AMP moves Nollywood forward with Nollycare…Read full details

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AMP president, Ralph Nwadike, disclosed that Nollywood could be self-sustaining healthwise if practitioners would embrace opportunities available in health insurance schemes.

Association of Movie Producers (AMP), in conjunction with heads of Guilds in Nollywood, last week, organised a health and business retreat tagged, ‘Nollycare: A Nollywood Health and Business Retreat,’ to enlighten filmmakers and members of the various guilds of the need to take care of their health and also talked on how they can access funds for their films.

Held at the NAN Hall, National Theatre complex, Iganmu, Lagos, AMP president, Ralph Nwadike, disclosed that Nollywood could be self-sustaining healthwise if practitioners would embrace opportunities available in health insurance schemes. He noted that recently, a number of their members have been falling seriously sick and they are unable to treat and fend for themselves because of the enormity of such ailments, adding that this is because most filmmakers hardly pay attention to their health.

“With this health insurance/group life insurance, people will be able to treat themselves and insure their future by paying a token, which will be tied to their dues, so that, if any health challenge comes up, they would be well taken care of. We have the support of some insurance companies and the Bank of Industry (BoI).

“We believe that this will change the industry because we are tired of members going to individuals and corporate bodies for assistance each time they have health challenges. Nobody prays for sickness, but we have to prepare for it and that is what we are doing now,” he said.

Nollywood actress, Hilda Dokubo, commenting on the lifestyle of members bemoaned the daily work routine of an average entertainer and how it adversely affects their health.

She said: “It became a thing of worry for me when every time on our whatsapp group, there is always somebody asking for money or about to die. Most of these deaths are avoidable. The life of an entertainer places him/her on the path of high risk. Why do we have people coming down with diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney failure. These three ailments are lifestyle-based and are also avoidable. Why do we have entertainers dying from the same ailments. And the next thing, we run to one politician or the other for funds.”

AMP Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Eddie Ugboma, described the situation as disgraceful and embarrassing, urging members to embrace the initiative and insure themselves, so that, they may not need to run to any governor or anybody for help, as if they are beggars, whereas, an insurance company would have borne the cost of their treatment.

On why the initiative has to be revisited when the former arrangement failed, AMP General Secretary, Forster Ojehonm, noted that the former failed because members were not following up with their dues due to bad economy. He assured that members from all the guilds are this time in for a change and there is no going back on the scheme.

“We have executives like the president, directors and producers from different guilds. We also have marketers and representatives of BoI and insurance companies to work together as one. We want a situation where we will have a unified group insurance policy for critical health needs.

“Our aim is for all members of Nollywood family to have a healthcare plan that is workable, for members to be insured and to be able to live healthy and access funds to produce films,” he said.

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Adinoyi-Ojo: Harvest of tributes, elegies for the pen master, acolyte of the muse…Read full details

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A scene from The Killing Swamp staged in Abuja in 2014 PHOTO: TIMOTHY AIDELOJE

Adinoyi-Ojo Onukaba

He bestrode the worlds of journalism and theatre arts like a colossus. On the canvas of both professions, Adinoyi-Ojo Onukaba’s signature was bold. Since last Sunday, March 5, 2017 when he transited, abruptly and brutally, four days before his 57th birthday anniversary, torrential has been the outpouring of tributes and elegies. The circumstances surrounding his death on that fateful night around Igbara-Oke junction on Ilesa-Akure Road, while returning from the 80th birthday celebration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo is also a testimony of his large-heartedness and forgiving spirit.

Remember! Onukaba was the first victim of ‘demobilization’ war against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the early years of the second term of Obasanjo’s presidency. He was then serving the former VP as Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication. Although, as a journalist with unique qualities, Onukaba had known and related closely with both Atiku and Obasanjo since 1984, the power play between his principal and President Obasanjo became intense so much that key associates of Atiku then were caught in the cross fire. Thus, in April 2005, Onukaba ‘lost’ his job. But he still went ahead to reconcile with Obasanjo thereafter, as he authored, in 2007, Olusegun Obasanjo in the eyes of time: A Biography. Some years later, he did for Atiku too entitled: Atiku – The Story of Atiku Abubakar to balance the equation.

Till his passage last Sunday, Onukaba distinguished himself as a seasoned journalist, playwright and publisher of high repute, having to his credit, Born to Run – a biography of late Dele Giwa, co-authored by him and Dele Olojede. This is in addition to other two biographies earlier mentioned.

Some of his plays include, Her Majesty’s Visit, A Resting Place, Tower of Burden, The Virginity Flee, The Lone Ranger, Bargain Hunting, and Soommalliyya. His play, “The Killing Swamp” was one of the three finalists for the 2010 NLNG Literature Award. In April, 2014, the riveting historical play, that spotlights the struggle in the Niger Delta, thrilled audiences in Abuja for two consecutive nights at the French Institute of Nigeria. Williams Obasi directed it.

Incidentally, Onukaba’s flourishing career, as journalist, began at The Guardian in 1983. Having graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1982 at the Department of Theatre Arts and completed his National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme at Radio Nigeria, Ikoyi, Lagos, in 1983, he joined the Rutam House as one of its pioneer reporters. He would later rise to the position of News Editor before travelling out in 1989 for graduate studies.

Reminiscing on Onukaba’s exploits as aviation reporter, an ex-The Guardian staff, Isiaka Aliagan, said, “I got into The Guardian late 1989, and by then Onukaba had left. I was lucky to step into a legacy he pioneered as the third Aviation Reporter of The Flagship, first under the tutelage of my Oga, Emmanuel Ukpong, himself having learnt the rubrics of aviation reporting under Onukaba.

“From our ace News Editor then… Ebube Wadibia, to Ogbuagu Anikwe and then Bayo Oguntimehin, reference was always made of Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo. To be a successful reporter then at The Guardian, you must strive to beat Onukaba’s record or at least be like him. He was a successful journalist and an accomplished writer who will be sorely missed by all who knew him closely and those who heard or read about him.”

In the words of Aliagan, those armed robbers who invaded Igbara-Oke junction of Ilesa-Akure Road on the night Onukaba was passing were “dark minds that populate our sick nation.” Report had it that he was crushed by another car while running away from those robbers.

Recounting this sad episode, Amma Ogan, a former editor of The Guardian on Sunday decried “the way and manner” in which many Nigerians die nowadays. According to her, “it is simply an indictment of the country’s leadership.”

She spoke further, “Onukaba’s passing at 56 (he was born March 9, 1960) is the second this week of someone I know well who can be said to have died from the Nigerian condition, a syndrome that can affect the poor and the not poor, the gifted and struggling, equally. Yes we can list the different circumstances under which preventable deaths occur in Nigeria, but one phrase can explain it all: abysmal governance.”

Another former Editor of The Guardian on Sunday who rose to become Deputy Editor-in-Chief/ Deputy MD of the newspaper company, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor went poetic while paying respects to the fallen journalist. “We were mates and contemporaries. His voice was soft, and his lips broke into ready smiles. He possessed a penetrating intellect that he brought to bear on his beat as Aviation Reporter, and later News Editor of The Guardian on Sunday. His approach was an unmistakable part of the new journalism fostered and nurtured by The Guardian. Onukaba was at first Shuaibu (or Shaibu) Adinoyi-Ojo, before he effected a name-change that did not alter the sheer brilliance, readability, and impact of his reports. He did innumerable front-pagers and features. He was still a cub reporter when his stories on the Nigeria Airways plane crash at Emene-Enugu in 1983 signposted the depth of The Guardian. Check out the backfiles of The Guardian, and witness in retrospect his solid reports on the 53 suitcases saga following a currency change in 1984, when Buhari was military Head of State. ‘The Kingsley!’ was his salutation whenever we met, his right arm descending from above his head, to give me a handshake. I called him, “Onu-kay!” Now, he’s no more, like Krees Imodibie and Godwin Agbroko, colleagues at The Guardian who exited too early and violently. I am diminished, but I pray for the repose of their souls, the freshest being Onukaba.”

To Ogbuagwu Anikwe, the late journalist “was among a quartet that revolutionised beat reporting in Nigeria from The Guardian newsroom – the others being Goddy Nnadi (Education), Bayo Oguntimehin (Alausa), and Juliet Ukabiala (Defence).

“There were many outstanding others but this quartet shared the top four positions among themselves, week after week. Dr. Ojo met and made life-changing acquaintances with both President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku on his aviation beat. Obasanjo was so impressed with his powerful ability to recall and faithful rendition of interviews he conducted without tape recorder – and crafted in his inimitable simple but profound prose – that he decided to adopt him. He subsequently sponsored his masters and PhD studies abroad. We all had one thing going for us – turning our backs on all brown envelope opportunities lifted The Guardian integrity quotient.”

Onukaba’s soul-mate, businesswise, Taiwo Obe described his late partner as “a quintessential reporter” who shunned “unethical practices like a plague.”

Provoking is Obe’s response to the news of Onukaba’s death. “This morning (last Monday, the one we called CBN (real name: Chido Nwakanma) called me to find out if I had heard about Onukaba. When a message goes like that, be sure, it is some awful thing that has happened. What happened to Onukaba? He told me someone wrote that he’s dead…. No. I called Onukaba’s number and it was a brother of his who picked it and confirmed that indeed, my friend and brother, had died. He was talking about what happened, but I barely heard the details…

“I cried like I didn’t even when the death of my own older brother was broken to me.

I cried….I who have always counselled people to remember the good times they shared with their loved ones who passed away. What is there to cry for now? OnuK is gone. To meet His creator. I am sure his soul will find peace, because he was a genuinely good man.”

Chukwudi Abiandu said, “news of Onukaba’s death is still shocking. But if God allowed it, who are we mortals! Although, he came to meet me in The Guardian, he was an editors delight. May his soul rest in peace.”

Journalist turned lawyer, Gbolahan Gbadamosi did not meet Onukaba at The Guardian, “but his legacy speaks for him. I had opportunity to meet him when I was part of team that prosecuted the petition of Atiku against Yar’Adua in 2007.”

So far, it has been a deluge of tributes. Last Friday, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos chapter held a Tribute Nite for him together with other two journalists – Kayode Atofolaki, former Assistant Secretary of Lagos NUJ who died on Friday, February 25; and Segun Agbolade, Secretary, Federated Maritime Media chapel of Lagos NUJ who died on March 1.

Also, Remembering the good times with Onukaba took place yesterday at the JournalismClinic in Surulere, Lagos. A fidau prayer will also be held today at his residence at Amina’s Court, Gudu District, Abuja.

BORN on March 9, 1960 to the family of Mallam Shuaibu Onukaba and Hajia Aisha Onukaba who hailed from Oboroke-Ihima, Okehi local council Kogi State, he did a Masters in Journalism and a Ph.D in Performance Studies at New York University, New York, USA. He worked as a Research Officer at the African Leadership Forum, New York and also served as the Information officer, Division of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) between 1994 and 1995. He became Adjunct Professor of Mass Communication at the School of New Resources, College of New Rochelle, New York in 1997. Between 1997 and 1998, he worked as Press Officer, Department of Public Information, United Nations (New York). In June 1998, Onukaba was sent to Iraq as an Information Officer, United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator. Upon his return to Nigeria in 1999 to participate in the present democratic dispensation, his sterling qualities and ability to succeed caught the attention of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who appointed him as Special Assistant on Media Relations. But he didn’t stay long as he was appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the then ailing Daily Times of Nigeria PLC in August 1999.

He worked tirelessly to reposition the Daily Times. His efforts at Daily Times made the newspaper firm attractive to investors before it was privatized in 2004. Onukaba returned to the presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the former Vice president Atiku Abubakar on Public Communications between July 2003 and April 2005. Beyond Onukaba’s humble exterior lies impenetrable armour of principle and dedication to duty. In December 2005, the Okun Youth Solidarity Forum (OYSF) led by Hon. Adeniyi Sunday Bello, honoured him with the “Pillar of Youth Award” in recognition of his services to the State. Earlier in 2001, the then Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State honoured him as one of the distinguished citizens of the state.

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Another Bollywood Actress Walked The Oscars Red Carpet, But Not Many People Are Talking About Her…Read full details

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There is, of course, a lot of chatter and pride about Priyanka Chopra attending the Oscars and walking the red carpet. But what many people seem to have overlooked is that another Priyanka is in attendance, too: Priyanka Bose, the actress who starred in Lion alongside Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman.

I'm off to the Oscars and so happy and over the moon to be collaborating with @redcarpetgreendress #rcgd Here's sneak peak to what it is going to be. I'm dressed by the lovely @viviennewestwoodusa @viviennewestwoodofficial And @swarovski @nadja.swarovski Glam squad for today : Hair by the lovely @stevenmasonlife Makeup by @dilokritbarose . #lets do this. #oscarsunday #ecowarrior #sustainableliving #sustainablefashion #redcarpet

A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankabose20) on Feb 26, 2017 at 1:44pm PST

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Always love getting this #stunner ready for the #redcarpet! #oscars2017 here she comes!! #LionMovie #Lion #LiontheMovie @lionmov @priyankabose20 #PriyankaBose #Hair styled by me using @KMSHairUS and @VarisNorthAmerica #makeup by @dilokritbarose @xclusiveartists #hairstylist #hairdresser #celebrityhairstylist #celebrityhairdresser #naturalhair #wavyhair #Oscars #TheOscars #Awardshow #gown #KMSApprovedUS

A post shared by Steven Mason (@stevenmasonlife) on Feb 26, 2017 at 4:18pm PST

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Lion is an Australian drama set partly in India, and tells the story of a five-year-old boy who is separated from his family and can’t make his way back home. Bose plays the character of Kamla Munshi, the five-year-old’s mother.

Lion has six Oscar nominations, and Bose is attending (along with Dev Patel) to support the film. Bose has previously starred in Hindi films like Johnny Gaddaar, Love Sex aur Dhoka and Gulaab Gang.

The post Another Bollywood Actress Walked The Oscars Red Carpet, But Not Many People Are Talking About Her is copyright of MissMalini.

Source: Miss Malini

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SpaceX cargo ship arrives at space station

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PHOTO: Geo.tv

An unmanned cargo ship packed with food and supplies for astronauts arrived safely Thursday at the International Space Station, a day after SpaceX aborted the process due to a GPS problem.

This time, the Dragon cargo ship made a “perfect approach to the capture point,” a NASA commentator said.

The space station’s 57-foot (18-meter) robotic arm, operated from inside the orbiting research lab by astronauts Thomas Pesquet of France and Shane Kimbrough of the United States, reached out and grabbed the Dragon at 5:44 am (1044 GMT).

“We had a great capture,” Kimbrough said. “Thomas did an awesome job.”

The gumdrop-shaped Dragon vessel is packed with more than 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms) of food, gear and science experiments for the six astronauts living at the orbiting space station.

“Congratulations Dragon on a successful journey from Earth and welcome aboard,” said Pesquet.

The cargo ship was officially berthed to the space station at 8:12 am (1312 GMT), and astronauts will begin unpacking it later Thursday, SpaceX said on Twitter.

The cargo launched into space Sunday aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking SpaceX’s 10th resupply mission under a contract with NASA.

SpaceX is currently working on another version of the Dragon that aims to ferry people to space as early as 2018.

Since the US space shuttle program ended in 2011, the world’s astronauts have paid Russia to ride to the space station aboard the Soyuz capsules. The price tag is currently $82 million per seat.

Astronauts will be busy unloading goods again tomorrow, with a second shipment of supplies arriving Friday morning aboard the Russian Progress cargo carrier at 0834 GMT.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mj3UEz

Mismanaging Mr. President’s wellbeing

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President Muhammadu Buhari

Analyzing Nigeria is arduous if you seek to speak truth to power. Many Nigerians, mostly the leaders and elite make speeches unceasingly. Such conventional speeches tend to be largely rhetorical. And together, the analysts, the religious, the political leaders and the disenfranchised populace have all become “miserable comforters” of a nation in distress. As asked in the Holy Book:  “Will your long winded speeches never end?”

Nigeria remains the classical outlier nation state. Thus in resignation many Nigerians have thrown in the towel. Some have fled, finding refuge and succour in foreign lands. Yet, many remain, having no option; and some remain to capitalise on the leadership and general disorder in the commonwealth. The latter seek to foster legality from illegalities with the intent to benefit from it.

But there remains one constant. Like Fela Anikulakpo Kuti averred presciently, the state of the nation is nothing but “Confusion” as “Everything Scatter.” As another contemporary musician, Eedris Abdulkareem put it: everything in Nigeria is “Jaga Jaga.” And this brings me to how those charged with minding President Muhammadu Buhari are managing his wellbeing or as some say, his health issues.

First, President Buhari is not a private citizen. While he is entitled to some privacy, Nigerians who elected him have the right to know of his wellbeing and the state of his health. He is the CEO of corporate Nigeria, and his wellbeing affects our stocks and holdings. Nigerians are not interested in his minders including the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and media advisers telling us that the president is “fit”, “alright” and “that there is no cause for alarm.” The president did the right thing in devolving power to his deputy. That is constitutional. But Nigerians behold a Deja vu moment. If they are doubtful they have good reasons. Nigeria needs to hear directly from her leader, President Buhari, in accordance with the oath of office he took.

My friend, Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media has characterised the present reality as “imperfect” but conditioned on “exigencies of the moment.”

He is doing his best in an awkward circumstance. Well, we recall the uncertainties and unpleasantness that led to the “doctrine of necessity” and do not want to revisit that episode under any pretext. Perhaps, Mr. Adesina should have a chat with his professional colleague, Segun Adeniyi on this and related matters.  Nigerians don’t want to be fooled. If President Buhari could speak to President Donald Trump, he can speak to Nigerians. The facilities exist.

FaceTime, Skype and direct interview with a credible news medium will do. After all, President Obasanjo called President Umaru Yar’Adua on live television to ask him if he was alive, just as provenance. Nigerians along with the rest of the world, still remember how it was FaceTime that saved Turkey. President Tayep Erdogan spoke from a remote secure base to his nation in a moment of high national crisis. Why can’t Buhari do the same?

History is replete with proper managing of health crisis of world leaders; Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Ariel Sharon, etc.  When at the close of 2016, Queen Elizabeth took ill, thus missing Christmas service for the first time since 1988; her media handlers in the palace did the needful, in issuing a statement that ran thus: “The Queen does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold.”  The world knew the ailment and the condition of the monarch.

In President Buhari’s case Nigerians know not what ails him. And we deserve to know since every diagnosed ailment has a name. Simply put, we just need to get things right. Are Nigerians skeptical? Yes. Do they have the right to be? Certainly, Buhari not speaking to Nigeria is not being stoic.
It smacks of indifference, despite his right to privacy. Buhari’s health condition can be considered a national security question, but does not qualify by any means, as a top national secret.

Political folklore recalls how a man who ran down the street of Moscow shouting “Brezhnev is a fool!” “Brezhnev is a fool!!” was promptly arrested and jailed for revealing national secret. By analogy, if man ran down the streets of Abuja, screaming, “Buhari is Sick! Buhari is Sick!!”  or “Buhari is dying! Buhari is dying!!” will he not be arrested likewise and charged with spreading false rumour or revealing a national secret? Yet such utterances will tally with sketchy information emanating from the Presidency. The point is that those around the president who shield him and keep the exact state of his wellbeing away from Nigerians are responsible for his present miasma. They are responsible for the increasing complications and confusion. As a mortal septuagenarian, albeit an ex-soldier, the president is humanly capable of being indisposed.  After the wear and tear of 16 years of politicking to be president, the burdens may be showing. So long as he is not mentally incapacitated, and not certifiable, he remains our elected president. He also deserves our empathy.

Certainly Nigerians are praying for Mr. President.  Thankfully he has a very competent and hands-on deputy as we are witnessing. Yet, the present state of confusion need not be, even as it tallies with the way we do things in Nigeria — creating crisis out of nothingness.  The temptation is rife to speak to the fact that his being attended to by foreign doctors and in a foreign country does our image no good.  I thought we foreswore medical tourism for public officials. Where, by the way is his personal physician?  He is responsible for the President’s wellbeing, and as a medical professional, we would rather hear directly from him than from non-medical aides of the president.

There are clearly missed opportunities in the way the president’s vacation-turned-medical checkup has been handled.  Yet it’s not too late for the presidential aides to change their modus operandi. Their cause and job is also not being helped by leading politicians rushing off to London to visit the president, as if he is on a “death bed.”

Emanating pictures from such visits are presently insufficient to curb or ebb our collective concerns. History cannot be allowed to repeat itself here. We already have sufficient lessons from the mishandling of President Yar’Adua’s illness. We need not go that route again.

Meanwhile, we pray for our president, wish him well and quick convalescence and expect him home soon. God bless you PMB!

Obaze is chief executive of Selonnes Consult Ltd.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lxHCRd

Manu Garba accuses Guardiola of betraying Iheanacho

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Manchester City's Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho (L) celebrates with Manchester City's German midfielder Leroy Sane (R) after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on October 23, 2016. PHOTO: Oli SCARFF / AFP

Kelechi Iheanacho’s lack of game time at Manchester City is a form of betrayal by manager, Pep Guardiola, according to coach Manu Garba, the former Nigeria U-17 coach, who gave Iheanacho his breakthrough at the 2013 World Youth Championship.

Iheanacho has missed the last seven games of Manchester City. He failed to make the matchday squad on five occasions and was twice left on the bench by Guardiola.

Even the injury to Gabriel Jesus hasn’t worked in his favour as many speculated and Garba believes the 20-year-old has not been fairly treated by the manager.

“He (Iheanacho) pulled out of the Nigerian team to the last Olympics in Rio on the orders of Guardiola, who also made the club sign an extension with him. Fast forward June to this day and he can’t get into the team,” Manu told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“It’s normal for him to feel betrayed by the man, who made him sacrifice the chance to play at the Olympics with Nigeria. He is a good lad and will definitely prove people wrong in the future.”

Iheanacho was listed among the reserves in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League game against Monaco, but he never made it off the bench. Guardiola preferred Jesus Navas and Fernando when he needed goals in the game against Monaco.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mnwGD7

Desire for British passport stops Odemwingie from moving to Russia league

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Peter Osaze Odemwingie

Peter Osaze Odemwingie’s intermediary, Vladimir Deineka, has revealed that the Nigerian international has turned down an opportunity to return to the Russian Premier League because he wants to obtain a British Passport, reports allnigeriasoccer.com.

The former Lokomotiv Moscow star had been negotiating a deal with an unnamed Premier League club, but has yet to agree terms.

“Peter Odemwingie remains in England. The desire to return to the Premier League really was. Negotiations with the Russian club were already at the final stage, but we have not agreed on the terms.

“Peter need to get an English passport, so until the summer would still have had to remain in England.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2ma13B5

Kano Pillars halt Rivers United’s winning streak

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Rivers United players (left) try to stop a Kano Pillars player in the Nigeria Premier Football League game.

Rangers pip 10-Man Lobi, Wikki beat 3SC

Kano Pillars yesterday in Port Harcourt held Rivers United to a 1-1 draw in one of the rescheduled games of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). It was a day Enugu Rangers and Wikki Tourists rediscovered their winning boots, as they piped Lobi Stars and 3SC 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

Yesterday’s equaliser was Kano Pillars first away goal in the 2016/2017 season.

Rivers United, which beat AS Bamako of Mali 4-0 in their CFA Champions League qualifier at the weekend, gave their fans hope of continuing from where they stopped on Sunday when Godbless Asamoah scored just before half time. But Kano Pillars banished such hopes in the 57th minute through Amos Gyang leveller.

In Enugu, former Enyimba star, Daniel Etor, put Rangers ahead, but Lobi Stars replied in the 57th minute through Kingsley Eduwo, who tucked in the rebound of his penalty kick initially saved by Nana Bonsu.

Rangers, seeking their first victory in the league in four games, capiltailised on their numerical strength to nick the win through Bobby Clement’s goal on the dot of 90 minutes. Lobi Stars were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute when Chinedu James was sent off for ungentlemanly behaviour.

Fresh from their ouster from the CAF Confederation Cup, Wikki Tourists rallied to beat 3SC in Bauchi, but FC IfeanyiUbah, who also failed to make it past the first round in the continent, fell to Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium. Destiny Ashadi’s goal made the difference.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mnlab8

‘Rangers respect but don’t fear Zamalek’

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Enugu Rangers’ Goalkeeper, Nana Bonsu, cannot wait to meet Zamalek in the last qualifying round of the CAF Champions League. PHOTO: LMC.

Enugu Rangers is in a boisterous mood. The Flying Antelopes at the weekend survived J.S Saoura of Algeria in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League and their reward is a meeting with another North African side, Zamalek of Egypt, in the second qualifying round of the competition. But they are not fretting at the prospect of meeting the team that accounted for Enyimba of Aba’s exit from the competition last season.

In fact, they can’t wait to trade tackles with the former African champions, who gave Nigeria’s legendary star, Emmanuel Amuneke, his first taste of professional football.

Looking forward to a successful campaign against Zamalek next month, Enugu Rangers’ Chief Executive Officer, Christian Chukwu, says there is no cause for alarm.

Rangers will be away to the Egyptian giants next month in a CAF Champions League first round match with the return leg in Enugu a week later.

The overall winners will qualify for the money-spinning stage of the continent’s foremost club competition. Chukwu was captain and later coach of Rangers and he said the team are prepared to battle Zamalek next month.

He told africanfootball.com, “We are fully ready for Zamalek. We respect them but we are not afraid of them. “We have already started preparation ahead of that encounter.

“The match against JS Saoura of Algeria was an eye opener and it has put our players in continental mood.”

Rangers eliminated JSS from Algeria on the away goals rule, while Zamalek were drawn bye to the first round of the Champions League after they lost in last year’s final to Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m9V6UA

Dillibe Onyeama revives occult novels of the ‘80s

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Dillibe Onyeama

Remember novels like Juju, Secret Society, Nigger at Eton, Sex Is a Nigga’s Game, Night Demon, Revenge of the Medicineman, Godfathers of Voodoo? These were bestselling releases of the 1970s and 1980s that deepened the mystery of the African world to a hypnotic western audience. By popular demand, the author of these mystery, occult novels, Mr. Dillibe Onyeama, is making a reissue of them so they could be available again to readers.

Last week in Enugu and Owerri, two titles, Nigger at Eton and All Screwed Up, were released into the market. Onyeama, who is also a publisher, will launch the titles in Lagos and other parts of the country in the coming weeks. Juju will be released later in June. All the titles are published in England by their original publishers, while Onyeama’s publishing outfit, Enugu-based Delta Publications Ltd, will distribute the titles.

Already, to commemorate this year’s Black History month, Rainbow Book Club has Niger at Eton for its February reading event on Saturday, February 25 at Port Harcourt Book Centre (after Obi Wali Centre, beside Air Assault Golf Course, G.U. Ake Road). Time is 2pm.

Also, Onyeama will delight his readers with a new addition to the occult thrillers, when he brings out The Flaming Sword, which took 40 years to write.

According to him, “A U.K.-based American publisher, Mark Barty-King, who ultimately emerged Chairman of Transworld Publishing Group, which first commissioned my novel, Godfathers of Voodoo, was bowled over by the synopsis of The Flaming Sword, and wanted to see some specimen chapters. I elected to write the whole book without taking a commission and possibly disappointing him, and hand over a completed work. Some months before I finished the work some 38 years later, I was reading his obituary in disbelieving horror!

“Based on the 2100 Pounds commission I received for Godfathers of Voodoo in 1980, which was 256 pages, this could have been anything as high as 5000 Pounds for 600 pages. But I elected to forego the carrot of a handsome commission and complete the book and hand over the finished project.”

For Onyeama, “Demand is what is making us to revive the old titles. Demand is great within that realm of the mysterious, the occult, and the hidden life. There is that aspect of African life that is unexplored. In those days in London, my books were selling as much as 30,000 copies. There was great demand for them.”

Although he left Nigeria for London at the age of eight, Onyeama knew enough about his African occult heritage to draw upon it through imaginative fiction to mystify his readers. Onyeama spoke on the place of occult in today’s reality in the African imagination, saying the phenomenon still has as much grip then as it does now in spite of globalisation.

As he put it in a telephone conversation from his Enugu base, “Even at eight, kinds are very receptive to culture. Occult or voodoo still serves the African man in a big way. The African man can hold the cross (of Christ) with one hand for the whole world to see and still hold his totem or occult symbol with the other hand. All are still used in a great deal; politicians and businessmen and women still use occult till this day. It’s a real world out there, the occult world, and it still works and mystifies the white man.”

Although Onyeama is excited about bringing out these once famous titles that thrilled generations of readers back in the days, he said Nigeria’s publishing scene easily dampens the spirit. He said booksellers are the sour point in the book business with a huge debt profile, which they refuse to settle. He said what booksellers owed him was as high as six digits, a situation he said was unacceptable.

“The publishing industry is going through hell,” he lamented. “Booksellers don’t pay their debt; they make the business difficult for us.”

As a result, Onyeama’s new policy at Delta Publishers Ltd is cash and carry, saying it was the only way he could stay afloat and continue to satisfy avid readers.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2marqmX

Concerns as stakeholders call for audit of N9.2b scanners at ports

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A scanner at the port

• ‘Customs must be accountable for damaged scanners’
The sorry state of the ports scanners has continued to raise concerns among stakeholders, who insist that the Federal Government must probe the events that led to the collapse of the N9.2 billion scanners handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) eight years ago.
Cargo scanning or non-intrusive inspection (NII) refers to non-destructive methods of inspecting and identifying goods in transportation systems. It is often used for scanning of intermodal freight shipping containers.

The collapse of the highly sensitive equipment has made cargo clearing more tasking due to prolonged delays, aided corruption and allowed for illegal clearance of arms, ammunition and other unwholesome goods into the country.

A prominent terminal operator told The Guardian that the lack of scanners at the ports is delaying cargoes clearance and therefore undermining the realisation of the 48 hours a cargo clearance agenda of the Federal Government.

The operator, who spoke in confidence, argued that the physical examination is archaic and huge burden on the officers in charge, as one container can take up to four hours to be cleared.

“This will amount to a cumbersome process and eventually create overhang cargoes. For us as terminal operators, we earn more money because the importers will pay for demurrage and it adds to our pocket,” he said.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, recently admitted that the scanners were bad, but insisted on 100 percent cargo examination to ensure that no offensive consignment got out of the ports.
He noted that after examining the scanners, only two can be immediately repaired and put to use but the others will be repaired over time.

“With the ones we have now, we have done scrutiny on them and two of them can be repaired and put back, but we need to replace most of them. We have problems with the scanners because most of them are not working; we are working diligently to replace them. By God’s grace by the end of this first quarter, we will have scanners at our ports.

“Paucity of fund has been part of our problem but we are working diligently to ensure that we get scanners into the ports and the borders,” he said.

But the National President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, told The Guardian that there is no need to buy new scanners, to repair and upgrade the existing ones.

He alleged that the officers played a major role in damaging the equipment, saying: “The Customs took over those scanners from the service providers and they are the one who spoilt the scanners, they must be accountable for it.”

The Customs agents, in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, had called for a probe into issues that led to the breakdown of the scanners.

The letter dated February 13, 2017 stated: “The present state of the scanning equipment at the ports is a total neglect from the government agency who supervised the transfer.

There is the accommodation of six months maintenance, labour and spare parts after handover, which should have transferred almost a new equipment to the government going by the provision of Article 4.2 and 4.3, that requires any faulty parts to be replaced in line with the agreement.”

The agents therefore called on government to setup a committee to reassess, the trade facilitating tool (Scanner, VSAT and IT platform) by auditing the scanners, which were supplied by the service providers under the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement with the Federal Government, to be maintained and put back into operation.

“We hereby request for expert auditing of the scanners in the port with some selected members of the Reconstituted Presidential Task force, who understand the reform process to evaluate the state of the scanners for it to be put back in operation,” the letter stated.

The acquisition of the scanner was contracted under the Destination Inspection Scheme between the Federal Government and some service providers. They include Inspection Limited, Societe General de Surveillance (SGS) and Global ScanSystems Limited, on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis, for a period of seven years from the January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2012, which was extended by one year by the government.

The agreement also included the provision, installation, operation and management of x-ray scanning equipment and software for the examination of goods, as contained in Articles 4 to 4:3. This provides for ownership of the equipment during the duration of the contract and the transfer to government, with most of the fixed scanners commissioned from 2010 to 2012.

Cotecna’s included two of 9.0MeV Dual View fixed scanners for Apapa and Tincan ports; Global Scan 9.0 Mev Fixed Scanner at Seme Border, and SGS No.9.0MeV Scanner approved for Onne Ports.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2llGsZ0

Kidnapping: IGP to install tracking machines in Lagos, Rivers (Read full details)

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Ibrahim Idris

As part of efforts to contain the spate of kidnapping across the country, the Police high command has concluded plans to establish tracking units in Lagos and Rivers State.

This was disclosed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday evening during an interaction with newsmen and human rights groups in Lagos.

Already, tracking machines have been deployed to both states and would start functioning in a few weeks time, so as to reduce pressure on those in Abuja and enhance the Police anti-kidnapping drive.

According to Idris, the tracking machine has made it possible for the Police to resolve about 90 per cent of kidnap cases, with victims rescued and suspects arrested.

While the machine in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, would cater for the South-South and Southeast, that deployed to Lagos would focus on the Southwest.

The Police chief also disclosed that plans were underway to reinvigorate the Force forensic laboratories, but noted that lack of funds was hindering its implementation. 

Idris urged Nigerians to assist the Police in tackling armed crimes, reiterating that the fight against kidnappers was a community fight and not what the Police alone can handle.

He said: “Very soon, we are going to have national security summit to address these issues and others, like the herdsmen and farmers issues, which are further dividing us as a nation.”

Idris stressed the need for the media and civil society to be advocates of improved funding of the Police through the Police Trust Fund.

He said: “The funding of the Police is costly. What we are trying to do is pursue 50 per cent of our budgetary requirement from other sources.

“We are also looking for other avenues where we can address the problem of the Police.”He stated that of the N300 billion allocated to the Police in last year’s budget, only N4billion was eventually released.

He also disclosed plans to professionalise the Police by establishing specialised schools, such as Finance, Marine, among others for training.

He urged civil society organisations to support the police in training its personnel on professional conducts.Asked why the Police still use analogue method to take statements, Idris said it was a function of the law, adding that the country’s Evidence Act stipulates that the prosecution must present hard evidence and written statements.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2l472W6

With saving dreams, home boy, Nosa Obaseki, steps up big in Canada

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Nosa Obaseki

Last week on the big screen at Ozone Cinema in Yaba, Lagos, Nigerian-born, Canadian-based actor, Nosa Obaseki, was busy caressing and kissing Brenda, a good singer, who couldn’t showcase her talent, because a man she thought she loved and called her husband was abusing her.

Brenda’s ambition was to become a recorded artiste, but that ambition was almost truncated until Nosa shows up in her life.

But hey, that was not in real life; that encounter was in the fictional world of Isioro Tokunbo Jaboro’s movie, Saving Dreams, which is still showing in major cinemas across the country.

Starring mostly Canadian-based actors, Nosa Obaseki, the only Nigerian actor in the engaging drama, played Bayo, a Nigerian immigrant, who relocated to Canada to pursue his career as a music producer.

Somewhere in the movie, fate twins him with Brenda, a talented artiste, who is being abused by her super-rich husband and philanthropist.

Brenda is also forced to stop singing.

Something led to another and Bayo saves the day and she lives her dream from there.

A well helmed story filled with a lot of life lessons, Nosa’s performance and that of the lead actor and actress is the reason the movie that was completely shot in Canada would be hailed in the acting department.

Nosa, who has featured in a couple of Nollywood films, including Prisoner of Passion, Love, Adam and Eve, Missing Angel 2 and Sleep Walker, showed stuff and proved that he was a good choice for the leading role that he played.

But Nosa, who belongs to the muse-peaked Obaseki’s bloodline, is not new to screen acting. Though based now in Canada, Nosa, younger brother of two notable players in the Nollywood industry, one of them the content entrepreneur, director, producer, writer, administrator and politician, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, and the other, the creative designer and president of the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN) Iyen Agbonifo, started his professional acting career in 1998.

In fact, he revealed that his talent, as an actor, started manifesting when he was child playing in his Benin, Edo State neigbourhood.

“Those days, we would gather our mates together and we will be reenacting scenes from plays we had seen or from play texts that we read in school.

“I was also lucky to have an elder brother, Don Pedro, who is a theatre don. So, he was a great influence,” he said.

Nosa recalled that his first real test, as an actor, came when he was cast to feature in a stage play written by his elder brother, titled Azagidi, in 1998.

He said he must have convinced Don Pedro with his performance in Azigidi that he has a future in acting, which was why he (Don Pedro) ensured that he featured in his subsequent stage and screen productions.

Recounting his journey to this point, Nosa said: “After we did Azagidi, he got me involved in other stage and screen projects, like Idia, another of his stage plays, and then the box office hit, Igodo, as a Production Assistant (PA).

“After Igodo, I worked on other screen productions and I had the rare privilege of being trained, groomed and given an opportunity to express myself by notable directors, such as Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun, Kabat Esosa Egbon and many others.

“I worked on several sets and attended the Lagos State University (LASU) before I relocated to Canada.”

While abroad, Nosa yearned to keep the dream alive. He got a few call ups to feature in movies in the United Kingdom (UK), but none came from his new base in Canada until a chance meeting with the film producer and director, Isioro Jaboro, at the popular ‘Suya Spot’ in Toronto, Canada.

“We met at ‘Suya Spot’ and right there, he knew he had found the actor for the role of Bayo.

“He told me straight away that from our interaction, he could tell that I will fit snuggly into one of the characters in his movie. He invited me for casting proper and I got the role.

“I must confess that I found awesome, the experience of working with Jaboro. He is very professional. There is so much I learnt working with him on this project,” he said.

Asked to name his most memorable screen credit yet, Nosa, who pointed tat Don Pedro, Richard Mofe-Damijo and Imaseun as his mentors, picked Saving Dreams.

“I will pick it, because it is my first time acting in Canada. Though I have acted in UK before, but this was different.

“The fact that I was also working outside Nigeria with beautiful and brilliant Canadian actors makes it memorable for me.”

Described as a fun and loving person, his close friends agree that there is indeed no dull moment with Nosa, saying he takes delight in making people laugh and happy.

“Some of my friends have been encouraging me to go into stand up comedy, because they think cracking jokes comes naturally to me.

“But I have not allowed them to force me into it, because I know that comedy is not my thing. I do it only for fun and we generally enjoy sharing jokes in the family, because it makes us laugh and when you laugh, you are happy and stress gives way,” he said.

Tall, dark and well built, Nosa, who advised young people interested taking in acting as a career to stay focused and always believe they can do it, revealed that other than maintaining a moderate exercise, routine and a simple lifestyle, he doesn’t do much to look fit and good.

“I don’t have any special food I eat. I just make sure I eat good food and I try not to skip my exercise routine, so as to keep fit and look good.

“It is difficult to find any Obaseki that is not fit, because we are into one form of sporting activity or the other.

“I play football and my other brothers play football too,” he added.

Nosa’s career ambition is to get to the top of his acting career. The actor, who was lavish with thanks to notable practitioners, such as Charles Novia, Ikechukwu Onyeka, Patience Oghre, Kabat Esosa Egbon, Reginald Ebere, Paul Igwe and Amen Imasuen for believing in his talent, also plans to produce and call the shots as a director in the near future.

He stated: “I am totally committed to entertainment. It is in the blood and it is in the family. The only other thing I have done outside entertainment is law enforcement.

“I even have a Diploma in Police Foundation, which is tucked somewhere in my room abroad, because of my love for entertainment.

“So, I intend to do this as long as I breathe and with God on my side, I will get to the very top,” Nosa noted.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2jJ2gyk

EFCC re-arraigns Atewe, Akpobolokemi over N8.5b alleged fraud

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EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe and three others before a Federal High Court, Lagos over N8.5 billion alleged fraud.

Atewe is charged alongside the former director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, and two other staff, Kime Engonzu and Josephine Otuaga.

The accused are standing trial on an amended 22-count charge bordering on the offence.

Their re-arraignment was sequel to the transfer of the former trial Judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, from Lagos to the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court.

The accused were, therefore, re-arraigned before a new Judge, Justice A.O. Faji, and their pleas taken afresh.

After their re-arraignment, defence counsel had prayed the court to allow the accused to continue on the earlier bail granted by the previous Judge.

Based on the applications of defence counsel, the Judge allowed them to continue on the earlier bail granted.

On the agreement of counsel, the court fixed February 13 and 17 for commencement of trial.

At the last adjourned date, the EFCC had examined a prosecution witness, Adamu Yusuf, who told the court how the accused converted about N4.9 billion into United States (US) dollars.

Yusuf had told the court that the accused used different companies and accounts to launder billions of naira from the account of the Joint Task Force Operation.

The witness further testified that during investigation, letters of request were sent to GT Bank, Heritage Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC bank and First City Monument Bank (FCMB), demanding for account statements of beneficiaries of that account.

In the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5 billion, using six companies- Jagan Ltd; Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.

The EFCC claimed that the accused committed the alleged fraud between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, as well as Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C. 38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2k5I3PC