Unidentified hoodlums in Kano attempted to set ablaze the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) located along Court road in the metropolis in the early hours of yesterday.
Eyewitness account said the hoodlums were about to enter the secretariat when some good Samaritans saw them and chased them away from the place.
The quick intervention of the people around the area , it was gathered, saved the secretariat from being consumed by the fire that had already been set to a a car was parked near the secretariat.
THISDAY sources said the miscreants stormed the area in the early morning and set on fire a car parked near the secretariat.
The state police commissioner, Alhaji Musa Daura, who spoke with reporters, however denied any attempt to burn the party secretariat. Daura also declined comment on the vehicle which was said to have been burnt near the secretariat building.
“There was no attempt to burn down the secretariat because as I am talking to you now, there are policemen at the place,” he said.
Meanwhile, state Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Jafar Bello, said investigation was being carried out to ascertain the circumstances behind the incident.
Jafar said “Investigation is being carried out to find out whether it was an arson or accident and we will brief journalists on the outcome.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
One major preoccupation of the federal government is how to check the growing incidence of theft of crude oil, but a report by Standard Chartered Bank says the various measures put in place to halt the economic sabotage may be marred by the current political instability, reports Festus Akanbi
As deliberations on the 2014 Budget begin at the National Assembly in the weeks to come, there are fears the stalemate over the factionalisation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party may work against the current effort to tackle the ongoing sabotage of the nation’s energy resources.
According the latest economic report of the Standard Chartered Bank, entitled “Regional Overview – Key Trends in FDI, Unpacking the World Investment Report,” the major threat to the Nigerian economy and by implication the implementation of the 2014 budget is the fear of lack of consensus by the relevant authorities to tackle the problem of theft of crude oil and its attendant dip in the nation’s revenue.
Medium-Term Budget Strategy
The report noted that plans outlined in Nigeria’s Medium-Term Budget Strategy Paper suggest a moderation of total spending in 2014, to N4.5tn, from N5tn in 2013.
It raised the alarm that from a growth perspective, the share of recurrent spending would rise to73.8% of total spending, up from 64% in the current FY (increasing c.4% in nominal terms, to N3.32tn in 2014 from N3.2tn in 2013, but squeezing capital expenditure). A benchmark price of crude of $74/barrel is initially proposed, although this has typically been subject to upward revision in the past, adding that average oil output levels of 2.39 million barrels per day (mmbd) are also assumed.
The report said given the current political backdrop, budget assumptions for 2014 appear overly ambitious. This is because, according to the report, currently, official estimates suggest that as much as one-fifth of the country’s oil output is lost to theft.
Given the fact that actual output levels have averaged far less than the 2.53mmbpd assumed in the 2013 budget, the report warned that it is likely that oil output levels will similarly undershoot the 2.39mmbpd assumed for 2014, necessitating reliance on Nigeria’s excess crude earnings for budget ‘augmentation’.
“The net effect is to reduce any buffer Nigeria might have in place against a more sustained decline in oil earnings. With politics moving to centre stage, the consensus needed to tackle oil theft may be elusive. Spending and borrowing plans should be gauged in this light,” the report said.
Upset in Calculation at the N’ Assembly
On the effect of the crisis within PDP fold, the report noted that although reconciliation talks are promised, (there is much mention of the ‘inbuilt conflict resolution mechanism of the PDP’), the PDP might nonetheless lose its majority in both the Senate and the House. This could complicate the passage of any legislation. Given current circumstances, it is highly unlikely that Nigeria’s long deliberated Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be passed soon. An end to regulatory uncertainty is thought necessary to unlock new investment in the upstream oil sector.
Even the passage of the 2014 Budget, expected to be read at the end of October, may become more difficult, further complicating the economic outlook. On the preparation for next election, the report noted that, “Whatever the aims outlined in the budget framework, Nigeria has rarely faced elections without seeing a rise in spending. In 2010, the year before the 2011 elections, Federal Government spending increased c.50% y/y, boosted by supplementary budgets. While the plan is to cut overall spending in 2014 because of the strain on oil earnings, Nigerian politics are notoriously dependent on patronage. A protracted period of negotiations ahead of party primaries would likely require even greater spending than outlined in the 2014 budget. Although official budget plans see the 2014 deficit capped at c.1.9% of GDP (1.8% in 2013), and borrowing of c. N572bn after N577bn in 2013, we see upside risks to spending, deficit and borrowing projections.
“Revenue is likely to disappoint relative to budget projections. The more contentious is the politics (especially in the Delta region), the greater the likelihood of further slippage in oil production and earning,” the report noted.
It stated that Q2 GDP data points to a slowdown in economic momentum as real growth of only 6.18%y/y was recorded in Q2-2013, a further slowdown from the 6.56% growth in Q1, which was itself measured off a weak base, explaining that a 1.15% contraction in the oil sector contributed significantly to this weak performance.
Data showed that production of only 2.11mmbpd was recorded in Q2-2013, down from 2.29mmbpd in Q1. A slowdown was also evident in the non-oil sector, which grew 7.36%, down from 7.89% in Q1-2013.
“Slower growth was attributed to lower electricity generation, given problems with gas supply. This impacted manufacturing and telecoms and was even cited as a factor in the weaker wholesale and retail trend. In addition, Nigeria’s security situation, and confidence may have continued to weigh on trend growth.
“Hopes for a turnaround now rest on power-sector reforms. Effective October 1, several state-owned power distribution and generation assets were sold to largely local private investors. A further round of bidding should bring the sale of new power plants, perhaps drawing more foreign investor interest. While weak investment in Nigeria’s transmission network and erratic gas supply remain potential stumbling blocks, the hope is that meaningful improvement in electricity supply might be achieved ahead of Nigeria’s next election. In this case, the political cycle might work in the economy’s favour,” the report said.
FDI Flows
Despite the overall increase in FDI to Africa in 2012, West Africa and Southern Africa saw declining FDI inflows. Nigeria’s FDI declined to $7bn in 2012 from $8.9bn in 2011. But the report said failure to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, with regulatory uncertainty weighing on investment in Nigeria’s upstream oil sector, may well have been a factor. It also listed the deteriorating security situation and its cyclical influence on growth prospects as a factor.
Onset of Political Cycle
The early onset of the political cycle in the country before 2015 elections are formally due to risks adding to the uncertainty. Consequently, the report said planned FDI might be put on hold until there is greater clarity on outcomes. “The top five host economies (i.e. recipients of FDI) in Africa in 2012 were (1) Nigeria, (2) Mozambique, (3) South Africa, (4) the DRC and (5) new oil producer Ghana. The top five home economies for FDI in Africa (the sources of FDI, therefore benefiting from growth elsewhere) were (1) South Africa, (2) Angola, (3) Libya, (4) Nigeria and (5) Liberia. Again, there is a strong correlation with oil-rich economies that have managed to build up surpluses over time.
In Nigeria’s case, pan-African banking FDI may also have been a driver.
Commenting on the flow of foreign direct investment into Africa, the Standard Chartered Report said, “FDI inflows to Africa reached a milestone in 2012, increasing by 5% to total $50bn. According to UNCTAD data, Africa was the only region globally to record a rise in FDI in 2012.
As impressive as this might be, Africa accounts for a paltry 3.7% of the global total of FDI flows of $1.35tn. However, this number looks set to grow more meaningfully in the medium term. Almost across the board, frontier African countries are attracting more FDI.”
According to the statistics churned out by the bank, Africa’s stock of FDI represents $630bn, or approximately 2.76%, of a 2012 global total of $22.8tn. “Should we be surprised by these figures? Not necessarily. Traditionally, much of the FDI that Africa has attracted has been resource-focused. However, even in resource exploration, Africa has lagged behind.
Rebasing Nigeria’s GDP
“Nigeria’s GDP statistics are due to be rebased and a revision to its economy size is probable (some think to levels that would bring it closer to that of South Africa).
“In recent years, Nigeria has been among the top destinations for FDI in Africa, consistent with its rapid growth rate. However, when measuring the stock of FDI, Nigeria’s total is $76.3bn; South Africa’s total is almost double the amount –$139.0bn. Any rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP that puts it close to South Africa in terms of economy size would likely reveal that Nigeria punches well below its weight in terms of stock of FDI. Given the dominance of oil economies as recipients of FDI in Africa over the last decade, this provides food for thought,” Standard Chartered said in the report.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, yesterday, at Obomkpa in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, emerged unhurt after an assassination attempt. However, locally made canon contraptions, which triggered the explosion, critically injured a female aide to one of the Speaker’s associates.
Ochei, on a routine familiarisation and thank-you tour of his Aniocha North Constituency, had barely finished exchanging pleasantries with his supporters at the Eke Market square venue, when a loud explosion and its attendant smoke threw the crowd into pandemonium.
According to an eye-witness, the Speaker had not taken his seat immediately on arrival, as he was busy exchanging greetings when the canon, ignited and propelled from the rear on trajectory to his seat on the front row, was inhibited by chairs which, even though were shattered, provided some cushioning effect.
It was also gathered that the explosives were wrapped in white satin materials, which made detection impossible, as the chairs and tables were also decorated in white materials.
The victim, whose left ankle was badly injured, was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, but referred to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital Oghara for further medical attention. She was said to be in stable condition just as doctors were battling to avert amputation.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
=Eight trade groups in the Nigerian capital market have renewed their call on the National Assembly not to pass Chartered Institute of Securities Investment (CISI) Bill of 2013 in its current form, saying that passing the bill in its current form will be an invitation to chaos in the market that is just regaining investors’ confidence after 2008 meltdown.
However, the President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Olushekun Ariyo, said rather than create chaos in the market, the establishment of the CISI would bring sanity to the market and avoid the kind of rot that led to crash in 2008.
The bill, which is sponsored by former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, Ganiyu Solomon, is expected to establish the CISI that would replace the existing CIS. The bill, which is being handled by the Senate Committee on Capital Market, has gone through some public hearings.
However, eight groups, including: Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria(AACN); Association of Corporate Trustees(ACT); Association of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers(AIAPM), Association of Pension Operators of Nigeria(PENOP); Capital Market Solicitors Association(CMSA); Financial Market Dealers Association(FMDA); Fund Managers Association of Nigeria(FMAN) and Institute of Capital Market Registrars(ICMR), said apart from the fact that inputs were not received from stakeholders on the bill, there were many flaws in it and it should not be passed the way it is.
Speaking on the position of the group, Mr. Taiwo Okeowo of FMAN said, “we feel strongly that there should be certain key amendments to this bill if it will go ahead at all. We need to communicate to the capital market, the three arms of the government and the general populace at large that there are significant flaws in the bill as presently drafted and should not go forward.”
Also speaking, Mr. Segun Sunni of AACN, said while the groups are not against the bill, he explained that if there will be an institute that will combine all the functionalities in the financial market, money and capital market, that institute must be an initiative that has the inputs and contributions of all stakeholders.
“No single trade group can transmute itself into a super regulator of the entire financial market. In this financial market, we have the registrars, custodians, treasurers, financial market dealers, trustees, investment managers, fund managers and pension funds operators. But for the CIS to seek to change its charter to a CISI that will control all activities, it must have the inputs and contributions and fair representation of all stakeholders in terms of its governance, constitution, make up and philosophy,” he said.
Sanni added it is wrong to criminalise operators who are not certified by the proposed CISI as contained in the bill.
He said: “We are not against establishing a CISI. But the key issue is that the fact that it makes us to be members compulsorily without consultations, and criminalising non-membership if you must operate in the market. If we must be members, our recommendation is that CIS should remain CIS, which is a body of brokers, the same were we have others professionals. If we want to form a CISI, let us found it from the scratch, with the governance, the constitution, everything around leadership and council with fair representation among all stakeholders. That is our minimum request which we feel will ensure continued good governance of our market and good health of the market and avoid the chaos that will ensue if this CISI bill is passed the way it is presently constituted.”
Also commenting on the development, Sade Odunaiya of CFA Society of Nigeria said Nigerian market should realise that it is not alone.
“It is in a global environment. Therefore whatever we seek to do in our local market should be something that the global market will see as acceptable and enhancing the standards that will give confidence for investments to flow in. If this bill is passed as currently constituted, we will be sending wrong signals to global investment market and that will be harm to our market that needs these investments in order to grow rapidly,” Odunaiya said.
But Ariyo said the bill is in the interest of the market and noted that consultations are still on-going.
“The bill is a good one and should be encouraged because it would prevent some of the factors that led to the near collapse of the capital market in 2008,” he said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says no airport in the country is fully certified. At a Senate public hearing on recent developments in the nation’s aviation sector, the Director of Aerodrome in the agency, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolam, also stated that over 25 airlines had been registered for operation in the country.
The public hearing also revealed that one of the airlines has a plane that is 43 years old.
One shocking revelation at the probe is the fact that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is yet to certify any of the 22 airports in the country because the airports have been unable to meet the requirements on the regulator’s checklist particularly in the area of security and safety in the last 20 years.
The NCAA is yet to certify any airport in the country since 2006, when the law that gave it autonomy to certify airports in line with international regulations was promulgated, and none of the airports in the country was certified before NCAA’s autonomy. Yet we fly daily in and out of these uncertified airports.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
First, it was the trio of founding chief executives of UBA Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc who had to leave their prized institutions by handing over to their next in command in 2010, in line with the 10-year tenure policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria. As the current managing directors of Access Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc prepare to join the trail by stepping aside in December this year, Festus Akanbi writes on what would be the new dispensation in the two institutions come January 2014
Banking industry players are understandably busy at this time of the year. Industry sources hinted that at the board and management levels of each of the banks, there is pressure to improve the balance sheet two months to the end of the financial year, in addition to the pressure to safeguard the institutions against poaching of outstanding employees by rival institutions.
Industry watchers admit that this is also the period for bank chief executives to draw up their timetables for new financial year, where issues like improvement in revenue generation, cost saving, visibility in terms of registering their presence in the consciousness of the members of the banking community, retention/employment of quality hands, among others are usually trashed out. However, as the banking industry braces for 2014 operating year, a change of guards is underway in two banks, namely Access Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc. Their fortunes will be determined by new chief executives billed to take over from their present leaderships come 2014.
Tenure Policy CBN had in 2010 issued new guidelines to address what it considered as some corporate governance issues by imposing a maximum limit of 10 years of two terms of five years each on the tenure of banks’ managing directors and chief executives. Although, not all the chief executives of the banks may accomplish the required 10-year tenure due to ill-health or non-performance, the policy is expected to engender performance-driven environment as the chief executives could come back to their boards and shareholders to seek for reappointment after the first five year tenure. Some banks that had been affected by this policy are United Bank for Africa Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc. Their erstwhile chief executives- Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia and Akinsola Akinfemiwa left their high positions after spending 10 years in that capacity and they were immediately succeeded by their former deputy managing directors-Phillips Oduoza, Godwin Emefiele and Kehinde Durosimi-Etti respectively.
Going by the arrangement put in place by the boards of Access Bank and Fidelity Bank, there will be change of batons in 2014 as the current chief executives of the two banks, Access Bank’s Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and his counterpart in Fidelity Bank, Reginald Ihejiahi will bow out gracefully in 2014.
New Phase By the time their successors finally take over in January 2014, the banks will be entering into a new phase, as the next line of action would essentially be determined by a combination of factors, which include their perception of the banking industry and the interpretation of whatever policies churned out by the new leadership expected to take over in Central Bank of Nigeria after the incumbent governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi eventually steps down in June next year. In an industry where the buck stops on the managing director’s table and where a sort of cult-like loyalty is required of staff by managements of banks, a new alignment will be forged between the staff and the new management, a development, which may largely engender staff re-postings, transfers and in some cases job rationalisation.
New Dawn at Fidelity Bank A fortnight ago, the management of Fidelity Bank Plc approved a successor to the incumbent chief executive Ihejiahi, who will serve out his 10-year maximum term by February 2014. The man chosen to begin a new phase in the bank is Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, who is currently an Executive Director in charge of the South Directorate of the bank.
From all indications, Nnamdi who comes with over 23 years of experience in various aspects of banking is fully prepared for the new task. Between 2006 and 2009, he was Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Ghana, and between 2008 and 2009, he doubled as the Regional Chief Executive Officer for UBA West African Monetary Zone, with responsibility for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. He later became Divisional Head for the Corporate Bank Directorate between 2009 and 2012, before returning to Fidelity Bank Plc as Executive Director, having earlier worked in Fidelity Bank (old FSB that consolidated to form the enlarged Fidelity) between 1998 and 2000. Within that period, he had been Senior Manager in branches both in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Between 2004 and 2005, Nnamdi was General Manager in Standard Trust (which later became UBA) and later in 2005 was Regional Director of UBA in charge of branches in the FCT, Niger and Kogi states. Nnamdi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agric. Economics from the University of Benin and an MBA in Banking & Finance from Enugu State University. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Programme of INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France. In addition, he has attended various business and management training locally and overseas, including Harvard Business School, Oxford and many other elite leadership development institutions. As one of the leading Tier-2 banks, the managing director-designate is expected to maintain the bank’s hold in its key areas, which include financing of key infrastructure and trade.
The Legacy Ihejiahi took over Fidelity Bank Plc and inherited the challenge of setting the course for growth. From being in the top 30 banks in Nigeria with N20 billion in deposits, N30 billion in total assets and less than 150,000 in customers, he orchestrated the consolidation of the legacy Fidelity Bank with the former FSB International Bank Plc and Manny Bank Plc to form the currently enlarged Fidelity Bank Plc that now ranks among the top 10 banks in the country with over 1.0 billion US dollars in equity, over N1trillion in total assets and 2.3 million customers represented in 220 branches, compared to 17 branches at take on. The bank also has presence in all the state capitals and major commercial centres in Nigeria.
At Access, Wigwe Steps In Earlier, the current Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, had served the bank notice to step down as the helmsman on December this year, in line with the 10 year-tenure policy of the CBN. Consequently, the bank announced Herbert Wigwe, who is the Group Deputy Managing Director, as Chief Executive Officer-designate. Wigwe started his professional career with Coopers and Lybrand Associates, an international firm of Chartered Accountants. He spent over 10 years at Guaranty Trust Bank where he managed several portfolios including Financial Institutions, Corporates and Multinationals. He left Guaranty Trust as an Executive Director to co-lead the transformation of Access Bank Plc in March 2002 as Deputy Managing Director. The incoming Access Bank boss is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Executive Management Programme. He holds a Masters degree in Banking and International Finance from the University College of North Wales; a Masters degree in Financial Economics from the University of London, and a B.Sc. degree in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Wigwe’s first assignment is the implementation of the bank’s five-year strategic plan unveiled recently. But can Wigwe fill the big shoes of Aig-Imoukhuede? Does he have the resilience, ‘stubbornness’ and strong resolve that made his successor one of the titans of the Nigerian banking industry? Analysts said answers to these questions would be provided in the coming months when the new chief executive begins to call the shot.
Highlights of Access Bank’s Plan Access Bank, which rates itself as Nigeria’s Corporate Bank Leader, plans to be “the world’s most respected African Bank” by 2018 but has set a mid-cycle goal post by 2015 of being a “high performing Nigerian diversified banking leader”. By 2015, the bank expects to have consolidated its retail franchise and become a more consumer-centric bank, become more dominant in corporate banking, and be a leader in the Ghanaian banking sector. By 2018, management expects to have expanded its African footprint to the most attractive markets, be a properly set-up multi-channel bank running an industrialised global operating model, be the preferred African bank in the U.K. and run the best in class technology platform in Africa. Access Bank aims to grow its customer base to between 15 and 20 million across its African markets by 2018 from around 6 million, as it shifts its focus to retail banking. And giving an indication of his direction, Wigwe said retail banking would account for around half of its total business in five years’ time, up from 30 per cent. The bank also said it intends to grow its loan book by 15 percent this year, up from 5 percent in 2012, channeling funds to retail, telecoms, and oil and gas financing. The bank is optimistic that corporate banking and infrastructure financing will also be key drivers of revenue. The bank said it would participate in the financing of oil firms divesting from Nigeria to the tune of $30 million to $40 million, using some of the proceeds of its $350 million Eurobond sale, referring to expected asset sales this year by Shell and Chevron. Access Bank completed the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank last year, which put it in the top four of 21 Nigerian banks, up from ninth in 2007.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Federal Government is losing huge revenues to the activities of smugglers who evade payment of specified duties on imported goods through the various porous borders between Nigeria and its neighbours. Vanessa Obioha was at Seme Border last week and glimpsed the activities of smugglers in the area
It is not out of place for a first time visitor to assume that the Seme border, the border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin is more of a market place than a boundary.
The human and vehicular traffic is quite a spectacle to behold. Traders hawking their goods along the road, money changers busy with their calculators, convincing migrants and passengers on transit on the exchange rates of the Naira to CFA franc and vice versa, commercial drivers bargaining with potential passengers on fares to either convey their goods to their destinations without arousing the suspicion of the customs officers or to get them across the border without harassment from the immigration officers. The notoriety of this haven of corruption cannot be exaggerated.
From the early hours of the morning to midnight, the border town is always busy.
More so, there is no clear boundary to distinguish the Nigeria end from the Francophone country, Republic of Benin. The posts are not well marked out and maintained, and no national flags on sight to indicate the end of one country’s boundary and the beginning of the other. People move in and out of the border at ease, especially those on foot, making it difficult to identify a migrant, a tourist or a trader. The presence of immigration officers is the only hindrance from crossing the border but their method of inspection is quite suspect, as mostly students studying in tertiary institutions in the Republic of Benin or people perceived as well-to-do by the immigration officers are stopped for inspection.
At the Seme border point last week, this writer asked why the partial treatment, an immigration officer who pleaded anonymity, said, “Some of them are just from neighbouring villages who came to buy goods worth just N1,500, how can you harass them if that is the only money they have on them?
“We stop the students to ask for their identifications. But these elderly ones, they are mostly illiterates, how can they afford passports?”
He added that the poor economic status, age and language barrier also contributed to this ineffective way of carrying out their duties. However, he pointed out that the border was too porous, making their job difficult.
“How many of them can we stop? You see how everyone is walking freely. The border is too porous. The government should try to rehabilitate this border so we could carry out our task efficiently”
Trans-border Trade
Due to the growing trans-border trade that exists between these two countries, the cultural affinity has deepened to the point that it is an arduous task trying to distinguish a Nigerian from a Beninoise. You can find citizens of either of the two countries on each other’s border, speaking the languages fluently. The border town serves as a gateway to Togo and Ghana, which Nigerians ply daily to trade. The volume of Nigerians who ply that route to other neighbouring West African countries along the coastline to trade is overwhelming. These traders are not just limited to the neighbouring settlements but they also come from other parts of the country. The goods they trade in range from consumables to durable items. This new route has gained some popularity over the years especially since major transport companies such as ABC Transport, Chisco, etc, started plying that route, making it easier for the traders to convey their goods across the country,
avoiding the harassment of immigration and customs officers. Nigerians travel from all parts of the country to Ghana, Togo and Cotonou, capital of Republic of Benin, where it is assumed that goods are relatively cheap. Goods mostly traded in these zones include clothing materials, footwear, vegetable oil, rice, turkey, and cars.
Contrabands
Though some of these items are designated as contrabands, the traders as well as transporters have discovered alternative routes and tactics to smuggle these goods into the country, right under the nose of the different uniformed immigration and customs personnel present at the border. With a little greasing of the palms, the goods are cleared. The use of this border as a port of bringing in these goods is simply because of the high rates of duty charges from other Nigerian ports. In addition, the porous nature of this border makes it easier to smuggle these goods into the country. Bad roads are also a matter of concern to traders and manufacturers who use this route, especially on the Nigeria side. The Lagos/Badagry expressway is in a state of disrepair and in dire need of reconstruction.
Good Place for Business
For the local transporters who are a mix of Nigerians and Beninoise, the border town is a good place for business. Motorcycles are usually the most preferred form of transportation to cross the border for market women, especially those without international passports. The fee is usually N200 to cross over to the Republic of Benin side but on return, the fee varies depending on the goods being brought in. According to a Beninoise motorcycle rider, the daily take is not less than N10,000. In fact, he said, “Motorcycle riders make more money than cab riders. This is because we are not disturbed by customs, but immigration officers do give us troubles. We have a union here that takes care of that though. At times, we pay N3,000 or N4,000 to them to allow us to pass. Usually, by this time of the day (early evening), we don’t really face much hassles, but at night, they give us headaches and this is because that’s when some of these smugglers carry out their acts.” According to him, Nigerians travel to Lome and Ghana to buy mostly shoes, bags and clothes but buy rice, fruits, vegetable oil and turkey in Cotonou and Seme, while the Beninoise come to Nigeria to buy electronic appliances.
Nigerian, Benin Republic Customs Men
The difference in the customs men of the two countries is that custom officers at the Republic of Benin are more lenient than their Nigerian counterparts.
“My country’s custom officers can release your goods later if seized but on the Nigeria side, once it’s seized, it’s seized. Sometimes they burn these goods.”
Commercial bus/cab drivers who provide the vehicle for smuggling devise new ways to get these banned goods into the country especially food and textile items. Rice, turkey and vegetable oil are some of the most smuggled items by these drivers. The tactic for smuggling these goods varies depending on the items bought. Some are hidden under the passenger’s seat, some are skillfully hidden in the boot of the bus, some in the spare tyre compartment in the bus. Other ways they do it is to befriend uniformed personnel to accompany them on the trip to provide some immunity against any stoppage or search. A uniformed personnel is entitled to carry at least two bags of rice according to a police officer who simply identified himself as Alhaji.
“I can carry two bags of rice, very visible to the custom officers because I’m entitled to that.”
The reporter had engaged him in a conversation under guise of obtaining information from him. He said: “We have a union at Seme. Some of us import cars and other stuffs but customs men are making life too difficult for us.”
His son owns and drives a commercial bus. He assured the reporter that if interested in going to Cotonou or Seme to buy goods, he would assist her in smuggling the goods to Nigeria. But he is not the only one who does this for the traders. Other commercial bus drivers also engage in this act to make extra money for themselves.
The traders on their side are always on the edge of their seats whenever the bus approaches a checkpoint. There are more than five checkpoints from Seme to Agbara in Ogun State, manned by Custom officers and other security agents.
Expectedly, an agent stops the bus or taxi for inspection. The driver and conductor usually feign innocence and sometimes outsmart the custom agents. But if caught, the owner of the goods is usually asked to settle the custom officers but not all are involved in this act of corruption. More than often, the goods are seized.
At the Custom office area, one can see a long stretch of cars, waiting to be cleared, while clearing agents run from one office to another to pay duty charges and make other payments. The ineffective scanning system and under-declaration are some of the obstacles importers and clearing agents face at Seme Border.
Car dealers in Nigeria prefer to use the Seme Port to import cars due to the porous nature of this border. A source claims that his cost came down by about N500,000 from using the Seme Border to clear his cars compared to using the port in Kaduna.
Low Banking Transactions
Contrary to the belief that banks situated in border town will thrive on profitable business transactions due to the high rate of commercial activities there, the Branch Service Manager of First Bank of Nigeria, Seme, Mathew Aremu, says otherwise. According to him, the profitability rate of the bank in terms of business transaction at the border town is relatively low. He attributed this to the kind of business carried out in the area. He said: “There is not much business here, even the volume of importation here cannot be compared to that of Apapa Port or Tincan Island Port; the number of cargoes and shipments from those ports are nothing compared to land borders.”
Asides that, other obstacles being faced by the bank include language barrier and contending with local money changers who at times would want to use the banking halls for their operations.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Ayodeji Rotinwa recently took a bite out of the Big Apple, the world’s most famous megalopolis
My Empire State experience started from hundreds of feet in the air. On plane descent, the city mushroomed into form, a beautiful, reverential sight that locked my attention in a vice grip. She was sprawled out majestically, tattooed by a bedazzling melange of amber, silver and azure-toned lights, in such close proximity and curious file that they seemed to be trying to coalesce into a message of words and familiar shapes.
Such a magical constellation of lights, I had never before, seen. Also obvious from on high were the grand, rich greens of what I guessed was the storied Yankee Stadium, the hallowed home and ballpark of famous baseball team, the New York Yankees. Nearing touchdown, the heartbeat of the city became audible, first, faint and then building up to a ferocious tattoo. Sounds of cars, machines and metropolitan activity seared the night air, piercing the formidable shell of the aircraft. My watch read 11.45PM, Eastern Time. The city was not asleep.
But, Am I Really Here Yet?
At once glaring and fairly unnerving were the stark similarities between New York and Lagos, whence I had flown. For the entire fifty-odd minutes of my journey, from the airport to the residence I was going to stay for the duration of my trip, I did not feel like I was in another country. The semblance in physical structures was almost alarming. I could very well have been on Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, navigating a turn to head unto the new Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge!
My discomfiture did not end there. Days following my arrival, my suspicions that both cities must have been separated at birth became corporeal. Lagos and New York breathe the same air. They share the same pulse. They are sister melting pots of culture, peoples and beliefs, separated only by miles, sea and most obvious, superior management.
New York, New York
New York City (NYC) is the bustling, roaring engine of the state of New York. It consists of five boroughs, each of which is a county of New York State- The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. The city and state were named after 17th century Duke of York, future King James II of England.
The largest gateway for immigration in the United States, inhabited by 8.3 million people (as of the city’s last census count of 2012), with over 800 languages spoken, and exerting significant influence over commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. On a global scale, it is undoubtedly the cultural capital of the world.
On arrival, I found that NYC was more than had been written about it and saw why it was elusive to capture in words. The city does not stop to catch its breath. It moves, shakes, stretches repeatedly, over and over again. Seconds after exiting the Bus Terminal, I was swallowed up into its thick grove of buildings- some short, stout, many stretched out to touch the sky- assaulted by bright lights (in the morning, mind you) music playing from different directions, larger-than-life advertisements and loud conversations in many different languages.
Just about every sidewalk, boulevard, crossing is submerged in a sea of people. An interesting scene plays out when the pedestrian traffic light holds the tide up and after a short while, signals movement via a white ‘WALK’ sign.
A deluge of people bursts forth onto the zebra crossing, frothing, fast. It can be a trancelike sight when closely watched, repeatedly. I soon learnt to move in step with the tide, a crucial skill in walking around (which one has to do, a lot!) and living to tell the tale with no mangled toes.
NY Living
The city is a junk food enthusiast’s dream. Available from block to block and on the streets, in generator-powered carts, are calories/cholesterol-suffused offerings. A healthy meal is hard to find and not in the measure of variety and relatively cheap range of fast food options. After binging on fried chicken wings, pizza, pancakes, tortilla chips, burgers, hotdogs, and tacos for a few days, I teetered on the edge of a gastro-intestinal crisis.
Succour, after beating long trails, came in form of Chinese and (Hallelujah!) Nigerian food. The former, which I discovered in Bar Shabu, an upscale bar/dinner house in Queens, (an hour by train from NYC) was a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Food was served, partially raw and had to be cooked by customers, to their liking, in a hotpot rigged into the dinner tables for the purpose.
Nigerian food, on the other hand, I found in an artsy restaurant in Brooklyn, aptly named Buka. Music from the now-defunct MoHits Group blaring overhead, not quite believing my luck, I dived, palm wine bottle in hand, into familiar dishes of akara, peppered snails and a gigantic platter of goat meat pepper soup.
Despite its reputation, I found NY to be genuinely safe. Prodded by an appetite for danger, adventure and a desire to see what the city was like when dark had fallen, accompanied by my host and friend, Mohammed, I ventured into the night severally. Sure, I was street-smart (Lagos living having taught me a few hard lessons) and a seedy character did sidle up to me in the subway, one hand, perhaps ominously, in his pocket that could have been hiding a knife, maybe, but other than that, there were no incidents of note.
“You have to tip!” Mohammed constantly reminded me throughout my stay. The cab driver, the bar tender, the waitress and just about every service provider, is entitled to a tip, sometimes, for no good reason and they would let you know this, surreptitiously via body language, lingering or a solicitous stare. The city’s service class is crawling with aspiring capitalists.
The most effulgent characteristic of the city, bar its culture, is its public transportation system. Clean, cheap, fast, efficient, reliable and very easy to find, there are trains available to take you anywhere within the five boroughs of New York.
An impulsive shopper’s wallet would be ravaged by the allures New York has on offer.
A city with a street called ‘Fashion Avenue’ obviously takes appearances seriously.
With the world’s largest store, Macy’s and other multiple-level, diverse stores catering to every manner of personal taste and style under the sun, being spoilt for choice is a foregone conclusion.
The Sights
One simply does not visit New York without reaching the summit of its crown jewel of famous structures- the Empire State Building. A 102-story skyscraper, deriving its name from a nickname for New York, the Empire State, it is the one of the tallest buildings in the world. (23rd tallest) It used to be the tallest building in the world until 1970 when it was dislodged by a few more stories of the North Tower of the World Trade Centre.
Countless online guides to New York had told of the building’s legend when I did some travel reconnaissance while still in Lagos. I had been sceptical. A lot of things are exaggerated on the internet. Not this time, though. On reaching the 88th floor observatory deck, I was momentarily awe-struck by the breath-taking view of the concrete jungle below. Everything seemed impeccably in place (like well-arranged Lego blocks) and a shining testament to the amazing offspring the marriage of man and technology can produce.
A steaming cauldron of flashing lights, dancing images and words, Times Square is a feast for the senses. Alongside the digital media billboards in varied, dizzying colours everywhere I turned, there were go-go dancers on one corner bedecked in burlesque finery, men painted in the rich teal colour of the Statue of Liberty, standing, immobile, torch in hand, opened duffel bag filled with dollars, at their feet, break-dancers, in motion, their backs kissing the sidewalk.
Amidst the city’s thick throng of structures, people and technological triumphs, lies an untainted oasis of nature- Central Park. A rolling, lush carpet of green tended by chirping birds and cloaked with soothing tranquility, it is an irony to the rest of New York.
Aboard the Staten Island Ferry – the John F. Kennedy, specifically – taking off from the Whitehall Terminal, Manhattan, for a bargain price of free, enrapturing views of Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street’s skyscrapers and most memorable, the iconic Statue of Liberty made for a stimulating afternoon.
The New Yorker
New Yorkers are an eclectic bunch. Loquacious, hare footed, au courant, ennobled by their acceptance and absorption of different, rich, diverse cultures, I hazard they may be a superior ‘species’ of Americans, in a refined sense. New York is truly an international city.
During my short visit of 15 days, I met a Jamaican, Chinese, two Italians, and three South Africans and overheard conversations in the subway, on the street, in bars, in different boroughs, in German, Afrikaans, French, Creole, Russian, Korean, and other languages that my ears could not discern.
In my interactions, I found that it was the immigrants I met that were most enlightened not only about the society in which they live but the world, at large.
They are also a driven sect. My host and friend, Mohammed, Shannon, Tracy and Asanda (the 3 aforementioned South Africans) for instance, I discovered, are assiduously climbing the ladder of corporate America and are currently in moderate-level positions of one of the biggest multinational professional services firms in the world, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Quinnie, the Chinese, had just recently started her own risk management firm. She is 25 years old.
Conversely, most Americans I came across, bar one, a worldly film critic, seemed unconcerned with anything beyond their borders except the many wars in which their country is embroiled and whether or not they were ‘winning’.
At a dinner with Mohammed’s friends, in a dingy, garishly decorated Italian restaurant, one, an owlish dilettante (I later discovered) with the grimness of a judge, asked me if smartphone technology had come to Africa and was it true we had an indigenous telecommunications industry.
Sated with generous amounts of Pinot Grigio, I did not take offence but instead schooled her on the success story of a certain Mike Adenuga and the blistering inroads global brands like Samsung, Blackberry, and more recently, Apple, are making in the Nigerian telephony market.
New York waits for no one. It is sweet and sour. It is a never-ending slideshow of surprises. It is a conflation of contradictions.
Blink and you’ll miss everything. It is all these and yet, I felt right at home, finally understanding American novelist and art critic, John Updike’s aphorism about the city, “One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much as in five minutes as in five years.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
This time last week, the 9th edition of the Akwaaba Africa Travel Market was in full flow with the three-day event attracting exhibitors from across Africa and beyond. Exhibitors from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Jordan and more converged on the convention centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island to market their products and services to a Nigerian audience regarded as one of the most adventurous worldwide.
The guest speaker at the travel exhibition was Dr. Auliana Poon. She heads the Tourism Intelligence International, a leading consultancy that provides innovative solutions for numerous countries worldwide.
The Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo was also notably present along with tourism ministers and ambassadors from the Gambia, Zambia, Rwanda and South Africa.
A host of international hospitality outlets were present to court the Nigerian customer in particular and the West African sub-region in general.
The Ibis hotel group was one of the prominent newcomers to the show, joining other participants like the African Sun, Protea Hotels , Movenpick and many more.
This year’s edition of Akwaaba was especially notable because of the participation of the Africa Business Travel association (ABTA).
ABTA helped in conducting business travel training sessions during the travel fair. Led by Monique Swart, ABTA discussed issues such as the future of travel management companies (TMCs) and the key challenges faced by companies travelling in Africa.
Several country days were celebrated at Akwaaba, complete with indigenous cuisines. Nigeria, Gambia, Kenya and Rwanda took turns in entertaining visitors. The famed Rwanda dancers were especially enthralling.
Akwaaba ended on a partying note on Tuesday with the South Africans, who won the best country stand hosting guests to a cocktail at the venue of the exhibition.
Southern Sun Ikoyi hotel made sure it continued into the evening by hosting select dignitaries to another cocktail at their hotel.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Our attention has been drawn to an article entitled, ‘’The Scandal In Aviation’’, written by one Obi Nwakanma, a columnist in your newspaper. In the write up, he wrote things that were not only deeply malicious and untrue but were also clearly defamatory and were designed to mislead the public and impugn the character and integrity of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode who is our client and a respected and well-known public figure.
Chief Fani-Kayode was not only the Minister of Culture and Tourism under the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he was also presidential spokesman to Obasanjo for a number of years and later appointed Minister of Aviation. We are not in the least bit concerned about the columnist’s opinions about Chief Fani-Kayode or anyone else but what we take strong objection to are his pernicious lies, his mendacious fabrications and the continuous free expression of his malevolent and hate-filled disposition towards our client.
We shall take this opportunity to point out the fact that this is the second time that your columnist has maligned and libelled Chief Fani-Kayode, the first time being a few months ago during the Igbo/Yoruba debate in which he made some very disparaging remarks about him. Yet it did not stop there. On Sunday, the 27th of October, we woke up to discover that Nwakanma had done it again by writing the essay that is presently under consideration.
His obsession with Chief Fani-Kayode is truly larger than life. He is so filled with venom and hate that he has continued his worthless diatribe against a man that has not only served his country well but that has also saved lives by stopping crashes in the aviation sector when he was Minister. It is amazing that the columnist seems unable to rid himself of his igbocentric nature and sentiments and that he cannot desist from attempting to pass off fiction as fact.
In journalism we are told ‘’opinion is cheap but facts are sacred’’. Yet Nwankanma seems to have forgetten that principle or, in the case of Chief Fani-Kayode, he has recklessly thrown it out of the window. Not only is he vulgar and uncouth in all his ways but he is also given to telling fat lies and indulging in vicious mendacities. In short, Obi Nwakanma is a liar of the first order and a man that is motivated and subsumed with hatred.
He cannot see beyond his nose or beyond his eastern origins. In his latest swipe at Chief Fani-Kayode, he wrote, inter alia, that Stella Oduah, the embattled Minister of Aviation, had ‘’become the object of a certain Mr. Fani-Kayode’s eyes and lust for the ethnic other (meaning the Igbos)’’. He went further by writing ‘’whispered hints suggested that it all had to do with Oduah raining on FFK’s Bicourtney parade or some unfinished business involving certain personal interests at aviation’’. He ended it by writing, ‘’in all these Oduah managed to shrug off her adversaries and seemed rather coy about it. Note-when she recently laughed off Fani-Kayode and told him to get off whatever he must be smoking’’.
‘Smoking’
These are Obi Nwakanma’s words and the innuendo is clear for the world to see. We shall not take it lightly and Mr. Nwakanma will be put to the strictest test and proof of Chief Fani-Kayode’s ‘’smoking’’ anything when he offered his counsel to Stella Oduah or at any other time. Such malicious and baseless assertions and slurs are best reserved for usage by motor park touts and school yard bullies and certainly not by a columnist of one of the most respected newspapers in Nigeria and on the African continent.
Not only was our client not ‘’smoking’’ anything when he offered his counsel to Oduah and to the president but he answered Oduah, in his characteristically eloquent manner, by telling her that the only influence that he was under when he advised her to resign and when he called for her sack was the influence of the Holy Spirit. Subsequent events may well have proved that to be true because ever since that call, Oduah has been completely exposed for what she is by forces that are clearly beyond her. As a matter of fact, her entire world appears to be falling apart. Perhaps if she had taken Chief Fani-Kayode’s advice and resigned immediately after the Associated Airlines plane crash, she could have avoided all this.
As if this was not bad enough then came the second lie from Obi Nwakanma and perhaps the most grievious and damaging lie of all. The suggestion that Chief Fani-Kayode has any business connections or interests in the aviation industry with Bicourtney or any other company or persons is another of his baseless fabrications and a manifestation of his fanciful and reckless imagination.
The truth is that there is absolutely no link between Chief Fani-Kayode and Bicourtney other than the fact that Dr. Wale Babalakin, who is the Chairman of Bicourtney, is a family and childhood friend to Chief Fani-Kayode and that they went to Cambridge University together. Dr. Babalakin’s law firm are also lawyers to Chief Fani-Kayode and this is a matter of public knowledge.
One wonders how and when such a proximate association and deep friendship, which has spanned over a period of 35 years, can possibly translate into having business interests with one another in aviation or elsewhere or how it can possibly be described as a crime or viewed with suspicion? Should Chief Fani-Kayode have declined from going to the Ministry of Aviation when he was redeployed there by President Obasanjo simply because Babalakin is a stakeholder in that sector?
The truth is that Chief Fani-Kayode was as hard on Babalakin as he was on everyone else when he went to aviation and it is on record that he actually closed down the airlines of two of his closest friends because they did not meet up to safety standards. Till today, those two airlines have not flown again. He also refused to accept and endorse the newly created AIB Accident Interim Report of the 2005 Bellview crash which was presented to him by the pioneer CEO of the AIB Engineer Oduselu in 2007.
That plane belonged to another close friend and the report cleared that friend of any wrongdoing. Yet Fani-Kayode refused to endorse it because, according to him, the report did not go far enough and did not explain the cause of the fire that brought down the plane. So much for Chief Fani-Kayode bending the rules for his friends or helping them out.
He had every opportunity to do that but he refused to do so and instead treated them with the same level of caution, discipline and professionalism that he treated everyone else. As a matter of fact, that was the secret of his success. For anyone that knows him and knows the way he operates to suggest otherwise is utter and complete madness and they are either being malicious or are plain ignorant. One really does wonder how these sick minds think and the truth is that Nwaknama must be in a position to prove this in court if he can.
Business interests
For the record, we repeat that Chief Fani-Kayode has no business interests in aviation, no interests in Bicourtney or any other company that does business in aviation and no reason to call for the resignation of Stella Oduah other than the fact that, under her watch, no less than 200 people have been killed in six air crashes in the space of two years.
Three months after she assumed office, helicopters and planes started dropping from the sky and they have not stopped since. This is a matter of concern for anyone that is not only sensitive and responsible but especially so for someone who once ran the same Ministry and who put a stop to the terrible cycle of plane crashes that took place in the one year before he came in.
Lest some have forgotten let us restate the facts. During that one year before Chief Fani-Kayode was redepolyed to the Ministry of Aviation, no less than five crashes occurred and no less than 453 people were killed. It was a period of sheer horror in which the aviation sector was not only in a state of disarray but also in a state of emergency.
Everyone was scared to fly in Nigeria at the time, airline operators were cutting corners, the oversight agencies were not doing their jobs properly and morale in the sector was very low. Chief Fani-Kayode came in, acted with a firm hand and military precision, reformed the sector, made everyone sit up, put a stop to the crashes, won the confidence of the public to fly in Nigeria again and for the seven months that he was there not one person died from our skies.
Sadly three months after he left and President Obasanjo’s tenure ran out, the reforms and strict safety measures that he put in place were jettisoned by the incoming administration and the crashes began again. There is no other Minister of Aviation in the last 11 years in our country that has had no loss of life under his or her watch other than Chief Fani-Kayode.
This is a fact and this remains so even though some of those Ministers were only in aviation for three or four months. It makes perfect sense for a man with a clean and wholesome safety record like that to speak out and offer some counsel to the authorities and to criticise the government when people are being killed in crashes in our skies.
This is made all the more so when the Minister of that sector had the effrontery to tell the Nigerian people that such crashes were ‘’acts of God that were inevitable’’. One wonders if Nwaknama would have been so hostile to Chief Fani-Kayode’s call for the Minister to resign or to be removed if he had lost his entire family in one of those crashes as other people have done.
Insensitivity
Frankly the columnist has shown the insensitivity of a beast and the tendency of the proverbial blind ostrich that has stuck it’s head in the ground and sees nothing if he can suggest for one minute that Chief Fani-Kayode’s call for Oduah’s resignation was borne out of anything but a deep sense of patriotism, compassion and genuine concern for the safety of Nigerian fliers.
The suggestion that such counsel came due to any imaginary business interests in aviation or any anti-Igbo sentiment or ‘’lust for the other’’ (whatever that may mean) is not only balderdash but it reflects the kind of gutter-infested and filthy mind that Nwakanma and those who commissioned him to do this dirty job must have. Even more pitiable is his suggestion that Oduah ‘’laughed the matter off’’.
If that is what Nwakanma calls laughing, then perhaps he needs to go back to school. Stella Oduah was not only visibly shaken and emotionally wounded by Fani-Kayode’s call for her resignation but she has been crying ever since. As a matter of fact, she literally sees Fani-Kayode under her bed and she regards him, quite unfairly, as being the person behind her numerous travails today.
She got far more than she bargained for when he responded to her insulting comments by calling her a ‘’market woman’’ and a ‘’fish wife’’ and by telling her to act with the level of decorum, maturity and seriousness that her office demands. More importantly, he publicly challenged her to a live television debate on both his tenure and hers, and ever since that challenge, Oduah has kept silent.
If her record was so good and Fani-Kayode’s so bad ,why should this be so? Other than directing her minions, consultants and staff to be writing tendentious, disingenuous and libellous essays in the newspapers about Chief Fani-Kayode, most of which make little sense and bear no logic, Oduah has kept her mouth shut and that is perhaps the smartest thing she has done so far.
Yet things are not getting any better in the aviation sector itself. In fact, they are getting worse. Shortly after the altercation between the two of them, there was a collision between two planes in Lagos airport and then, as if God, Himself wanted to expose the Minister’s deals in aviation, the 1.6 million USD car scandal broke. Since then every single right-thinking Nigerian (apart from a few die-hard loyalists who hail from her Igbo stock, her staff at the Ministry and her numerous consultants) have echoed and supported Fani-Kayode’s call for Stella Oduah to be fired by the President or to resign and the country, and indeed the aviation sector, has not been the same since.
If she ever ‘’laughed’’ anything off as the columnist is suggesting, she certainly isn’t laughing anymore. If Obi Nwakanma wishes to help his ‘’Igbo sister’’ in these troubling times, the best he can do is to ask her to resign, pray for her and focus on publicising her so-called ‘’wonderful achievements’’ and not make childish, baseless and libelous assertions against her perceived enemies or adversaries.
It is my honest opinion that Nwakanma himself is in serious need of some kind of counseling or prayer otherwise he would be more alive to the dangers of flying in Nigeria under the watch of Stella Oduah. Her sheer incompetence has not just led to the death of almost 200 people in two years but it has also resulted in the uncovering of the greatest car scam in the history of Nigeria.
One would have thought that Nwakanma would focus on that rather than use his ever-malicious column and poisonous pen to malign and disparage those that he hates with such deep passion. The truth is that as long as Stella Oduah is at aviation our skies shall remain a death trap. Let us hope that when the next crash occurs that Obi Nwakanma and his family are not on the plane or in the helicopter. That is my prayer for him and his loved ones. He ended his column by asserting that the entire aviation sector under Oduah ‘’stinks’’. Many will agree with him on that. What he may not appreciate is the fact that his column ‘’stinks’’ almost as badly.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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