholders hope for better year

    Tourism 2018: Stakeholders hope for better year

    2018 is here. It is important to take stock of tourism last year and then have an idea of the expectations from the industry this year.

    The ultimate aim of industry practitioners is for the country to get to a level where its tourism assets would be developed to the level of attracting both local and in-bound tourists to a reasonable degree that tourism numbers will significantly have effect   on  the country’s GDP.

    The success and failure of the industry are predicated on the activities of both the private and public sectors. At the level of public sector, policies and the provision of infrastructural facilities to help the industry thrive is the key.

    Taking that into consideration, it is difficult to say that the country’s industry performed very well last year.  There were no serious policy shifts by the government to push the sector forward in 2017. All the major issues that have been highlighted as being important to move the sector forward were not advanced beyond the state they were at the beginning of last year.

    The roadmap for tourism development in the country, the National Tourism Master-plan, did not move beyond the point it was in 2016. Tourism policies and their implementation are still at the whims of the directors-general (DG)to formulate and execute based on their understanding.

    At he beginning of last year, apex tourism body for the country, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), was running without substantive director general. Two senior workers of the corporation were claiming seniority and as such the right to act as acting director-general. First was Mr. Borniface  Eboka to whom the agency was handed over to at the expiration of the tenure of the former DG, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo. Then, on January 22, the supervising  ministry, the Ministry of Information and Culture, instructed Mrs. Mariel Rae-Omo to take over  as the acting director-general by virtue of being the most senior.  Less than two months later, on March 15, another acting director-general, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, came on board.  Three DGs in three months in the parastatal.  The federal government corrected this anomaly by appointed Mr.Folarin Coker as the substantive DG  on April 7 last year.

    Folarin Coker in July last year  unfolded his tourism roadmap using Tour Nigeria as the signature project to get local buy into tourism by Nigeria. Folarin said he was going to concentrate more to promote domestic tourism. Part of the incentive was to create tour packages that would help the Nigerians visit tour sites.

    Although many practitioners see this initiative as laudable, they however believe that the policy should have been better framed with inputs from the private sector. The NTDC, they believe, should enlist the private sector to run with the vision rather the NTDC trying to implement it. Many hope this will come to fruition in 2018.

    The tourism development fund, which most countries create to get dedicated funds for the development and marketing their tourism, is still in doldrums in Nigeria.

    A few years ago, the government showed its desire to provide visas on arrival for tourists and visitors to Nigeria. There is no clear-cut pronouncement on the implementation. This is among the key issues for tourism in 2018.

    For Nigerians seeking to travel out of the country, procuring international passport is still expensive and process is cumbersome. All these are disincentives to tourism in the country.

    2017 also saw points of disagreement between the public and private sectors as the private sector umbrella body for tourism industry practitioners, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), kicked against the bill before the National Assembly  for the amendment of the laws setting up the Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). The FTAN said there was not adequate consultation with the private sector before the bill was presented.

    At the private sector level, for most tourism establishment, especially the hospitality sector, it was cautious optimism.  Unlike the years in which they had to battle with Ebola and inflation, 2017 was devoid of such. The occupancy rate of most branded hotels in the country was average, managing to survive with serious improvement.

    Just to undercover the rather cautious disposition in the sector, there was little or no activities from the major international branded hospitality outfits in the country. Most were more concerned about managing their properties out of the post-recession era.

    However, Nigeria’s biggest tourist attraction, Pastor T.B.Joshua, and the Synagogue Church of All Nation, continued to enjoy huge numbers in terms in terms of inbound tourism arrivals.  One advantage that Ikotun has in terms of tourism arrival, is that it is not a seasonal destination. It enjoyed and all year round influx of religious tourists.

    High profile visitors, like George Opong Weah, the President-Elect of Liberia, was among thousands who visited the church last year.

    2017 was supposed to be the year Nigeria’s much touted visas on arrival was to take off. Despite all the noise, the policy is yet to be implemented.

    In 2017, the 12-year-old Abuja Carnival was finally led to rest as it was cancelled by the Federal Government. The carnival which was first held in 2005 to showcase all that is good in Nigerian culture gradually lost steam and deviated from the vision for which it was set up. The crowd disappeared and the initial excitement the festival brought fizzled. It became just an annual routine until it was finally laid to rest.

    The private umbrella body for tourism industry , the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN ), elected a new set of executives led by Alhaji Saleh Kareem Rabo.

    One of the biggest positive things of the  year came in December 16 when the Ethiopian Airlines made history in Nigeria by putting together an all-female crew, led by Captain Amsale Gualu,  to fly a Boeing 777-300ER from Bole International Airport to Lagos, Nigeria. It was the first all-female air crew flight in Nigeria.

    Captain Gualu talked on the historic flight to Nigeria: “Actually, this is not my first international flight; this is my first African all-women operated flight and I am very privileged to be part of this historical flight. I am very proud to be part of this flight.”

    She was quick to dismiss the slight turbulence experience around the Cameroonian airspace. On whether she was apprehensive, she said: “Not at all, that is our day to day experience.”

    She also talked about how she became a pilot: “This is my childhood dream to fly. Since I was a child, I always wanted to fly. I wanted to be pilot. I guess I developed my passion for flying from when I was young. Then, my father used to take my sister and I to the airport to see airplanes take off and land. When I was in high school or so, I used to be impressed by pilots’ uniform, I guess that is when my passion for flying developed. And after graduating from the university in Addis Ababa, I joined Ethiopian Airlines as a First Officer, then I went all the way, I flew Fokker 50 and Boeing 767, then I became a captain in 2010 on Dash 50-400. Then as a captain I flew Boeing 767, and then triple seven, plus the latest aircraft.”

    On the significance of the flight, she said:  “I believe Africa is the future, so we need 50 per cent of the society involved and we need the female touch. As men and women, we have our differences, but regardless of that, anything is possible. Being a woman should never stop us from doing what we want to do.”

    At the international level, 2017 saw Africa lose  golden opportunity to produce the United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) secretary general. The leading candidate was former Zimbabwe  tourism minister, Mr. Walter Mzembi. He got the African Union (AU) endorsement as the official candidate of Africa. He was cruising to a comfortable victory until Seychelles’ tourism minister, Mr.  Alain St. Ange, decided to throw his hat into the ring. Africa ended up losing the seat to Europe in a keenly contested election.

    The general consensus among industry practitioners was that tourism in Nigeria did not do well last year. They are, however, optimistic it will improve in 2018.

  • Nigeria in 2018

    It is four days into the year today and the air is still suffused with greetings of Happy New Year. It is customary for us to greet ourselves in that manner at the beginning of a new year. It is not out of place to see a friend shouting out to another : “Old boy, I saw you last, last year o; Happy New Year”. The greeting is a show of love and gratitude to God  for surviving the previous year. 2017 was a mixed bag for many of us. At the beginning of that year, we greeted ourselves ”happy new year” the same way we are doing now.

    Beyond that wish, some people, especially pastors, have spoken on what the year holds for us. Their predictions are not that frightening really, considering some of the prophesies we heard in the past. To the Prelate of the Anglican Church, Primate Nicholas Okoh, it willl be a year of happiness for all. ”There may be life in descent. You have difficulties you cannot solve, probably with child bearing, in 2018, you will reap the fruit of your labour. The Lord will visit you and you will know laughter again.

    ”Do not be frustrated or unhappy as the Lord is working out a miracle. We will experience the mighty power of the one that created all things”, Okoh said. ”Corrupt people will fall this year”, predicted Dr Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM). I can hear a lot of Nigerians saying amen to that. He continued : ”2018 will be sad for rebellious characters and wasters; the pestle will defeat the mortar. God will demonstrate His raw power, kill rebellious kings and rulers and disgrace the strongman of terror and fear. Terror will swallow terror”.

    General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye said ”significant Goliaths will fall”, adding : ”Many people will wake up to realise that their future is not in the hand of any government and as a result a lot of loss ground will be reclaimed”; and ”sabotuers will be disgraced and displaced”. He brought some good tidings too, saying : ”Before the end of the year, there will be rays of hope that all will still be well”.

    My prayer has always been that all will be well with our country. It is when it is well with Nigeria that it can be well with the citizenry. If things are tough, there is no way that it will not reflect in the people’s standard of living. Many will be living from hand to  mouth though they may be working and earning salaries, which cannot take them anywhere. Those who are unemployed wil be worse off. In 2018, things are likely to look up for the employed and unemployed because of the improvement in our economy.

    Since the economy came out of recession in the second quarter of 2017, according to a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the outlook has been bright. Many businesses are picking up and producing at over 70 percent of their capacity unlike before when they were working below capacity. The horizon looks good for the real sector to play its leading role in revamping the economy and creating the much needed jobs to take many graduates off the streets.

    With the presidential order on the ease of doing business, the door is equally open for investors to come in and buoy up the economy. I foresee foreign and local investors capitalising on the provisions of the ease of doing business to set up businesses, thereby creating jobs. There will also be openings in the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Sources say there have always been openings in those places, but many could not get jobs there because of what they described as ”systemic corruption”. The Buhari government will tackle that frontally this year to ensure more jobs are created in the public sector.

    With the rebound in the capital market, which was hailed by the western media, the economy will go up, up and up in 2018. The market entered 2018 strong and it is expected to maintain that run, barring any unforeseen hitch. Luckily for us, ours is not an economy where acts of omission and commission by those in power can cause hiccup in the market. The market can only tumble from the underhand deals of traders. The traders hold the key to the continued prosperity of the market and so must be watched closely by the regulators for investors’ sake. As a corollary, the money market is likely to loosen up a bit so as to bring down the double digit interest rate, which is now killing business.

    Politics and sports will dominate 2018. Although the general election comes up in 2019, preparations for the poll will be made this year. Who picks the presidential tickets of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Grand Allianace (APGA) and the over 56 remaining parties is an issue that will be determined this year. Very soon, governance will begin to suffer for politicking. The APC governors are rooting for a second term for President Muhammadu Buhari, who appears not averse to the idea.

    At the African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Summit in Cote d’ivoire the other day, he told the Nigerian community that he may be asking for their votes in future. That future is around the corner. I predict that he will run again in 2019 after picking his party’s ticket at its convention this year. Who will challenge him for the ticket anyway? Nobody. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who would have done so, has since returned to PDP. But will Atiku get the party’s ticket? He may be disappointed because the forces against him are more than he can imagine. Many in PDP see him as a liability and will not back him as their candidate. They prefer fresh blood, so to say, and they are looking towards former caretaker chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi and outgoing Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo. Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido is also eyeing the ticket. But Makarfi has an edge over them.

    There will be governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states on July 14 and September 22, this year. The elections will be a straight fight between APC and PDP. Will PDP’s Governor Ayo Fayose overcome the APC threat in Ekiti? His party may carry the day if the APC does not get its act right. In Osun, outgoing Governor Rauf Aregbesola has a Herculean task returning the APC to power. Some say he has done well, but the people, especially the workers and pensioners, seem uncomfortable with his style. Will he succeed in installing his successor? Yes, he will, but at a cost.

    It is the World Cup year and Nigerians will do anything to see the Super Eagles win the mundial in Russia. How far can we go in the football tourney? Will we scale through the group stage where we are playing against Croatia, Iceland and Argentina? Our first game with Croatia matters and by beating them on June 16, we would have started off on the right note. Argentina?  Yes, they are the biggest threat in our group, but we can beat them. We may not win the World Cup, but we can make it to the quarterfinals. Oh! I almost forgot. There will petrol sarcity at Yuletide. You will say I said so. Happy New Year, dear readers.

  • 2018 is here

    2018 is here

    • Nigerians expect a change for the better 

    It is most fitting that the New Year arrives on a Monday, the first work day of the week. It is said that morning shows the day, and there is a belief around here that Monday dictates the week. If 2018 begins on a Monday, it may well be a bright augury.

    Nigerians would need an ample dose of faith in the days ahead. Not less the government and the ruling party which have struggled with serious   economic and socio-political challenges for over two years.

    A remarkable year it is designed to be in many respects. First, it is an election year in Ekiti State and Osun State. Also, going by the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), activities leading to the 2019 general election would commence around the second quarter of 2018 with party primaries. Political campaigns are expected to reach a high point by the third and fourth quarters. We hope that political players will demonstrate a sense of fair play.

    It is, thus, a year that would bear its own chapter of the nation’s history book; there are also bound to be knotty political equations to be cracked. There will be excitement and, of course, there will be a surfeit of fear and apprehension.

    New seasons always come wrapped in mystery. But in a world that science and learning has made much more predictable than ever before, there are hardly any big surprises anymore. Even the elements and catastrophic forces of nature are predicted to the hour these days.

    It is on this premise that we urge the government, the governed, and all those who still have some love left for Nigeria to work in concert and make 2018 a turning point in the life of this nation.

    First, the 2018 Appropriation Bill in the National Assembly must be treated as a major priority by the legislature. The 2017 budget was bungled by all concerned. Apart from the fact that the 2017 budget was delayed till mid-year, it was characterised by bad faith and chicanery. Hardly any major project was finished; in fact, contractors quit many work sites. It must be stressed that legislators cannot appropriate and execute. The matter of federal lawmakers unconscionably holding the entire country to ransom over so-called constituency projects is condemnable.

    If Nigeria’s infrastructure was poor, it depreciated last year. This must not be allowed to happen this year.

    On the part of the Federal Executive Council, the cabinet is cold and seemingly in regression. So many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are in limbo, and a shake-up is required most urgently.  In particular, we urge the government to pay more attention to agriculture.

    The Presidency must rise to the challenge. There is a need to begin to steer the ship of state to the right course. This year, we expect more inspired leadership from President MohammaduBuhari. His kitchen cabinet, the engine room of any administration, must be reimagined without delay.  It is simply not functioning properly. The in-fighting among his strategic team must be addressed.

    We dare note that the challenges of the country for which the people voted out the last government are still with us – energy crisis, power outage, security issues, derelict infrastructure, to mention a few. Little has changed.

    More troubling, however, is that the citizenry do not seem to see any light at the end of the tunnel. We do not see strategies; we do not see work in progress or people at work on our behalf.

    This year, 2018, presents another opportunity for the government to improve its performance and achieve positive change in the polity.

  • 2018 will be year of new beginning for Nigeria – Adeboye

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has assured Nigerians to keep their hope alive in God because 2018 will be a year of new and greater beginning.

    Adeboye made this known at the Let’s Go-a-fishing programme organised by the church yesterday at the Centre for Management Development (CMD) ground in Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos. The programme brought together thousands of Christian faithful.

    According to him, the nation’s economy had in the outgoing year gone through some turbulent times.

    Adeboye declared that 2018 will be a year of blessing, greater productivity, better results and the much anticipated change that we desire as a country.

    He said that God is a God of increasing progress and betterment, saying he was very optimistic that things will get better and a new dawn of breakthrough and prosperity will emerge in Nigeria.

    Adeboye, who spoke through the Pastor in Charge of Lagos Province 12 RCCG, Pastor Ola Adejubee, encouraged Nigerians to cooperate with government as it implements plans and progammes for the betterment of the people.

    He said that Nigerians are ready to make the necessary sacrifice for the nation to progress but they must be convinced and clear about government programmes that are geared towards ameliorating their sufferings and woes.

    He charged the downtrodden and those in pain to trust God who through Jesus Christ died to offer hope to the hopeless, joy to the sorrowful and healing and deliverance to the oppressed.

  • A peep into 2018

    A peep into 2018

    This is the time for new resolutions – whether or not we kept the ones of last year. Such shortcomings form the neuclus of new decisions to be taken, God permitting. I don’t believe in resolutions because every new day offers fresh challenges to reshape my life. I’m also not scared to do the needful.

    For sports, we can sit back and celebrate Nigeria’s sixth appearance at the Mundial in Russia in June, not minding the point lost for fielding an ineligible Shehu Abdullahi in the meaningless last game against Algeria, which ended 1-1. I’m sure if Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr had fielded our second-string side or the home-based players in the game, even with Nigeria’s qualification ticket secured, and lost, the long knives would have been drawn. We are sour losers. On the hindsight, we know better because we eventually lost the game in the boardroom.

    I’ve shied away from talking about the boardroom loss because everyone is guilty. Rohr, who ought to have known players eligible for the game, weeks before he named his squad. In fact, the quest to know the eligble players for the Algeria game should have started when he submitted his technical report of the last game against Chipolopolo of Zambia inside the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo.

    The layers of blame starts with the administrative arm of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), but the truth is, the manager ought to have done this line check since he uses the players to achieve our objective. This is the reason he signed an agreement where his decisions are unchallenged. If so, then the finer details of what he needs ought to have been done in conjuction with the other arms of the chain in his decision-making. I don’t like to dwell in the past. But I feel strongly that Rohr’s employers must sit down with him to design how the Eagles should be constituted, such that the Algeria experience is not repeated.

    We need to structure the Eagles to meet the demands of being a World Cup bound team. NFF chiefs and Rohr should look at what operates in other teams to streamline our operations. I must quickly point out to them that Eagles need a psychologist, among others. This idea of Rohr doubling as manager and psychologist is unacceptable. The danger in this arrangement is that when Rohr is overwhelmed by the circumstances of our performance at the Mundial, he won’t be in the best frame of mind to motivate the players. This is why teams have neutral and trained psychologists to energise players after every game, especially losses.

    For our football 2018 holds a lot, if the Eagles qualify for the quarter-finals of Russia 2018 World Cup. It would benchmark our best performance after six attempts. And you can only imagine how Nigeria would be bubbling as the team marches through the first four games. Indeed, a berth in the quarter-finals will mean a lot to the Muhammadu Buhari-led government, which may break its strigent finacial trasactions to motivate the players and coaches to fly over our quarter-finals foes.

    At the quarter-finals, anything is possible, especially with Nigerians when properly motivated. I’m glad that the countries in our group don’t think we have what it takes to upstage them. They are guaging Eagles based on their inconsistency. That could be a dangerous way to judge Eagles because the country would support them –  in every way possible that could swing the game in Nigeria’s favour. Nigeria’s group is tough. Every game is dicey, with the Croatian game serving as the Eagles’ biggest test since they are a very organised side eager to make their mark at the Mundial.

    The Croatian game reminds me of Nigeria’s opening game against Spain at the France’98 World Cup. The Spanairds were hot. Pundits ruled the Eagles out. But the avaerage Nigerian’s spartan spirit is one which shouldn’t be taken lightly when the stage is as big as the World Cup. The Spaniards were stunned 3-2, with Sunday Oliseh’s cannon shot from a rebound highlighting some of the best goals in the Mundial’s history.

    My only worry with this crop of Eagles is that they aren’t as talented as those who were in France over 19 years ago. but what these new boys have going for them is team unity, which is sacroscant.

    Two players stand out as the Eagles’ pivot, going by their European clubs’ performances. Victor Moses and Wilfred Ndidi are the leading lights in Europe, although many pundits would include Alex Iwobi, based on his cameo appearances with Arsenal in the Barclays English Premier League and Europa league matches.

    Interestingly, the trio Moses, Ndidi and Iwobi are the links from the midfield to the attack. It appears that the team’s skipper John Mikel Obi wants to make this World Cup a memorable one and given the extra efforts he is making to remain fit, knowing that the Chinese League won’t give the type of competition prevalent in the EPL, Europa and/or the UEFA Champions League. Mikel has recruited a fitness trainer and dietician. He displays his training on instagram, facebook, whatapps etc.

    If Mikel is fit, Eagles would get the balance that they need to attack and defend because Kelechi Iheanacho and Odion Ighalo would need good defence splitting passes to outwit the opposition and score goals with aplomb. It appears Rohr has fixed the team’s hitherto leaky defence, with the remarkable way in which Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun have marshalled the rear in Nigeria’s matches.

    My joy stems from the fact that Troost-Ekong and Balogun aren’t our products. Troost-Ekong’s and Balogun’s approach to games have reduced the defensive errors prevalent in the team when our home-groomed lads held forte. Troost-Ekong and Balogun covered up the team’s weaknesses from the right and left back positions. Ebuehi and Aina Ola, given their performance against Argentina, could plug the team’s problems in the defence, with Shehu Abdullahi serving as back-up, not because he hasn’t done well. Abdullahi is a midfield player who won’t be able to bench Mikel or Ndidi. The way Ebuehi played against Argentina showed the difference between a natural defender and an adhoc one.

    I won’t dwell much on Eagles’ goalkeepers. I know that none of the 32 teams at the Russia 2018 World Cup is flawless. What has happened to the doctrine of the goalkeeper being as good as the team’s defence? I feel Rohr should evolve a pattern where all the players start to mark the ball as soon as they lose possession, reminscent of the way Manchester City FC has prosecuted its matches this season.

    I stumbled on easily Nigeria’s best football player ever Segun Odegbami at Eko Hotel, Lagos on Tuesday and we got talking about Eagles. Odegbami was cautious intially, but he opened up when he needed to express his views.

    Asked if he thought it wise for Vincent Enyeama to return to the team, his expressionless face underscored his response.

    Odegbami said:’’You want my views on Enyeama’s return? No. Even when he was on tip-tip shape, he wasn’t world class. So, how does anyone think that Enyeama, who is presently recuperating, clubless and has not been involved in matches should make the World Cup by any stretch of imagination. Let’s give those who have fought for the ticket a chance to prove their mettle. Or is anyone thinking Nigeria can win the World Cup?

    Odegbami went on: ‘’I tip the Eagles to reach the quarter-finals. if that happens, it would be our best performance at the Mundial; then we can build on that. The World Cup isn’t a stroll in the park. I must commend Gernot Rohr for transforming the team, but the truth is Eagles have average players. I can pick out Victor Moses as the world class player who would trouble teams that Nigeria will face at the World Cup. How far Eagles will go will depend on how well the other players complement Moses during our matches.’’

    Won’t Ndidi be impactful at the Mundial? Odegbami replied: ‘’Ndidi is a strong player. He dominates the midfield very well. But, unfortunately, he plays well for Leicester City better than with Super Eagles. Unlike Moses, who plays better for Nigeria than when he is playing for Chelsea. Ndidi is okay but it is Moses that holds the aces for Eagles at the Mundial.

    ‘’I’m also looking at Mikel as one of our jokers, but I’m not thinking of Nigeria winning the World Cup. I feel we can get into the quarter-finals. But my fear is with our first game against Croatia, even though I feel too that we can nick a win over them, with the right motivation.’’

    ‘’Look, Ade, you and I and indeed all of Nigerians deserve to benfit from our participation at the Mundial. I’m excited that we are at the World Cup. Let’s get to quarter-finals and I can tell you that anything is possible thereafter, not only with the Eagles,’’ Odegbami concluded.

  • Ogun to spend N203.3m to control gully erosion

    Ogun to spend N203.3m to control gully erosion

    The Ogun Government says it will spend N203.3 million to control gully erosion in 2018.

    Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, the State Commissioner for Environment, disclosed this on Monday, while defending the ministry’s 2018 budget proposal before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation at the assembly complex, Abeokuta.

    Oyeleye noted that the money would be spent on execution of designs already prepared for amelioration and rehabilitation of some already environmentally-degraded areas in the state.

    Represented by Mr Kunle Osota, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, the commissioner added that N203.3 million was to prevent degradation and arrest gully formation that could cause damage to the ecosystem.

    Oyeleye said N87.9 million had been earmarked for the rehabilitation and repair of water ways across the state.

    Read also: Ogun to spend N30.7bn on roads in 2018

    He added that the ministry had proposed N25 million on repairing and rehabilitation of existing markets and parks across the state.

    ‘‘The ministry will embark on beautification and landscaping at various locations such as Totoro, Ago-Oba roundabout, Ijaiye roundabout, Ake roundabout and Sagamu /Ikenne roundabout.

    “In 2018, we want to acquire 12 Mercedes-Benz Compactor Trucks , 18 Global Power Push Mower, four tricycle Tip Loaders for effective evacuation of refuse across the state,’’ he said.

    He said the ministry had proposed N4.5 billion as capital expenditure, while recurrent expenditure would gulp N625 million with N665 million as expected revenue.

    NAN