2015 Award Winner, Agho Oliver Appointed NW FECAFOOT SG

Agho Oliver receiving award from the Mayor of Ndu council

Agho Oliver is the new Secretary General of FECAFOOT in the North West Region. The young and dynamic Masters Degree holder from the University of Dschang was appointed today October 5, 2015 to take over from Kaba Christopher who was elected NW FECAFOOT President last September 16, 2015. Youths in Bamenda have backed his appointment as many jubilated at City Chemist Roundabout. Youths in Nkwen area also stormed his home as a sign of jubilation to salute his appointment.  

Many soccer fans in the North West Region have considered his appointment as a new dawn. This young dynamic CPDM youth who is climbing the ladder of politics with alot of dexterity was on August 31, 2015 crowned as the most devoted CPDM youth in the North West Region.

Talking to us on phone, Agho Oliver said that “today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on the role of FECAFOOT’s Secretary General in the North West Region” To Oliver, the role is an ideal fit for his skills and knowledge which he will utilize to facilitate the growth of the game of football in the region.

"I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance which is taking a fresh approach to its work at the level of FECAFOOT – and I am eager to play a role in making that approach efficient and effective for the betterment of football in the region” he concluded.

Oliver flanked by fans and admirers at award ceremony in Nkambe

Though it is admitted by many that youths have not been given leadership positions, but with Oliver it is not necessarily that the end must be a groveling one. Agho Oliver has proven that the value of youths in leadership must be determined, for the most part, by the greatness of its aim and the largeness of the result accomplished and not what a person would gain for his/herself.

The CPDM party in Mezam IC is very vibrant thanks to the number of youths who have engaged into politics. Agho Oliver seemingly has the experience in the game of politics given that at his young age, he has served almost all the basic organs of the party. From the Cell, Branch, Sub Section and the Section, the young man has left a mark of greatness in all the positions he held. Last August 31, 2015, Agho Oliver was honoured in Nkambe as "Most Devoted CPDM Youth" by The Eye Newspaper. Those who had the pains to travel to Nkambe to be part of this groundbreaking event would agree with this reporter that Agho Oliver stole the show. Mezam IC was noticed due to the fact that over 60 militants (dance group) dressed in Mezam IC T-shirts greased the event. In fact leadership qualities are determined by how much followers one has. Agho Oliver when judged from that perspective is a rising young leader.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Scientists May Have Found the Cure for HIV with Latest Discovery

A British man with HIV hopes to become the first in the world to be cured of the disease by using a pioneer­ing new therapy designed to eradicate the virus.

 

A team of British scientists may be on the brink of developing a cure for HIV.

 Researchers recently tested their pioneering therapy on the first of 50 participants in a clinical trial, The Sunday Times reported. Early tests on the first patient, a 44-year-old British social worker, show the virus is undetectable in the man's blood. 

 "This is one of the first serious attempts at a full cure for HIV," Mark Samuels of Britain's National Institute for Health Research told The Sunday Times, Britain's largest-selling national Sunday newspaper.

 "We are exploring the real possibility of curing HIV," Samuels added. "This is a huge challenge and it's still early days, but the progress has been remarkable."

 Britain's National Health Service is backing the clinical trials, which are the result of a collaboration between the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London and King's College London.

 The trial's first patient, who said he was gay but did not give his name, said he participated in the trial to help others with the disease.

 HIV, which stands for "human immunodeficiency virus," is mainly transmitted through sexual acts or by using infected needles. The virus weakens a person's immune system by destroying important T-cells that fight disease and infection.

 About 36.7 million people are living with HIV worldwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Around 2.1 million new cases were added in 2015, with nearly two-thirds of new infections occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, the CDC reported. 

 If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Around 1.1 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses last year. While antiretroviral therapies can help control HIV's effects on people's immune system, no effective cure exists yet.

 The British researchers' potential cure would mirror the effects of antiretroviral therapies in some ways. 

 In untreated patients, the HIV hijacks T-cells and turns them into virus-producing spawn that infect other T-cells. Antiretroviral therapies target and suppress this activity, but they still leave millions of dormant, infected T-cells lying in wait throughout the body.

 The new treatment would both suppress infections and kill the reservoir of dormant cells, The Sunday Times reported. 

 Sarah Fidler, a consultant physician and professor at Imperial College London, said medical tests of the potentially breakthrough therapy would continue for the next five years.

"It has worked in the laboratory and there is good evidence it will work in humans too," Fidler told the British newspaper. "But we must stress that we are still a long way from any actual therapy."

 

Source: YahooNews

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Study Reveals Top Five Reasons Why Women Cheat on their Husbands

 A new research has explored the reasons why some women tend to cheat on their husbands, a grave sin that can break a home.

Other than disagreements arising from childlessness and the usual ‘irreconcilable differences’, there is hardly any other thing that has wrecked marriages than infidelity. Defined simply as the action or state of being unfaithful to a spouse, infidelity is an act that is engaged in by both men and women.
Even though it is widely believed that men are guiltier of this act, studies have shown that women are just as culpable as men, if not more.
A study by Dr. David Holmes, a psychologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, shows that women, more than ever, now have more extra-marital affairs than men, noting however that women are better at hiding their infidelity, they are a lot more likely to lie about it and a lot less likely to get caught.
It has been established that men are more daring when it comes to infidelity, and it is even a status symbol in some cycles while it is somewhat forbidden for a woman to even think about it, not to talk of doing it.
Holmes, in his post on Mail Online, said, “If you look at the studies into paternity, even conservative figures show that between eight and 15 per cent of children haven’t been fathered by the man who thinks he’s the biological parent. So, the biggest difference is that women are much better at keeping their affairs secret.”
That men cheat is not the gist, and some people have even adduced several reasons for their infidelity, including the fact that men are moved by what they see, thus, they are more likely to cheat because of s*x. But given that women are seen to be more reticent when it comes to their se*uality, it is therefore compelling to note the things that make women cheat on their husbands.
According to reports, whether such women do so because they are either not satisfied with their marriage entirely or they are not satisfied with it at all, the main reasons that have been found include unsatisfactory or lack of emotional care, arising from lack of attention and intimacy, revenge, feeling under-appreciated, boringness, low self esteem, peer pressure, financial independence, and of course s*xual dissatisfaction or the more serious one, s*xual addiction. These were the findings of Divorced Moms, which is an online community for divorced women and single mothers, where they share ideas and experiences.
s*x: This is one of the key reasons some women cheat on their husbands. Findings have shown that some women have extramarital s*xual relationship because they are not getting enough of good s*x, some do it because they are not getting any, maybe the refusal of the man to ‘touch them’ based on subsisting conflict and a lot of women do it out of emotional disconnection from their spouses.
Meanwhile, most women do not reach climax during s*xual intercourse, which on its own creates some discomfort for them, hence, there is the possibility for some to look for that s*xual satisfaction elsewhere and it is more likely if they have a waiting or willing ‘partner’ outside. It is equally not strange for some women to engage in extramarital affairs if their husbands have small manhood. This shows the importance of s*x in marriage.
According to Dr. Janne Lomasky, a United States-based psychologist, women who do not experience real climax during s*x may eventually lose interest in the relationship and look elsewhere for good s*x. She noted, however, that such women should communicate their needs to the husband or, they could seek the help of a s*x therapist instead of having another affair.
Revenge: It is interesting to note that some women engage in extramarital affairs to get back at their husbands, especially when such men had also cheated on them. Such women have been found to do it in style, pride and they see it as the best way to revenge the wrong done to them by the cheating husband. “Those who have been cheated before feel deceived, hurt, angry, sad and violated and it affects their relationship, mood, behaviour and the ability to trust the man, thus, they want to make such men feel the way they felt,” said Lomasky.
However, she advised that instead of cheating, they should resolve the issue and move on. “The biggest truth is that cheating never solves a problem; communication, assertiveness and increasing passion and romance in the relationship are a much better solution,” she added.
Lack of emotional connection or attention: It has been said that women are emotional beings who need constant attention and care from their spouses, thus, if their husbands do not show them the much needed intimacy and affection, some tend to look for it outside the marriage because it is in their genes to be cared for, and when they don’t get it, they look for it, which often compels them to fall into the waiting hands of other men. Lomasky notes, “Women deprived of attention, compliments and compassion usually have emotional affairs, which could lead to s*x, even though it could start with craving for attention and compassion that has been absent from their marriage.”
And it is almost the same thing when women feel under-appreciated. A simple ‘thank you’ or complimentary remarks could make the difference, and when women do not hear such, they feel bitter, pained, underappreciated and it could breed low self-esteem. Whereas, if they have friends who make them feel loved, that could be the beginning of an extramarital affair.
Boredom: Findings have shown that women love varieties and they want to be happy in marriage, but when they feel their spouse is not creative, more so if he used to be, some tend to have affairs. According to some women, new relationships are exciting, and it is more so because such men tend to do everything possible to impress the woman, as against what they had been used to with their husbands. According to Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University in US, women are more likely to have an affair because of loneliness.
And as established earlier, women want care, physical touch and attention, but when they have spouses who rarely spent time with them, some tend to seek attention from other sources.
Peer pressure: This is a term that is mostly used when talking about children, but it is heartwarming to note that older persons feel it too. To avoid being abused or discriminated against in some cycles, some women take to extramarital affairs so as ‘to belong’ because they have friends who do same. In such cases, it is the friends who put them through, find them a lover and teach them how to keep it away from their husbands.
According to Lomasky, a woman who earns her own money, while the husband earns his, may consider leaving an unhappy relationship, unlike those who depend on the husband. When a woman has been abused or is being cheated on by her husband, a woman who cannot bear such but has the capacity to pay her bills could seek comfort, care and attention from other men.
A psychologist, Dr. Bonke Omoteso, could not agree less with some of the reasons above. She said if a woman has a cheating husband, she could also cheat on the man to get back at him.
She added that if a woman is not sexually fulfilled, she might also consider extramarital affair, mainly because some men are not patient with their wives when it comes to s*xual intercourse. She said, “Some men just want to enjoy it and leave, which may not be pleasing to the woman. If it persists, such a woman could go outside the marriage to look for someone to satisfy her.
“Some women are nymphomaniacs, having abnormally excessive and uncontrollable s*xual desire, in which case one man cannot satisfy them. Such a woman could cheat on the husband.”
She pointed out that a husband’s actions could also compel the woman to consider having extramarital affairs. “If the man does not adequately provide for her, she might want to look for a man that could satisfy her materially and sexually, she added.
According to Omoteso, even though it is not scientific, it is worthy of note that there could be spiritual influences that could make a woman to do such, perhaps in a bid to break the marriage.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Popular Veteran Nollywood Actor, Elder Maya is Dead

A popular Nollywood actor known for his great interpretation of roles has died after battling liver-related problems.

Martins Njubigbo aka Elder Maya

 

A veteran Nollywood actor, Martins Njubuigbo, popularly called Elder Maya has died. The news of his death is coming months after battling liver-related ailment. 

 The sad news was made public by actor and producer, Yomi Fabiyi last night.

 He wrote: "RIP Elder Mayah. You were a veteran and a hard working one at that. Journey well papa. My concerns and sympathy with his families and close colleagues. #SAVENIGERIAMOVIEINDUSTRY register shares in the grief of AGN."

 

 

Following news that the veteran actor had serious liver-related problem, his colleagues rallied round to raise some funds for his treatment after it was diagnosed. Sadly, he could not survive.

 The actor was known for his many roles as a chief priest. He will be missed by many.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Liberian Man Vows to Divorce Wife for President Buhari's Daughter

A Liberian man has generated a lot of wild criticisms and media reactions after he publicly vowed to divorce his wife in order to marry President Muhammadu Buhari's daughter.

 

Liberian man identified as Mike Khailelu Jabateh, has become a viral sensation online and social media, after he took to his Facebook page and made a shocking comment, saying that he is set to divorce his Guinean woman in a bid to marry President Buhari's daughter, Zahra.

 "I don't have to travel America to live better life. Some guy feel that when you are in Africa your life is miserable or you are in hell.

"Thank God for my connection with president Buhari daughter," he wrote.

 "I will divorce my Guinean woman and marry president Buhari daughter. Divorce is better than unhappiness," he captioned a photo of himself and his wife.

His posts has since gone viral with mixed reactions and criticisms, as many online commenters are telling him to wake up from his dreams.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Independence Day: Nigeria at 56 - by Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan's former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity has written yet another interesting piece to Nigerians. It's a must read.

Reuben Abati

 

As Nigeria marks its 56th Independence Anniversary, very few Nigerians would expect any form of celebration or excitement. Independence from colonial rule in 1960 has brought the country so much to be cheerful about, but 56 years later, also a lot of regrets.

 

I am not one of those who imagine that we would probably have been better off if we had remained under British rule, but that there are some Nigerians who still entertain such impossible thought indicates the depth of the people’s anxiety about Nigeria’s post-colonial reality.

 

The big issues are well-known: the failure of leadership, corruption, and perpetual anxiety about the future. Every October 1, Nigeria is described as “a crippled giant”, a “toddler”, “a broken nation”. And the various editorials, year after year sound so repetitive as they focus on an economy that is not working, the failure of public infrastructure, leadership crisis, the bad habits of the political elite, religious and ethnic violence, disunity, national insecurity, and so on.

 

As we mark October 1 this year, we should perhaps avoid the beaten path and draw attention to the reasons why we should be happy with our country and proud to be Nigerians. Whatever problems we may have, hope is not lost. We are still the country of some of the most talented people in the world.

 

Nigerians are gifted, hardworking and in many ways exceptional. This is the country of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Jelani Aliyu, Chimamanda Adichie, Philip Emeagwali, Kanu Nwankwo…It is the land of great achievers of all time in all fields of human endeavour. It is the heroism of the talented Nigerian who has put this country’s name on the global map that I remember as I think of Nigeria at 56.

 

I also look around and admire the energy and creativity of the Nigerian youth. Those young men and women who are excelling and whose distinction inspires some level of confidence in the Nigerian system. For more than 20 years, we have been lamenting that the Nigerian education system has failed, collapsed or to use the usual phrase, “fallen”. But this same system continues to produce young men and women with amazing talents. With a better education system, the harvest could have been richer and better, but oh come on, the entrepreneurial ingenuity of the Nigerian youth, their sheer brilliance and industry reassure us that if we could get it right, this country will yet attain much greater heights.

 

We are in every way, a blessed country. Beautiful flora and fauna: the poor fortunes of the national currency has not affected that. Abundant mineral resources: we only need to manage these better and properly. Travel round Nigeria: our diversity is inspiring. And when you attend any social event in Nigeria, watch out for the gaiety, the beauty of cultural expressions and the capacity of the average Nigerian to force drama out of every situation. When people talk about Nigeria from a distance, they tend to focus on the negatives: the high crime rate and the mismanagement of resources, but no one denies the fact that this country has what it takes in every regard to be as great as it once was and still be greater. That is what I think of as I reflect on Nigeria at 56.

 

We are also a country of resilient people. It is what keeps us going. There may have been a sudden rise in reported cases of suicide in recent times, but most Nigerians are fighters. They are ready to survive under any situation. They are determined. They never lose hope. They have this special ability to cover up their frustrations, dress up nicely and go to the church or the mosque or other places of worship, and dance and pray and ask God to take control. This may be a form of temporary escapism, but the confidence with which the average leaves everything to God and draws strength from so doing is a unique national characteristic.

 

We are still the biggest market in Africa. Many investors may have shut down their businesses and fled the country due to the current economic recession, but as surely as night follows day, they will return. The Nigerian market boasts of over 200 million people who need all kinds of services. This country will always be a destination for those who want to sell and buy and invest. We may be weak, but we are still a giant nation.

 

There may be violence in the North East and other parts of the country, but Nigerians are generally peace-loving and hospitable. As we celebrate Nigeria at 56, we should remember that this country has survived a civil war; it has survived religious and ethnic violence. It has remained one entity despite calls for its dismemberment.

 

What is required is a re-dedication to the ideals of unity and national progress. This is not a task for the leaders alone, but for all Nigerians, young and old, male and female. We must collectively resolve to make this country work and to ensure that the forces of good do not allow negative forces to overwhelm a nation which has the potential to become one of the greatest nations on earth. People make nations. But too many Nigerians are experts at the blame game. We shift responsibilities. We fail to act as true citizens.

 

And the greatest irony of it all is our religiousity and the gap between private and public morality. When you see religious Nigerians, they can quote the Holy Books with such expertise you’d think they have deposited those books inside their brains. When they pray, they do so with such fervour, you would assume they have a direct telephone line to God. When they wear religious garments, they put up a mien that encourages you to lower your guard. But at other times, they do not translate their religious piety into daily life. This is a part of our national persona that is at the root of all the problems we face.

 

Our institutions still need to be strengthened. The failure of institutions accounts largely for the spread of despair in the land. We also need to give full effect to the words of our national anthem. The second stanza in particular is a prayer that should be reflected upon for the precision with which it captures our main national needs. “Oh God of creation/Direct our noble cause/Guide our leaders right/Help our youth the truth to know/In love and honesty to grow/And living just and true/Great lofty heights attain/To build a nation where peace/And justice shall reign.”

 

Independence day should be a day of citizen pride. It should be a day of sober reflection. It should be a moment when the entire nation should pause, and look back and look forward into the future. Nigeria’s journey as an independent nation may have begun in October 1960, but our history goes far back into the past, even long before the Amalgamation of 1914. We are a nation of different peoples, cultures and ethnicity brought together by destiny, and circumstances and colonialism. To transform this into real nationhood is the main challenge we have faced since 1960. As we mark Nigeria’s 56th independence anniversary, let no one blame the British for the various fault lines that continue to affect our nation. The British ruled Nigeria for 46 years (1914-1960). We have been in charge of our own affairs for 56 years: that is long enough for us to get our acts together as a people and as a nation.

 

Leadership counts – sincere, honest and purposeful leadership, that is. It is the duty of leaders to show the people the way. Too many Nigerian leaders have no idea in what direction the people should be led, and this has been an abiding source of all-round confusion. I began this piece promising not to complain as Nigeria turns 56, but it is hard I suppose not to do so. But let no one despair. Surely, it shall be well with Nigeria.

 

About the Author:

Reuben Abati is a columnist in The Guardian and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Horror at GTC Mbah(Kumbo) as Lightening Stroke 7 Students

An atmosphere of uncertainty looms at GTC Mbah in Kumbo central sub division as lightening is reported to have stroke seven students. Tangwa Lawrence in a Facebook post recounted that the lightening destroyed electricity line and the cables used in wiring the school. The incident which occurred on September 27 at midday affected four girls and three boys. The victims, according to reports were immediately covered with soil to release electron charges from their bodies, before being transferred to the health facility where they were being taken care of by medics.

Informed of the indent, the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education for Bui, Asah Mbenkum William visited the scene and victims.

 Latest reports say the students are responding to medical treatment.






When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Looking Glass: The Euphoria that Saluted the Official Handing Over, Inauguration of Maternity Block at Ndu

On December 26, 2012, fire consumed the maternity block and the pharmacy section of the Ndu District Hospital in Donga Mantung Division. Four years after the fire incident, Ndu District Hospital bounces back with an ultra modern maternity block funded by DANA Petroleum LTD, an exploration company based Ndian Division in the South West Region. 

There was fanfare and ecstasy at the Ndu District Hospital as the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division officially performed the inauguration rite of the newly constructed block to host the maternity funded by DANA Petroleum LTD. Holding the ribbon from left to right beside Donga Mantung SDO were the Chief Executive Officer of DANA Petroleum, the Mayor of Ndu, the Member of Parliament for Donga Mantung Centre, the Divisional Officer for Ndu, the Country Representative of Toprock, HRH the Fon of Ndu, the chief Executive Officer of Harmony Ventures, the District Medical Officer and the Divisional Delegate for Public Works for Donga Mantung Division. 

Singing and dancing skyrocketed when the keys of the edifice were handed to Donga Mantung SDO, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard by the CEO of DANA Petroleum LTD, Ta Nformi Ralph Manyi. It was the Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah, the Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Ventures (contractor) who earlier on handed the keys of the newly constructed edifice to the funder. Drum beats and sounds echoed into the hills of Ndu as pregnant women, mothers, fathers and would-be mothers and fathers showed signs of relief on their faces for a dream come true.

Donga Mantung SDO described the support as a mark of sustainable development. To Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard, DANA Petroleum LTD has moved out of the madding crowd to impact lives in communities. He urged other elites to emulate the example of Tamfu Simon to lobby for projects that can impact lives in their communities. 

What they Said:

HRH The Fon of Ndu (Wiya Clan Head)

In his words, HRH the Fon of Ndu expressed gratitude to DANA Petroleum LTD for the timely support that will go a long way to impact lives positively in his fondoms and the municipality. He equally expressed gratitude to those who ceded their land for the construction project as well as everyone who was involved in the chain. The fon of Ndu particularly thanked Tamfu Simon of SNH for lobbying for the funding. The Wiya Clan head also used the opportunity to pour showers of praises on Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah for putting in place the edifice. 

Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugab (Mayor of Ndu) 

On his part the Mayor of Ndu, Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugab reminded the population that the gift from DANA Petroleum was life-saving one. He lauded the company for moving out of their area of intervention to Ndu municipality to fund a project that will go a long way to improve on the living conditions of the population. Like Oliver Twist, Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugab expressed the need the Ndu District hospital to have a mortuary. He used the occasion to extend a hand of need to TOPROCK and DANA Petroleum LTD. He said the people of Ndu will never forget the laudable efforts deployed by Tamfu Simon to lobby and obtain funding for the construction project. “I should like to thank Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah who won the contract and as you can all see has done a very good job”, he continued. Prospects, he added are high at that the collaboration between the population of Ndu and DANA, TOPROCK will change lives positively in the municipality. He applauded all the stakeholders that were involved in the planning and execution of the project and promised that the Ndu council will make sure that flowers are planted and the edifice will be put into judicious use. In a satirical tone the mayor said even those who have stopped giving birth may bounce back while those who were not yet married will hurriedly do so to enjoy the facilities. To the medical staff, he prescribed hard work and diligence. 

Ta Nformi Ralph Manyi (CEO of DANA Petroleum LTD)

Ta Nformi Ralph Manyi, the Chief Executive Officer of DANA Petroleum told the population of Ndu that by financing the project, his company is playing government role to make sure that benefits from petroleum is shared nationwide. He also added that though from the initial stage, the project was to be financed by two companies, the withdrawal of one partner did push DANA Petroleum to pack out but rather, they took the heavy responsibility to fund the project. He said at DANA Petroleum, one of their objectives is to provide support to communities as part of its corporate social responsibility. And it is thanks to Tamfu Simon that DANA Petroleum which is based in Ndian had to move out of its area of intervention to finance the Maternity Block at Ndu District hospital. He expressed gratitude to the Divisional Officer of Ndu, the Divisional Delegate of Public Works for Donga Mantung and Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah for the wonderful job, and supervision. In his concluding statement, Ta Shey Ralph Manyi said the relationship between DANA and Ndu municipality is on a good footing.  

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Lesson from Nigeria: An Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari

A Nigerian has bared his mind on what he thinks is frustrating foreign investment in the country as Nigeria battles recession.

 

President Muhamamdu Buhari

 

Your Excellency

 

I listened to your speech on NTA news and followed newspaper reports of it, and noted with interest your directive to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, and other relevant agencies to cut down bureaucratic bottlenecks on new investments in order to get the economy out of recession.

 

You are right Mr. President that the economy needs to attract local and foreign investments to create jobs and improve opportunities for all.  But how can this be Mr. President, when an appointed officer in your government can keep a project worth N68 billion cash investment and over N110 billion total annual concession fees, during the life of the project, on his desk for more than six months with no consequence? What does such a situation say to the investors we are trying to attract?

 

The concession of the National Theatre fallow land for purposes of fully implementing the over 40-year-old National Theatre master plan by re-development of the areas around the National Theatre into an entertainment city, is the project. It will include a five-star hotel, water park, shopping complex, cultural arcade, office blocks, power plant, waste disposal facility and rehabilitation of the main bowl of the National Theatre which will remain under management of the Federal Government.

 

The following events illustrate the recent journey of the project:

 

May 25, 2015

 

Letter of notification issued to the preferred bidder, and the reserved bidder as directed by ICRC.

 

November 2015

 

PPP agreements fully negotiated by a joint negotiating team including National Theatre, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, under the oversight of the ICRC, submitted to Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice approved the draft agreement subject to revisions, which were fully reflected.  At the same time, Final Business Case with draft agreements were submitted to ICRC for compliance review.

 

March 11, 2016

 

ICRC issued Final Certificate of Compliance based on Final Business Case, indicating that the project had complied with ICRC Act and the National Policy on PPP and requesting the Honorable Minister of Information and Culture to present the project to FEC.

 

The project has remained with the Minister and has not been presented to FEC by the Supervising Minister; rather the Minister is by all means maneuvering to bring his preferred company into the project. Is this the change the nation voted for?

 

Mr. President, how do we attract investments with this kind of deliberate frustration of current investors in a concluded bid?  

 

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Written by Tijani Abdusalam-Ogueyi

 

tijani.ogueyi@gmail.com

 

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