The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Nigeria won’t break up, says Oyedepo

    The Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said Nigeria will not break up, despite the hiccups in governance.

    The cleric advised Nigerians to unite and building a strong country.

    Rev. Oyedepo spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday, when he visited Governor Godswill Akpabio at his office.

    He said: “I think Nigeria is advanced enough to put things together, help the masses get educated, enlightenment, see hope in the future and see opportunities in this nation.

    “Once again, we are all Nigerians; this is our nation. We have no other nation. Let’s help to build and not be part of those who want to break it. We will build this nation and it shall not break.

    “A lot of us have the opportunity to live outside this country forever but because of our parents and other relations, we can’t go anywhere. God forbid there is any war in Nigeria.

    “There are some people who don’t know anywhere. They don’t have the understanding of how to get to anywhere. Yet, they are citizens of our nation.”

    Rev. Oyedepo, who is also the General Overseer of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), urged the media to foster unity in the country.

    He said: “I believe the media have a lot to do in helping to show the way forward. A lot of our young men are lost in Europe, America and China, just because there is not enough information going out there to show them they can make things happen here. I want to admonish that you help people to see their future.”

    Akpabio hailed the cleric for his humility and God’s favours in his life.

    He said: “We thank you for your humility. We will like to have a strong relationship with you.

    “There is something that could interest you; that is the fact that we start the year with God in Akwa Ibom by doing a major inter-denominational service every year in January. We have done that consistently for over six years and when we do so I know that the blessings of God are always upon the state.”

    The governor invited the Bishop to this year’s Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol Night.

    He said: “In between, we also have a lot of thanksgiving services and we have the State Creation Day in September, where we also present the state to God in a solemn assembly.

    “We also end the year with God. In December, we chose a day and we have a major choral festival for God.

    “We had the privilege of having Pastor Williams Kumuyi, who presided over the assembly in 2011 and Pastor Enoch Adeboye in 2012. There is no way a state like ours, which is named after God, will not like to identify with a man of God of your status.”

     

  • Kwali agog for conference of Nigerian students

    Economic and social activities aer on the upswing in Kwali, headquarters of Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the community gets ready to host over 10,000 students.

    The students are billed to attend the 2013 edition of the triennial conference of the Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES).

    The International Conference Centre of the group also known as ‘NIFES Land of Promise’ is located in Kwali and as preparation for the conference hots up coupled with the on-going construction work on the site, the community wears a new look.

    When Leadership visited the conference site, locals engaged in the putting things in order were seen at work. Food vendors who have indicated interest in catching on the conference to do brisk business were seen awaiting the attention of the conference organizers. Boreholes have been provided, roads rehabilitated and electricity provided to serve not only the conference venue but to light up the nearby households.

    Indeed the conference is believed to be one of the largest public gatherings ever to take place in the community.

    National Director of NIFES, Mr. Bala Usman said apart from impacting the community positively, the conference will address issues relating to national rebirth and transformation.

    He said NIFES considers the youth and students as the future of any nation and its economy.

    Usman who unveiled the agenda of the upcoming event said the conference was being put together to give the Nigerian youths, strong moral foundation of character, values and knowledge required for the transformation and rebirth of the country.

    According to him, “the role of the youths and students in nation-building, national development and global transformation is very critical and cannot be over emphasized. The youths occupy a central place in the strategic agenda of any nation that is conscious of its growth, prosperity and future.”

    He stated that the energy and vibrancy of students and youths, if nurtured and properly harnessed could bring enormous gain and positive impacts to the nation.

    “It is in this light that we in NIFES consider the duty of building and nurturing our students and youths especially in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria , to be fit and capable of living successfully, a priority.”

    He said NIFES has been silently and resiliently working with the students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, responding to the cry of the nation for men and women worthy to be ‘Ambassadors for the Nation’ and  to take her to the promise Land.

    Since 1968, the Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), a Faith based indigenous organization and student ministry has been in the fore front of raising capable, credible, well trained and trusted leaders for the Nigerian society and the global community. NIFES presently works in 323 campuses in Nigeria with over 30,000 students.

    To achieve its vision, once every three years, the group organizes Missions’ Conference tagged WITNESS. WITNESS 2013 is therefore, NIFES’ 27th National Conference and the 8th National Missions Conference aimed at enhancing greater understanding of the multi-dimensional perspectives for global mission’s involvement and kingdom work with God while bettering the cause of nationhood.

    This edition of the conference with the Theme: ‘The Ambassadors’ scheduled to hold at the NIFES Conference Centre, Kwali Abuja, is packaged to bring over 10,000 students and youths across Nigeria together, to be equipped and empowered for the huge task of nation building and national development, kingdom growth and development, and global engagement for the 21st century.

    The conference is aimed to among other things rebrand the youths to fear, seek and put God first in everything they do rather than seek personal gratification as well as raise youths and students who are willing to stand for one Nigeria because of their unity in Jesus Christ.

     

  • ‘Why Nigeria still crawls at 53’

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God Abuja has said Nigeria is still crawling after 53 years of independence because it is yet to perfect its grace.

    The statement was made by Pastor Akinyemi Bolaji at the seventh anniversary of the Redeemed Christian Church, Green Parish Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Province 3 Nyanya District Abuja. The theme of the anniversary was: Perfecting Grace for Breakthrough.

    Pastor Akinremi Bolaji, the Assistant Pastor-in-charge, re-affirmed that Nigeria had been independent for 53 years now but everyone is crying that the country is still crawling. He said God blessed Nigeria with a high amount of mineral and human resources which represent grace,but that Nigerians would have to trade in holiness to perfect the grace for breakthrough.

    He insisted that what we really need is perfection of the grace because we already have all the resources and a prayerful population. But, if we pray without holiness, we will not have breakthrough.

    Bolaji said: “God has done so much for Nigeria. She needs to perfect its grace. We have a high amount of mineral and human resources which represents grace. What we need to think as Nigerians is what we can do to bring out that grace. Our role and duties are in bringing out the best in what God has given us because when you make the best out of what God has given you, what comes out of it is breakthrough.

    “That is why we say perfect the grace for breakthrough. If you have the grace and do not perfect it, there may not be breakthrough. You need to develop whatever God has given you; you have a role to play for whatever God had given you for that thing to fulfill its purpose.’’

    Pastor Akinwunmi Adebayo, the guest speaker at the anniversary, urged the church to remember that we are all sojourners in this world and everything is temporary. He pleaded with them to give willingly to everyone in need because it will not go out empty but returns to them in a multiple fold. But whoever keeps to himself, will remain stagnant. He said: “Giving is living. The more you give, the more God blesses you.”

     

  • Nigeria, Singapore partner on direct air links, others

    Nigeria, Singapore partner on direct air links, others

    Nigeria and Singapore have sealed deals on opening up air links between both countries.

    They have also agreed to collaborate in areas such as medical tourism, capacity development, skills acquisition and enterprise development, among others.

    The agreements were reached at a meeting between the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, and his Singaporean counterpart, Mr. S Iswaran, during the Nigeria-Singapore Business and Investment Forum in Singapore.

    Aganga said direct air services between Nigeria and Singapore would boost business, provide favourable trade and investment relationship for both countries.

    Iswaran said: “Once we open up the links, the people will follow and businesses too. Nigeria is a large country in its region and there are a lot of opportunities. Singapore is also an important gateway in this region. If we explore these advantages, the two countries will be better for it.”

    The Ethiopian Airlines would start direct flights from Nigeria to Singapore in December, this year, it was learnt.

    The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Enterprise International Singapore Board in five areas, namely, collaboration in the growth sectors of the economy, sharing information and best practice, mutual support in business missions and capacity development facilitation.

    Iswaran, however, noted that the Double Taxation Agreement talks had reached an advanced stage, adding that provision of investment guarantee would create more comfort for businesses.

    Aganga, who said an agreement had been signed to develop a mini-Singapore in Abuja, urged Singapore to take advantage of opportunities in the Free Trade Zones, for investment.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Mr Gbenga Kuye, said the scheme was being reformed.

     

  • Nigeria consumes 39.66m litres of petrol daily

    Nigeria consumes 39.66 million litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) daily, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison- Madueke has said.

    She said the volume of petrol consumption reduced by 34.17 per cent within a short period of time.

    Fuel subsidy, she said, has reduced by 59.05 per cent to N850 billion, adding that the government spent N5.27 trillion on petroleum products between 2006 and last year.

    She said: “As at December 2012, N5.27 trillion has been expended on products subsidy since the commencement of Petroleum Subsidy Scheme in 2006. A comprehensive reform programme put in place, under the Minister of Petroleum Resources, yielded outstanding results in 2012.”

    She said the industry reform was in line with the government’s transformation agenda to promote socio-economic activities.

    The reform initiatives, she said, are aimed at restoring effective product monitoring, enhancing transparency and accountability, restoring the integrity of the products importation and volume determination process, changing the negative perception of the sub-sector, especially of the Petroleum Product Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), among others.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke said the reforms between 2010 and this year covered the downstream, midstream and upstream, among other areas in the oil and gas value chain.

    She said the ministry was repairing and upgrading facilities in the refineries and pipelines distribution network to sustain in-country product supply

    She maintained that the ministry would continue to ensure stable supply of petroleum product, effective and efficient administration of the subsidy programme which she said remains unsustainably expensive and increased domestic refining

    In addition, she said improvements in local capacity and indigenous participation in infrastructure investments had been vigorously pursued, saying the outcome had been in upgraded training facilities and increased regulatory compliance with local content requirements

    The ministry in line with the government’s drive in achieving the national aspiration of 40 billion barrels of oil reserves and four million barrels of oil per day production, including condensate, as captured in Vision 20:2020, has increased exploration activities in the offshore, onshore and Inland basins.

    Meanwhile, exploration has been stepped-up in the inland basins of Chad, Anambra, Benue and Bida/Sokoto/Dahomey, she disclosed.

    According to her, last year, 19 exploration wells were drilled comprising eight exploration wells in the JV and 11 wells (3 exploration and 8 appraisal wells) under the PSC. Also, 93 development wells were drilled including 55 development wells under JV while PSC delivered 38 development wells.

    Within the same year, 33 work- over wells were drilled consisting of 32 work-over wells under JV and one work-over well in PSC

    This increased exploration activity is reflected in acquisition of a total of 6, 102 sq.km of seismic data, including 818 sq.km acquired for FES operations in the Chad Basin in Phase 3, 4 and 5 combined.

    She said acquisition of 266sq.km of seismic data in the Phase 6 is ongoing by IDSL (a subsidiary of NNPC) in the Chad Basin.

    In addition, the ministry has also grown IDSL Land Acquisition capacity by additional three 100percent wholly owned seismic party crews, she said, adding that all these are in line with realising the objectives of the present administration.

  • Hijrah: Muslims pray for Osun, Nigeria

    Hijrah: Muslims pray for Osun, Nigeria

    •Aregbesola’s wife presents gifts to first baby

    Muslims in Osun State yesterday prayed for the state and the country in commemoration of the new Islamic year, Hijrah 1435.

    The Osogbo Township Stadium, venue of the celebration, was filled with Muslims and well wishers from other faith.

    The Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Adebiyi Adelowo, and top government officials were at the event.

    Aregbesola and the Chief Imam of Osogbo/President, League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe, led the prayers.

    The governor advised Muslims to live according to the tenets of their faith, saying no true Muslim would shed the blood of his fellow men.

    He urged Muslims to revive themselves morally and spiritually, as “these are the lessons of the migration of Prophet Muhammed from Mecca to Medina, which is called Hijrah 1,435.”

    Aregbesola urged the people to be upright in their dealings with fellow human beings.

    He said in the present day, Hijrah means spiritual migration, which entails purging our souls of anti-social vices.

    The governor said: “A tiny minority has emerged in Islam who, by their actions, have profaned Allah and portrayed Islam as a religion of violence. They are at war with everybody and make no discrimination between Muslims and adherents of other religions.

    “Muslims, Christians, men, women, children, the aged, young and anybody within their range is considered a fair game and they always leave on their trail blood, sorrow and tears.”

    Aregbesola said the declaration of a holiday to mark the Hijrah is to promote fairness among religious groups.

    Sheikh Ajisafe said among other lessons, respect and prayers for leaders, holiness and Godliness should be imbibed by Muslims.

    Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties Bashiru Ajibola said people should not hide under religion to cause chaos in the society.

    Earlier, the governor’s wife, Alhaja Serifat, accompanied by the wife of the Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola; Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture Sikiru Ayedun and Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties Ajibola Basiru, visited the State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, to present a gift to the first baby of the Islamic year.

    The baby’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rasaki Olajire, named her Serifat, after Mrs egbesola.

    The governor’s wife urged couples to plan their families and give birth to the number of children they can cater for.

    She urged nursing mothers to take advantage of the state’s various immunisation programmes to protect their babies from diseases.

    Mrs. Olajire thanked Mrs. Aregbesola for her visit and gifts.

    A Director in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Gbenga Adepoju, said the baby was born around 11:30pm on Sunday and was named the first baby because Islamic hours start from 7pm.

    On Sunday evening, fire-works were lit at the Freedom Park in Osogbo to mark the new Islamic year.

    The Aregbesola administration began the Hijrah celebration three years ago.

     

  • Nigeria spent $13bn on peace keeping operations, says ex-envoy

    Nigeria has spent $13billion on peace-keeping operations since 1960, former Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Grezgorz Walinski, has stated.

    He also stated that over 250,000 peace keepers have been sent by Nigeria to the United Nation’s sponsored missions worldwide.

    According to him, the country currently has about 6, 000 troops serving in various flashpoints with 4, 000 in Darfur, Sudan.

    He, however, lamented that despite these efforts, Nigeria has failed to take advantage of the economic, military and political opportunities from its participation in peace keeping mission.

    Walinski disclosed these in Abuja at a stakeholders’ dinner of Nigeria Security Exhibition and Conference organised by First Security Guards Limited.

    He said: “Since 1960, Nigeria has spent $ 13 billion on peacekeeping efforts. Some even assume that Nigeria has not taken full advantage of its active participation in the numerous peacekeeping operations around the world by not getting commensurate economic, military and political remuneration for its participation.

    “For example, countries like Ghana, which also participate in numerous UN mission generate funds through this process to defray the cost of sustaining its military. Nigeria, on the other hand, has largely deprived itself of such benefits.

    “Her contribution to the UN peace keeping operations is only surpassed by those of Indian, Pakistan and Bangladesh.”

    The Chief Executive Officer, First Security Guards Limited, Frank Ohwafa, called on security agencies to develop synergy to fight insecurity.

    Ohwafa explained that lack of synergy among agencies was a major concern to stakeholders on how to tackle security matters.

     

  • Federalism and taxation

    Federalism and taxation

    Tax payers wishing to reduce their tax burden in a federal system should not need the intervention of the central government

    Most countries have a wide array of taxes, each of which is applicable in clearly defined circumstances. The proliferation may however be more noticeable in federalist countries like Nigeria. By virtue of powers conferred by the 1999 Constitution, taxes and levies in Nigeria are charged at three levels, i.e. Federal, State, and Local. This follows a demarcation of functions among the three tiers and the distribution of legislative powers between the Federal and State Legislatures—Ade Ipaye in 2010.

    The recent announcement by the Minister of Finance about the federal government’s intention to “streamline and harmonise taxation across the country” could not have come at a worse time. As is expected in a democracy, it is right for tax payers to ask for tax reforms that can lessen the burden of tax payers, be they individual or corporate. But for the federal government to be thinking of a major tax reform across the country after the leader of the federal government has called for a national conference to discuss the nature of Nigeria’s multiethnic federalism is to put the cart before the horse.

    Harmonisation of tax in a federal system is anathema, particularly to those who care about public finance for development, more so in a federal system that cannot develop solely on the strength of on revenue from non-renewable resources. A multiple form of taxation is an essential characteristic of federal form of governance all over the world. Over the years, Nigeria’s federal system has been watered down by decrees issued by military dictators to emphasize harmonisation, rather than accepting that a federal system must have diversity, to enforce homogenisation instead of appreciating heterogeneity. Efforts to harmonise tax across a federation is like attempting to “reform the irreformable,” to borrow some phrase from the Minister of Finance.

    Those who believe that the president is not sufficiently serious about the national conference cannot but smile to hear that his minister of finance and coordinating minister for the economy is enthusiastic about harmonising taxation at a time that the president has asked the country to dialogue about what kind of future it wants. Is the intention of the federal government to harmonise the country’s tax systems another attempt to pre-empt the national conference, just as the intention of the president to submit recommendations from the conference to a national assembly that is clearly hobbled by the desire to keep Nigeria federal in name and unitary in structure?

    It is not expected that tax payers all over the world would readily resist multiple taxation. Thus, the recent call by The Tax Payers’ Association of Nigeria (TAPAN) is in order in a democratic system. It is a different matter whether avoiding multiple taxation is realistic in a federal democracy. Tax payers wishing to reduce their tax burden in a federal system should not need the intervention of the central government, as much as they need to negotiate with state governments. Any central government that promises to harmonise taxation in a federal system is either playing to the gallery or being deliberately unrealistic. For any central government to be in a position to harmonize tax across a federal political space, it will need to amend the current constitution to the effect of removing taxation from the concurrent legislative list. To attempt to do that is to call for an end to the federal system.

    Tax payers do have a right to expect that at all levels there is a correlation between tax paid and public service given by the government. But in a federal system, where most public goods and services are provided and delivered at the subnational level, tax payers should cry to the states in which they pay taxes for transparency, accountability, and equity. Crying to the federal government to harmonize tax collection is to undermine the country’s dwindling federal system and to encourage the central government to deny states and local governments of their right to raise revenue and responsibility to fund improvement of the quality of life of citizens in specific states.

    Even though efforts to water down the federal character of Nigeria has been on for over forty years under the inspiration of military dictatorships, it is now too late in the day for an elected government that has in fact announced convocation of a national conference to put energy into harmonising taxation in the country. This is a function that should be left to the national conference to decide. It is common knowledge that fiscal federalism requires more funds at the subnational level in a federal system, if regular and prompt good services are to be provided by the government for citizens and business communities at the subnational level. It is also true that the relationship between the citizen and the central government in today’s Nigeria is more of alienation than dis-alienation, for several reasons.

    One, the central government is overfunded and under monitored by citizens. In fact, public expenditure by the central government appears ‘un-monitorable’ in Nigeria, largely on account of the distance between the central government and the average citizen. Second, the central government relies for most of its expenditures on revenue from non-renewable resource— petroleum. This situation gives the central government a feeling that it is those in power at a given time that are principal stakeholders in the process of governance and that citizens are onlookers. For example, it is easier for people of Lagos State to demand for improvement in provision of public service in Lagos than it is for citizens to influence the federal government to make the country’s most important motorway, the Lagos-Ibadan-Benin safe for movement of persons and goods. L. Enrique Garcia’s claim that there is evidence to suggest that “greater natural resource revenue, by disconnecting spending decisions from the need to levy taxes on the population, contribute to a less efficient use of the extra resources in public service provision” applies to Nigeria as much as it does to Latin America.

    It is hoped that today’s piece will stimulate rigorous debates among tax specialists and federalists on the controversial topic of harmonising tax across the country in a federation. Such debates will help those planning to represent their communities at the national conference to provide realistic recommendations on how to address the issue of ‘multiple taxation’ in a country that appears poised for further federalisation, judging by the tone of presentations of most regions to the national conference advisory committee so far.

  • Nigeria, others for AfDB regional workshop in Ghana

    Nigeria, others for AfDB regional workshop in Ghana

    All roads lead to Accra, Ghana, from Monday, November 4th-Wednesday, November 6th as the African Development Bank (AfDB) hosts a regional workshop for stakeholders on its disclosure and access to information policy, accountability and transparency efforts.

    Tagged: ‘Ensuring Effective Disclosure and Access to Information, Accountability and Transparency processes in Bank financed Projects’, the forum, will bring together various stakeholders from West Africa.

    According to the organisers, the sensitisation and information sharing initiative is part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency and good governance in its partnerships and activities with stakeholders.

    Besides, the workshop will highlight AfDB’s undertakings in these areas by engaging stakeholders on the Bank’s new Disclosure and Access to Information (DAI) policy as well as on the work of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department (IACD) and the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU).

    The regional workshop will be attended by representatives from various ministries and specialised government bodies, drawn from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape-Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Togo.

     

  • ‘Photography is my life’

    ‘Photography is my life’

    Cameron Barnes is  an American photographer who has traveled to many parts of the world doing what he knows best.  He spoke to BLESSING OLISA  during a recent visit to Nigeria on his perception about his work   and other salient issues.
    Who is Cameron Barnes?
    I graduated school for photography in May and in the last six years or so, I’ve been trying to travel as much as I can and to get my photography to be the best that it can be. I have been to Indonesia, Israel and Palestine for three months, then Egypt for the revolution. I couldn’t travel covering some stories in New York. Now I’m in Nigeria which is great. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do conflict and war photography and continue to make that as a living.
    Why the interest in conflict and war photography?
     
    I really got into it when I first took history classes while growing up in high school. I learnt about Vietnam War and all these wars that people know these iconic photographs through. You know the Eddie Adams’ photograph where the guy holds the gun against the Vietnam soldier being executed. Immediately I saw that photograph, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Just from that picture. A little bit stand-out images that everyone knows redefined the entire way that people perceived it. When those pictures were published back in New York Times, heavy movement was happening. It made people get out into the streets and get angry about it. It made a difference. I’ll like to kind of continue in that tradition
    Did your childhood experience influence your choice of profession?
    Absolutely! Yeah. From seeing those works, I knew immediately that was something I wanted to do. I hate reading through the rest of history books and seeing these wars and conflicts and patterns repeating themselves over and over again. I hate the idea that we are just repeating ourselves and all of us as a whole. I mean, America has got a huge part of it. But I hate the idea of not learning from history and we just keep doing the same thing.
    Do you think photography will help enhance unity among people?
    I will say yes, especially if you want to get a shot, a decisive moment and something that really expresses something in a nutshell, especially now that people are becoming more visual creatures and reading a lot less which is not a good thing at all. But if a photograph can be that powerful to where it can be like as if everyone was reading, I think that can be really effective.
    You’ve been to Indonesia, Egypt, Israel and you’re now in Nigeria. Why the tour?
    I’m doing it for my portfolio. For me, it’s just like honing through the mind’s eye. Like what I’m seeing and practicing through the view finder and through the edge of the frame, getting it framed up and getting better at it. I like to say that I’m a very straight photographer. I really feel like if I don’t get the photograph right the first time (I’ve never cropped a picture in my entire life, I refuse to) then I don’t deserve it because it takes away from the entire art of me doing it.
    Having traveled to many countries, what are your experiences so far? What thrilled you about these nations?
    I’m not a very religious person so I didn’t have any ideas what to expect from going to Jerusalem. I was based there for like six months or so. I’ve never really been a big fan of religion. When I got there, it kind of made me even see what devastating effects it can bring, I mean seeing two groups of people who are so segregated and so put against each other. I don’t even know now if it’s a religious thing as much as it is a political thing. But everyone will say it’s a religious thing. They don’t want to talk about that. They had two separate bus systems. There are the Palestinian buses and the Jewish buses. No one merges. If you are a Palestinian, you don’t go on the Jewish buses and vice versa. Well, I had the opportunity to go on both, but I mostly went with the Palestinian because they were cheaper.
    What in your view are responsible for the differences between the groups?
    I think it is mostly political and I don’t think there will ever be peace in that part of the world as long as it remains the holiest city. Everyone always wants a piece of it. That’s the only place I have witnessed stuff like that. When I was in Egypt for the revolution that was what I was hoping for. I was hoping to see some extreme conflict and violence and protest and I got what I anticipated.
    Were you not scared?
    According to James Nachtwey “Fear is not what’s important; it is how you deal with it. That’s like asking a marathon runner if they feel pain. It’s not a matter of if you feel it but how you manage it. It could happen to any of us at any time.” So it could just be the same thing as stepping out of my house, walking the streets of New York and getting hit by a vehicle or something.
    You have about ten tattoos on your right arm alone. Why tattoos?
    Tattoos are daily reminders of the achievements and the life experiences I’m proud of. As compared to photographs which only are seen once in awhile. I get to shower, eat and breathe with my memories. Every one of them was gotten at different times and in different places. They are more like a signature from every country I visited.
    Now that you are in Nigeria, what image of the country would you engrave on your skin?
     
    On the new currency bills (polymer notes) there is the clear /see through part on the right side. What is that symbol?
    You mean the Nigerian coat of Arms?
    Nah that’s not the one I’m thinking of actually. A festac mask will do. I’m not sure actually, may be when I hear some suggestions.
    How would you describe your stay in Nigeria?
    It’s been fun. I love Nigeria and everything here. I have some really nice Nigerian meals including jollof rice and pounded yam. I also had this type of grilled fish which was really spicy and I had to practically wipe my nose through the meal. But I enjoyed it. I would really love to stay back and be a Nigerian albino.