The Nation Newspaper

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  • Businessman abuses two boys

    The police have arrested a businessman, Friday Okeke, for allegedly defiling two underage boys on Lagos Island.

    The command’s spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSO), in a statement Tuesday, said the suspect was arrested following complaints at Ebute Ero Police Station.

    “On July 27, at 11:30am, Ebute Ero Police Station received a complaint from two parents against Okeke, 35, of 23, Kose Street, Lagos Island.

    “They said the suspect lured two boys aged 12 and nine into his shop at Kose Street and had unlawful carnal knowledge of them through their anus.

    “The victims were taken to the General Hospital for forensic examination.

    “The suspect was arrested by detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer in Ebute Ero, Sina Olunlade.

    “Investigation is on. The suspect will be arraigned after completion of investigation,” he said.

    The statement said operatives of “Operation Crush” also arrested 26 suspected cultists at Bariga and Oworonshoki.

    The arrest followed a clash between members of two cults.

    It said Commissioner of Police Zubairu Muazu ordered the deployment of “Operation Crush” in the communities.

    The team is to identify, isolate and apprehend gangsters and cults disrupting peace.

    “The suspects will be arraigned. The onslaught will continue until the gangsters are defeated,” the statement said

  • ‘Smugglers are after us for spoiling their business’

    Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection Aminu Dahiru led the destruction of N14.8 billion worth of tramadol in Sagamu, Ogun State. He spoke with reporters on the sidelines of the event. Muyiwa Lucas was there.

    How do you react to the destruction of prohibited drugs by Customs?

    What you see here is a product of teamwork. We are cooperating with ourselves to fight crimes and overcome the illicit trade in prohibited drugs. This is one way to protect the lives of our citizens from destruction and save the society from the many dangers of criminality associated with trade and consumption of illicit drugs. What you are seeing here is a product of uncompromising enforcement coupled with diligent investigations by customs officers from various commands where these seizures were made. In the course of our anti smuggling assignment, some of our men came under attack, rejected bribes, got wounded and some even died in the line of duty. We are not deterred. We are forging ahead and will remain resolute in this battle against drug smuggling and any form of smuggling. By the grace of God, we shall continue to be victorious.

    For this destruction, I am congratulating members of my committee for carrying out this national duty. Because this is beyond state, it is a national duty, service to humanity and as service to humanity don’t forget, it’s service to God. I sincerely appreciate them and I equally appreciate the Controller-General of Customs as well as Director-General of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for giving us the entire enabling environment to carry out this assignment. At the initial stage, we were scared that we may not be able to do it, but with the assistance of other sister agencies like Nigerian Army, we have made history and I want to congratulate Nigerians for being part of this. I said sometime ago that Nigeria Customs Service has promised hence forth to be celebrating Nigeria at every moment and this is exactly what we are doing.

    Is this the first time you are destroying drugs of this magnitude under this administration? 

    Yes. This is the first time we are destroying such an amount of tramadol. If these seizures were not made and dangerous drugs of this quantity were allowed into the society, we will have huge problems on our hands as a people and a country.

    How would you describe the synergy between Customs and other regulatory agencies?

    It is very good and has continued to improve. The synergy that has been existing between us and other sister agencies has been commendable. There is this cooperation that where a regulatory body is concerned with a seizure or importation, Customs draw their attention to it. When  we  have a seizure or consignment meant for them we normally hand it over to them. For example, when we seized items that have anything to do with the ecosystem, we hand over to the National Environmental Standards Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA), likewise any hard drugs like marijuana, we hand over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Now this is for NAFDAC to regularise. So that is why we are partnering with them for this destruction. The drugs being destroyed today is a meagre volume compared with the cumulative quantity we have been handing over to NAFDAC and NDLEA over the years.

    Are these all the drugs seized nationwide or your committee has more seizures in other parts of the country?

    We are starting the destruction here because of the high volume of seizures made in the South West where a lot of Customs activities take place. We shall be doing similar destructions in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Bauchi where we have Customs zones. Residents and stakeholders in these areas should await our invitations soon. Even as we are here, some of our anti-smuggling officers have been receiving threats for their exploits. Smugglers of these drugs are unhappy because we stopped them from making money through destruction of lives.

  • Cocoa prices continue slide as global demand remains soft

    International cocoa prices have continued to plunge, despite increasing demand in the world market.

    The downward trend, has affected the profitability of the industry, which is heavily dependent on export markets.

    Since January 2016, according to the World Bank Commodities Price Data, cocoa sold at $2.89 per kilogram and fell to $2.03 in December 2017. It sold at $2.29 in January 2018 and $2.18 in December.

    Between January and March this year, according to the World Bank price data, cocoa sold at $2.24 and $2.20, while in April, cocoa sold for $2.33 and $2.32 in May.

    According to data from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) cocoa sold for $ 1770.50 per tonne on June 11 and $1782.47 on June 12.

    In an interview with The Nation, the President, Federation of Agricultural Commodities of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr. Victor Iyama said the prices of agro commodities have witnessed highs and low prices this year.

    He attributed this to over production and earlier weather concerns about the West African cocoa bean crop.

    Read Also: NIRSAL guarantees N2b facility for cocoa

    Cocoa bean supplies are coming off a major global surplus estimated at 300,000 tonnes in 2016-17 after record production in the Ivory Coast.

    Despite, he called for increased distribution of hybrid seedlings and other advanced technologies that help cocoa farmers improve yields.

    In Nigeria, some international companies working with organisations such as Farmers Development Union (FADU) have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into certified and sustainable cocoa production in places such as Oyo State.

    The programmes are designed to improve quality and yields through good agricultural practices free from pesticides, chemicals and child labour.

  • Ondo communities give herders 21 days quit notice

    Residents of four communities in Idoani, Idogun, Imeri and Afo in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State have issued a 21-day ultimatum to herdsmen to vacate their farmlands.

    The countdown begin on 22.

    The Alani of Idoani, Oba Olufemi Olutoye, the Onidogun Oba Moses Bakare, Onimeri Oba Babatunde Adeniran and the Alafo was Oba Adegoke Egunjobi, in a communiqué they jointly signed, said their people could no longer tolerate the spate of kidnapping, killing and rape and daughters by the herders.

    The monarchs expressed concern over the possibility of violent clashes and reprisals between the farmers and herders following the incessant destruction of cash crops by the herdsmen.

    They added that the ultimatum remained the last option to avoid the breakdown of law and order, with the herdsmen allegedly rebuffing all entreaties to be law abiding.

    According to the five-paragraph communiqué, the fear of frequent unprovoked attacks by the herdsmen has forced many farmers to abandon their means of livelihood, leading to economic meltdown in the area.

    Read Also: Snake sacks Ondo lawmakers during plenary

    Describing the plan by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to set up vigilante group in Ondo State as an affront to Yoruba race, the four royal fathers vowed not to allow any part of the area to be used for RUGA  in whatever guise.

    They, therefore, called on the residents of the area to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agencies for appropriate action.

     

  • We won’t stop producing quality doctors, says EKSU provost

    THE Medical College of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti has said the institution will not rest on its oars in producing good medical doctors in view of its state-of-the art training facilities and quality manpower.

    The institution recently graduated the first set of medical students after 10 years of study due to delayed accreditation.

    Provost of the college, Prof. Kehinde Oluwadiya, said lack of funding which had been the reason for lack of accreditation for the college in the past, was now a thing of the past.

    Oluwadiya, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti at a news conference heralding the induction of the 43 pioneer doctors produced by the college, assured that there would not be a hitch in accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) again.

    Read Also: ‘We’ll take EKSUTH to greater heights’

    According to him, all the medical students that sat for final MBBS had “very good result as the students had 100 per cent passes and a distinction in surgery in the final examination. Overall, there were seven distinctions recorded by the graduating students in all the four professional examinations they sat for in the college”.

    According to the provost, the college curriculum ensured good quality medical doctors and the admission system is competitive, saying: “For instance, last year, over 700 candidates jostled for the 50 slots in the college.”

    He said Emeritus Professor of Pathology, Professor Williams Odesanmi, would on Monday deliver the induction lecture entitled: “Legal and ethical issues in medical practice” while the induction proper would take place later that day.

  • Intra-Africa trade projected to grow by 50 percent in 2045 – IATA

    Intra-African trade is projected to grow from less than 12 per cent in 2013 to about 50 per cent by 2045 while global trade will rise from two per cent to 12 per cent, the Regional Vice-President, International Air Transport Association (IATA) Muhammed Ali Albakri has said.

    Speaking in an interview Albakri said air transport currently supports 6.2 million jobs and $55.8 billion of GDP in Africa.

    He disclosed that over the next 20 years, demand for air transport is expected to double, with a 4.6 per cent annual growth – the second fastest of all IATA reg.

    To him, aviation also plays a central role in achieving 15 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

    He lauded Ghana for including aviation as part of its National Development Plans under its UNSDG Action Plan, one of the few countries on the continent to do so.

    He urged others to follow; given the immense benefits that aviation can contribute to economic growth, development and job creation.

    He stated that it is evident that aviation in Africa has the potential to fuel trade and economic growth, but lamented that several barriers such as weak and costly infrastructure, high ticket prices, poor intra-Africa connectivity and a proliferation of taxes and charges exist and have done incalculable setback to the continent’s aviation sector.

    Airport infrastructure in most African countries is outdated and not built to serve the growing volume of passengers or cargo.

    Airlines and airports are often managed by government entities or regulatory bodies. Foreign investment is discouraged.

    Yet, modernising infrastructure and operations requires both investment and expertise, ideally from public-private partnerships. Africa needs to open its doors for private capital investment.

    Countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda are heeding this call and making strategic bets in the sector while employing best practices to drive vibrant aviation growth.

    On interconnectivity, stakeholders have decried the cumbersome nature of travelling within Africa which makes air travel very expensive and difficult to move around because of poor connectivity.

    To bridge the gap, the Single African Air Transport Market introduced earlier this year aims to open up Africa’s skies and improve intra-African air connectivity has not totally succeeded.

    So far, 28 out of 54 African countries have signed up. The movement is promising and will be more effective once all African countries come on-board they said.

    To resolve all the issues, the IATA chief said the continent must ensure a strong dialogue and partnership between government and the aviation industry, ‘If we are to deliver the economic and social benefits to our citizens’.

    His words, “No state or airline can deliver the full benefits that aviation offers by operating alone; competition is part of our business, but collaboration and cooperation must be the common denominator upon which we all operate. Governments need to foster greater collaboration and coordination and develop and execute joint actions plans to maximize aviation’s impact.”

    He reiterated that collaboration between airlines is also crucial if they want to improve connectivity and increase the share of African carriers moving traffic to, from and within Africa.

     He explained that recently, South African Airways and Africa World Airlines signed a cooperation agreement which will feed into improving African connectivity

    “But what are the regional priorities that we must address together? For Africa, we must focus our efforts on five issues of safety, infrastructure and capacity-building, financial sustainability, high industry costs and Africa connectivity, with the smarter regulation approach at the heart of how we work together,” he added.

    To him, safety is the industry’s top priority in every region, but expressed sadly that Africa tragically suffered the loss of ET302 in March.

    However, 2018 marked the third successive year in which there were no African airline jet hull losses or fatal accidents.

  • ‘Diversification vital to growth’

    THE Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has identified diversification as the key to addressing the challenges facing the economy

    Its President, Comrade Oyinkansola Olasanoye, said if the country diversifies the economy from oil, which represents 85 per cent of export earnings to agriculture, there is hope of great economic potential ahead.

    She said it was important that the three tiers of government- federal, states and local – initiate policies to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship and growth, which are the key priorities for many emerging economies in the world.

    She said there was need for the policymakers to strike a balance across sectors and initiate incentives that could sustain growth.

    “Strengthening public financial management is also critical to ensuring that revenue is used to improve basic service delivery for Nigerians, particularly in the health and education sectors, which are underserved, especially for rural population.

    “I do believe that designing and implementing reforms, which the government is undertaking to drive the growth processes, is particularly challenging as our policymakers attempt to strike a balance across sectors, firm size and incentives that can sustain growth in the nation’s economy,” Olasanoye said.

    She added that investing in human capital development would reduce stunts in the country.

    She said: “This is because stunting has multiple causes, and to address them all will require coordinated actions across multiple sectors such as health, social protection, education, sanitation among others.

  • Makinde’s assets

    It is not surprising that the declaration of assets worth about N50 billion by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has continued to generate considerable public interest.

    This is perhaps, the first time in recent times a governor would make public his assets. He also set record as the first public officer to file details of those assets on the eve of his inauguration even when the laws establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau CCB stipulated a three-month timeframe for the exercise.

    These should have stood him out for commendation given the high prevalence of corruption in our public life and the imperative to stem the tide. By the measures, Makinde has provided the template for the public to hold him accountable in and out of office. The point he seemed to have made is that if assets worth more than his official earnings are traced to him on exiting office, he should be made to face the raw teeth of the law. That should be something to cheer about.

    But we live in a clime of abject poverty with a few swimming in scandalous opulence. It is therefore little a surprise that the disclosure of such huge amount of funds and assets has come with its own challenges. Issues have been raised in some quarters as to how a single individual could possibly amass such huge amount of money and assets in the face of debilitating poverty. And this has tended to take off the shine from an action that should ordinarily, have been received with considerable applause.

    Read Also: Makinde sends commissioners list to assembly

    But the governor did no wrong. Nigeria’s poor rating in the world’s poverty index is none of his making. Neither can he be possibly held liable for the woes of this country. He was only obeying extant regulations regarding assets declaration by public office holders. If he is considered stupendously rich by local standards, it is no fault of his. After all, the capitalist system we run thrives on such inequalities. Makinde seemed to have followed the pattern set by late President Umaru Yar’Adua when in June 2007 he made an open declaration of his assets. Yar’Adua had then asked his vice to follow his example but his ill-health and subsequent death did not allow that visionary move to be fully appreciated.

    Before now, some key public officials of the government have been arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal CCT for either failure to declare assets, concealment of assets or lack of full disclosure. The case of the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen is still very fresh in the mind. Makinde was just being mindful of all that.

    Curiously, questions have been raised as to how he could have acquired such stupendous wealth in this country. Issues were bandied in some quarters as to the amount of taxes he pays to the government and his level of social responsibility to his constituents. Some even went to the ridiculous length of calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and other relevant bodies to have him investigated. Investigate him for what offence?

    Sadly, what should have stood out as an example of emulation was seemingly diminished by scathing remarks as to how he made his money, the level of taxes paid and the corporate citizenship of some of his companies. By dwelling more on the negative side of the action, we lost a good opportunity to appreciate the heuristic vale of the exercise. For a government that has the war against corruption as one of its cardinal programs and had taken some unconstitutional steps to hound those suspected of fraud related offences; that was a good opportunity to celebrate the gains of the war.

    One would have expected the government to positively hype up that development commending the approach to other elected and appointed public officials. But for some inexplicable reasons, that opportunity was allowed to be drowned by derisive remarks and unhelpful scepticisms.

    Now what are the issues? Here is a governor that dutifully declared his assets in keeping with extant regulations. He did not just stop at that, but went further to make them public even before being sworn-in. And that has become his crime for which he must be hounded? What an irony! If he had opted to go it secretly as most public officers do, would anybody have known the worth of his assets to warrant calling for a probe? And which of the two options serves public interest better- secret declaration as has been the order of the day or open declaration on the eve of inauguration now pioneered by Governor Makinde?

    The later obviously better serves the course of probity and accountability. It is a sincere move stemming from the heart of one who has nothing to hide. The impression it generally conveys is that of one who made his money genuinely and therefore has nothing to fear by making that information public. I stand to be contradicted.

    Questions as to how he made his money, the amount of taxes he paid and his overall positive impact on the society are essentially diversionary. They are not relevant to the situation and cannot be used to smear an example worthy of emulation. Moreover, there is the inherent danger that such negativism could scare away public officers who may wish to toe the same path.

    We would have lost a lot of mileage in the war against corruption if by those scornful remarks and negativism we end up discouraging those who might be spurred by Makinde’s action to follow the same line. But then, probity and accountability in public offices would be better enhanced if public officers are bold enough to make public the overall worth of their assets. It will also give inkling on income distribution within the Nigerian society.

    How people make their money, the level of taxes they pay and issues of corporate citizenship are not entirely out of place. But they are irrelevant at the point of assets’ declaration. There are statutory bodies charged with those responsibilities. If they fail to discharge their duties as at when due, that is their cup of tea.

    And if one may ask, what have we done with those few Nigerians that control the entire wealth of the country almost exclusively? Why have our anti-graft agencies not probed into the sources of their wealth including those of them that have held public offices in this country? That should be the real issue and not the avoidable distraction in attempting to stigmatize a governor, honest enough to avail the nation of his total assets standing.

    It is for the relevant agencies of government to verify the claims contained in his assets declaration forms to ensure that all his depositions conform to facts on the ground. That is the way to go; the basis for holding him accountable when he leaves office. Anything other than that will be diversionary and counterproductive. We should encourage others not only to make their assets declaration public but to do so a few days before they assume office. This will stem the observed penchant by unscrupulous ones for anticipatory declarations within the three months’ timeframe.

    But more seriously, the CCB must buckle up in its verification of claims deposed on oath by public officers. It does not speak well of the agency that little is heard of discrepancies, concealment of information or lack of full disclosure in the assets declaration forms of key public officers except when they have issues with the authorities.

    That was exactly the situation with the former senate president, Bukola Saraki. Onnoghen’s case also followed the same predictable pattern. These tend to convey the miserable impression that the CCB just like its EFCC counterpart are increasingly becoming tools in the hands of the government to hound perceived enemies. These key institutions must be retrieved from increasing slide to partisanship to remain relevant to their mandate.

  • ‘Private sector investment in infrastructure hits N3.2tr’

    Private sector capital investment in the provision of public infrastructure in the economy under the Public- Private Partnership (PPP) is now over N3.2 trillion, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has said.

    Its Director-General/CEO, Chidi K. C. Izuwah, who was represented   by Jide Olagunju of the Director-General’s office at a forum in the United States said Nigeria has huge infrastructure deficit, which requires foreign capital and expertise to supplement whatever resources that can be marshaled at home.

    He listed 51 projects under the commission’s  PPP arrangement, saying the projects are spread in different sectors of the economy, including seaports and marine services, power, aviation concession, telecommunication infrastructure, housing and information, as well as communication technology (national ID cards), among others.

    He saidd the concessions were valued at over N3.2 trillion, representing private sector capital investment in the provision of public infrastructure.

    Izuwah listed other PPP accomplishments, including the LekkiDeepwater Port Flag Off, FMWPH Rooftop Solar PPP, Warehouse in a Box Medical Stores, NIWA Onitsha River Port, KiriKiri Terminals I and II Modernization, Lilypond Terminal Conversion to Agro Processing and Export, IbomDeepwater Port, DadinKowa Hydro, Gurara Hydro, AKK Pipeline, Farm Mechanisation PPP and the Enyimba Economic City.

    For the LekkiDeepwater Port, he said the project has a duration of 45 years and is on a Build, Own,  Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model and the parties to the project and equity holdings are as follows:Lagos State Government 20 per cent, Nigerian Ports Authority five per cent,Tolaram (LPIHI) 75 per cent with the Lekki Port LFTZ  Enterprise serving as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

    He said the LekkiDeepwater Port has container terminal with 2.7million TEU per annum capacity, and is amongthe deepestports inWestAfrica  with the capacity to 16,000TEU vessels while the liquid terminal has 16.7million tonnes per annum and can handle up to 160,000 DWT vessels. Also the dry bulk terminal has capacity for 4.5million tonnes per annum and can handleupto 75,000 DWT vessels.

    The ICRC chief noted the direct economic Impactof LekkiDeepwater Port, which include 169,972 jobs creation from port operations, adding that $20 billion will be spent on salaries.

    Others are revenue to state and federal agencies from taxes, royalties and duties, which will amount to  about $201billion.

    Lekki Port will have an aggregate impact of approximately US$ 361billion on Nigerian economy over the term of concession and will offer a multiplier effect of more than 230 times of total cost.

  • Cometh the hour, goeth Rohr

    Cometh the hour, cometh the man; but not Gernot Rohr. The Super Eagles technical adviser may have done his curriculum vitae some good with Nigeria’s third place finish at the Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) finals held June 21 to July 19 in Egypt but future employers might pick holes in his cover letter.

    It would take some skill to coat the haphazard manner in which the highlight of the Franco-German’s sojourn in Africa played out. Before stints at the helm of Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso, he managed Tunisian club Etoile Sahel.

    For all his faults, the 66-year-old could go highly recommended. In response to calls for his disengagement after meeting a semi-final target minus the flair that fans craved, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick declared that Rohr would “remain in the job. I have complete confidence in him.” In appraisal of Rohr’s managerial acumen, he would also be sent on a refresher course with top German side, Bayern Munich.

    A ‘semi-final target’ for a continental giant by manpower and resources? ‘Refresher training’ for a 66-year-old coach closer to tactical surrender than impressive triumph? The import of a record eight bronze medals, three silvers and three golds from 15 AFCON semi-final runs is clearly lost on Nigeria football officials.

    Besides official positions as expressed by Pinnick, a 50-50 chance of winning gold from the last four suggests insufficient ambition or administrative deficiency, or both. Egypt’s seven victories from 15 semi-finals, Cameroon’s five wins out of nine and Ghana’s four in 14, or current champions Algeria’s two in seven for that matter, underscore Nigeria’s position in African football.

    Sticking with Rohr, therefore, bends the mind. In return for previous support from the NFF in material and organisational terms, the handler engaged roughly the same measures at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup and Egypt 2019 AFCON events. Despite mounting criticism of his methods, he failed to shape his squad while tugging dead wood from everywhere but the domestic league.

    Before both tournaments, he ignored the crucial task of grooming obvious option, Alex Iwobi in the creative midfield role with team talisman John Mikel Obi in the twilight. In the event, Mikel strolled to a share of the dollar rain that refreshed a parched Nigeria in the Egypt heat.

    The former Chelsea stalwart may be worth every cent of his ‘retirement package’ considering his distinguished service to the country but the ethics around his presence in Egypt remain arguable. An unofficial hiatus from the team and the 2019 AFCON qualifiers succeeded by his sudden availability and subsequent selection by an acquiescent Rohr, especially with the player’s ‘clubless’ status, fuelled critics’ assumption of racketeering in football circles.

    They fed, too, the notion of players securing international caps as bait for club contracts – an excusable venture where the player is neither ageing nor dispensable. None of the conditions applied to the AFCON 2019 version of Mikel.

    Iwobi thrived in his stead, but a more astute coach would have milked the Arsenal forward for all his ball-distributing worth. Recall, for specifics, his innate, heart-warming displays in pre-Russia 2018 friendlies. Then, as in Egypt, the player exhibited the deadly instinct that almost sank a rampant Barcelona in early UEFA Champions League heroics for the Gunners.

    The 23-year-old however needs to be calmer in possession to better spot the quick pass or hold up play for marksmen to take positions. He need not be reminded that relation and predecessor, Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s dribbling, passing, shooting and set-piece range fertilised Nigeria’s golden crop of the 90s.

    Under Rohr, it is unlikely to get better than third place in an AFCON field considered average by recent standards. Worse, he looks every inch a man sworn to his detached, predictable methods.

    Against hope, his handling of the Egypt assignment mirrored Russia. Similarly undecided in his choice of the First Eleven, he danced between three and four defenders in Russia before staging right fullback Olaoluwa Aina on the left in Egypt while central defender and erstwhile regular substitute, Chidozie Awaziem performed at right back until his injury in the 2-1 submission to Algeria in the semi-final.

    Before the AFCON, the coach failed to rejig the faltering central defence pair of William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun until the latter left his form on the bench at English Premier League club, Brighton and Hove Albion. Only then did AFCON 2013 winner, Kenneth Omeruo slot in beside Troost-Ekong.

    Rohr departed for Egypt with the benefit of the doubt but in the aftermath left none unconvinced about priorities misplaced after the burly, statuesque form of Odion Ighalo hugged the lone striker shirt to bit part consequence for alternatives Paul Onuachu and Victor Osimhen. For all his enterprise, de facto skipper, Ahmed Musa, also did not absolve his coach of misapplication of resources or cover himself in glory.

    As speculated following his 2018 move to Al-Nassr in a Saudi Arabia league considered less competitive, Musa lost his edge and repeatedly failed to deliver the deadly final balls of old as he registered blanks on goal while the Eagles lasted in Egypt. The winger may be due for retirement earlier than he apparently realised following his fêting of departing colleagues.

    Somewhat unfortunate on account of his tournament-leading five goals, Ighalo’s announced exit on the heels of Mikel’s on the other hand bodes well for younger replacements as long as the team handler eschews the fixation that propped Ighalo and the less-than agile trio of goalkeepers to Egypt. First choice Daniel Akpeyi failed to banish the jitters, while Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Francis Uzoho travelled from a patchy domestic league form and the European football backwater of Cyprus.

    Yet, as followers of the Nigerian league to no end clamoured, there were fitter, possibly more talented stoppers at home, not least Theophilus Afelokhai who was rated ahead of Ezenwa at Enyimba of Aba. A more grounded coach would have used the almost three years afforded Rohr thus far to blood new talents or at least integrate notable exclusions as England-based Semi Ajayi, Junior Ajayi and Kelechi Nwakali.

    Rohr’s inflexible commitment to the 4-3-3 formation may have partly informed his final team list for Egypt but an immediate casualty of the rigidity was the midfield. Hampered by the composition of the final 23 wherein four midfielders featured, compared to nine in attack and seven in defence, central defensive pair Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo ran themselves into the Egyptian grass to make the collective tick.

    Towards the end, the spent Ndidi gifted fouls on the edge of the penalty box to the opposition while Etebo could have rekindled his goal-grabbing form from the Brazil 2016 Olympics in a more advanced role with, say, the 4-4-2 system.

    Approaching qualifiers for the 2021 AFCON starting November 11 at home to Benin Republic, some argue for a replacement (or recycle) from the ranks of proven Nigerian coaches. Think Austin Eguavoen and Samson Siasia as well as the late Amodu Shuaibu and Stephen Keshi for exciting world youth, Olympic football and AFCON runs in the past.

    Others mention the domestic handler’s susceptibility to the whims of big shots and player agents as cause of the undisciplined, chaotic environment witnessed before Rohr’s arrival. Again, think Eguavoen and Siasia as well as Sunday Oliseh for chances lost, regained and lost again.

    First, though, there is the small matter of Rohr’s reported contract pay off clause of one million dollars to surmount. Until a timely resolution ensues, the impression of a lack of foresight during national coach contract negotiations lingers.

    Rohr may have instilled order in a listless Super Eagles but he has run into a cul-de-sac. In a system where officials grasp the concept of accountability, coaches excuse themselves right after deplorable or failed campaigns. Cometh the hour, goeth Rohr.

     

    • Fagbemi, an author and art enthusiast writes from Lagos