₦airaland Forum

WHAT IS BOWEL CANCER?
Also known as colorectal cancer, the disease affects the large bowel and back passage or rectum. It tends to grow slowly, often over a period of up to ten years before it starts to spread to other parts of the body.

It's the 4th most common cancer in the UK - but the 2nd most deadly. It is very treatable if caught and diagnosed in the earliest stages. Around 41,200 people are diagnosed with the disease every year - more than 90% of those are in people aged 50 or over. But young people are not immune, with 2,500 new cases in people under 50 every year.

Red-flag #1: Bleeding
There are several possible causes of bleeding from the bum, of blood in the poo. Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in the back passage. Dark red or black blood could come from the bowel or stomach. Blood in stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it's important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.

Red-flag #2: Toilet habits
It's important to tell your doctor if you notice any changes in bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer. It's especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo. You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you're not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.

Red-flag #3: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you've lost weight and don't really know why, it's worth mentioning to your doctor. You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.

Red-flag #4: Feeling tired
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body - anaemia. If you develop anaemia you're likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.

Red-flag #5: Pain or lump
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer. It's most likely you'll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage. See your Doctor if it doesn't go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep. Don't let embarrassment kill you

Other signs of bowel cancer include:
-- gripping pains in the abdomen
-- feeling bloated
-- constipation and being unable to pass wind
-- being sick
-- feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo.

If you spot any of these signs, or generally feel something is up, don't delay. Go and see your doctor.

ARTICLE SOURCE (abridged): https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/8946630/deborah-james-bowel-cancer-symptoms/

PHOTO SOURCES:
(1). https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/1128235/thousands-of-people-are-dying-of-bowel-cancer-because-theyre-ignoring-tell-tale-signs-of-the-killer-disease-say-doctors/#

(2). https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/media/k2/items/cache/3a87681a8365cb10ceb54d7831ccad1f_XL.jpg?t=1481525510

Billionaires inspire us to be great just as they are. However, they didn’t achieve success by mere luck. Instead, they got there by developing good habits which are powerful tools that can be used to reach certain goals in areas like health, fitness, money, relationships etc.

Inculcating the habits below will not guarantee you become a billionaire; however it will help you become more productive and successful in your life endeavours.

Below are some billionaire habits we can all develop:

1. THEY WAKE UP EARLY AND EXERCISE
Nigerian billionaires make the best use of time by waking up early, thereby creating time for other priorities. Exercising is also part of their morning routine because that is when testosterone levels are high. It has other benefits such as strengthening the heart and playing a major role in increased energy, positivity, and stress management.

Research shows that exercising early in the morning will help boost memory, concentration and mental sharpness – which are traits that can have a big influence on career and success. Femi Otedola, in an interview with one of the national newspapers, said he wakes up around 6:30am every morning and heads to the gym for 1 hour. Aliko Dangote wakes up before 5:30am and goes on a 10 kilometer run.

2. THEY NETWORK/POLITICK/FOLLOW UP
Nigerian billionaires know how to network. This gives them opportunities to have exclusive rights to many things that are not offered to ordinary individuals; Speaking engagements, trips, best of meals, private and public events, and most importantly the ability to push their ideas forward by meeting the right people.

The truth is they are also good at politicking because they know that political leaders make policies that will affect their businesses. So, they get involved. A brief look at some billionaires perspectives on networking:

Jim Ovia: Place more value in who you know than what you have. The entrepreneur sees a potential ally in everyone. Establish your network 1 person at a time by being reliable and patient. Pave the way instead of burning bridges.

Tony Elumelu on his advice to youths on what worked for him said “Never take others for granted. Nurture your relationships. In the same way, as you start out in your career, build your relationships, seek to learn, don’t be afraid to understudy the experts, reach out to potential mentors and learn from them.”

3. THEY ARE LEARNERS
Nigerian billionaires read a lot. They just don’t read for entertainment, they study trends, concepts and apply what they have learnt to become successful.

To show how much of a reader he is, Tony Elumelu, on World Book Day, recommended 5 books that have had a huge impact on his life. They include:
-- Outliers by Malcom Gladwell,
-- The Creation of Wealth: The Tatas from 19th to 21st Century by R.M. Lala,
-- Think Big by Ben Carson,
-- Kane & Abel by Jeffrey Archer, and
-- Shall We Tell The President by Jeffrey Archer

What they watch also matters. Aliko Dangote spends his time watching a lot of business channels such as Bloomberg TV. Doing this gives him insightful information into global business.

4. THEY DIVERSIFY
Nigerian billionaires are experts at diversifying major things in their life. They diversify their sources of income/products, they diversify the countries they invest in, and they diversify the people they surround themselves with.
-- Mike Adenuga has investments in Oil, Telecoms, Real Estate, and Banking sectors.
-- Femi Otedola has investments in Oil, Shipping, Real Estate, amongst other sectors.

5. THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH SMART PEOPLE
There is a saying “you are the average of the 5 people you spend most of your time with”. Nigerian billionaires surround themselves with the smartest people ranging from strategists, advisers, accountants, and fellow billionaires who they continually brainstorm with on ideas to keep expanding their frontiers.

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2019/04/26/habits-of-nigerias-business-billionaires/

The Federal Government has declared that foreign professionals will no longer be engaged in the execution of projects involving national security. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, made the announcement in Abuja yesterday, when he declared open the 2019 Architects Colloquium organised by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

Fashola who was represented by the Head of Power Public Private Partnership, Ministry of Power, Mrs Eucharia Alozie, said that government was now placing premium on the use of indigenous professionals and firms to execute projects where national security is at stake. He said foreign experts will only be engaged when their Nigerian counterparts are not available, adding even at that, Nigerian professionals will be assigned to understudy them.

Fashola who decried the spate of collapsed buildings in the country as national embarrassment, tasked architects to lead the debate and give guidance to government at all levels for the best way forward for the housing and built industry.

He tasked ARCON to tutor its members to design houses in line with the cultural and religious sentiments of Nigerians and reflect the changing contemporary social and technical climates in the designs. The minister also disclosed that government is earnestly awaiting the implementation of ARCON concept to tag projects with registration numbers while also calling on town planning authority to insist on the seal of a licensed architect before approving any project drawing.

SOURCE: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/04/26/fg-bans-foreigners-from-designing-security-projects/?amp

A Federal High Court sitting in Awka Division, Anambra State has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Azubuike Jerry, Ikechukwu Patrick, Cosmas Onwuka and Igboanusi Jerry, for production of substandard Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinders.

In the matter between the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the suspects, the organisation stated that sometime in 2018, its officers carried out a standards enforcement activity at the premises of the United Welders Association 58, Bida Road Onitsha, Anambra State where approximately 1,700 suspected substandard LPG cylinders were detained. Lead Counsel for the prosecution, Moor Kuma stated that SON subjected the said cylinders to testing and they failed critical parameters including Proof Pressure Test, Burst Pressure Test, Leakage and volumetric expansion tests, following which charge No: FHC/ Awk/C/84/18 was filed at the Federal High Court against the Defendants.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on 15th April 2019, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice B.O Quadri dismissed the notice of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court, filed by the defendants through their Counsel George I. Egbere from the law firm of O.J. Nnadi SAN & Co. for want of diligent prosecution. The Prosecution then applied to the court for the issuance of a bench warrant to officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria, Security and Civil Defence Corps for the arrest of the Defendants for the purpose of bringing them before the court.

The Court accordingly granted the application and issued the said warrant of arrest.

Some of the charges against the accused persons include:1 “That you, Mr. Azubuike Jerry ’M’, Mr. Ikechukwu Patrick “M”, Mr. Cosmas Onwuka “M” (still at large) and Mr. Igboanusi Jerry “M” (still at large), all members of United Welders Association Anambra State, along 58, Bida Road Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court on or about 27th, June, 2018, did expose for sale or uses LPG gas cylinders of various sizes (3kg, 5kg, 6kg & 10kg) to the public which did not comply with the Nigerian Industrial Standard NIS 69:2013 (specification for refillable Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinders) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 26 (2) (i) of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, 2015”.

2 “That you Mr. Azubuike Jerry ’M’, Mr. Ikechukwu Patrick “M” and Mr. Cosmas Onwuka “M” (still at large) and Mr. Igboanusi Jerry “M” (still at large), all members of United Welders Association Anambra State, along 58, Bida Road Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on or about 27th, June, 2018, engaged in the manufacturing/fabrication of LPG Cylinders of various sizes (3kg, 5kg, 6kg & 10kg), to the public which did not comply with the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 69:2013), (specification for refillable Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinders) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 26 (2) (i) of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, 2015.”

The matter was subsequently adjourned to May 13, 2019, for the arraignment of the accused persons.

SOURCE:
https://brandspurng.com/2019/04/23/substandard-lpg-cylinders-court-issues-bench-warrant-on-4-suspects-in-anambra/

It is another new trading week and investors are getting ready to pick stocks to buy, sell or hold. This is where Analysts at Meristem Research come handy, as they give insight into which equities to pick and expect yields in the short-term.

Five main stocks have been pencilled down for consideration, while others have also made their watch list.
1. Dangote Cement at its present price of N189 could sell later at N232.11k per unit, giving a yield of 22.81%.
2. FCMB sells at N1.90k at the moment and could return 19.47% after hitting N2.27k per share.
3. Fidelity Bank shares could give 19.59% gain, selling later at N2.32k against present value of N1.94k.
4. Mobil Oil Nigeria is anticipated to hit N199.38k per unit from N175 it sells now, yielding 13.93%.
5. Zenith Bank sells at N20.90k at the moment and could return 32.92% to sell at N27.78k.

The other stocks recommended by Meristem Research for this week are presented below for your perusal (due diligence is advised, of course).

SOURCE (abridged): https://businesspost.ng/2019/04/23/you-may-consider-buying-these-stocks-this-week/

Sprinter Divine Oduduru, last weekend gave Nigerian athletics hope by running 9.95seconds, a world leading performance at the Michael Johnson invitational meet in Waco Texas, USA. It was the first time a Nigerian sprinter is breaking the 10.00 seconds barrier since 2006, when Olusoji Fasuba broke the African record with a 9.85 seconds run in Doha, Qatar.

Before going under 10.00seconds, Oduduru ran 19.76 seconds in the 200m to erase (subject to ratification) the 19.84 seconds national record held by Francis Obikwelu since 1999. Oduduru’s 19.76 is the third fastest African time in the 200m. Frankie Fredericks has the fastest 19.68 seconds, which is the African record since 1996.

Oduduru who is a student of the Texas University of Technology has established himself as the athlete to beat at the All Africa Games and with a little bit more push by him, he could also be a candidate for the gold at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. At the 2018 African Athletics Championships in Asaba, Delta State, Oduduru was eclipsed by the likes of Akani Simbine who posted 10.25 seconds, Arthur Cise of Cote d’ Ivoire 10.33 and Simone Magakwe of South Africa with 10.35. In the 200m Oduduru took the silver with 20.60 seconds, while South Africa’s Ncincihli Titi topped with 20.46seconds.

“I’m not surprised by Oduduru’s rise. He has always had the potentials since his junior days,” said former sprinter Deji Aliu.

“I knew that it wouldn’t be long before he breaks 10.00 seconds. He can do better than he is doing now if the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and indeed the sports ministry come to his support. “This is because he is in school and they can load him with competitions since they have him under scholarship. And at the end of the day wouldn’t have the energy to deliver when it matters most.”

SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/how-divine-oduduru-broke-nigerias-sprint-jinx/

The smartphone is one device that has helped improved daily productivity, communication and even entertainment for modern man. As close as people may get attached to their smartphones, proper maintenance is a topic many pay little attention, or totally ignore.

Without intending to, there are some common habits that seem harmless, but may inadvertently damage your phone:

1. IGNORING SOFTWARE AND APPLICATION UPDATES
Software and apps updates are introduced to fix loopholes and boost your smartphone’s efficiency. Your smartphone may get sloppy and slow when you delay an update for so long. More importantly, cybercriminals are usually on the lookout for devices with loopholes, in order to gain easy access to such devices and defraud owners.

So next time you see that notification to upgrade your smartphone, take your time and data to do it immediately.

2. USING CHEAP AND INCOMPATIBLE CHARGERS
Most smartphones come with a compatible charger, but where such charger gets damaged or missing for whatever reason, it is best to replace with another charger of same quality. A cheap charger may be pocket-friendly, but at the expense of your smartphone’s battery. Using a charger with a specification not compatible with your phone may ruin also your charging port.

3. DOWNLOADING APPS FROM SUSPICIOUS SOURCES
Free access to some applications may not be truly free until you confirm the safety of their source. The easiest way to expose your device to malware is by downloading apps from unverified platforms. So it is in your best interest to avoid downloading apps from third-party stores or suspicious websites, even if they show the icon and name of an app you think you can trust.

4. ALLOWING YOUR PHONE TO OVERHEAT
Strong sunlight, prolonged charging and multitasking on your device might make it overheat. But repeatedly pushing your phone to that point will likely do more harm than good to your phone. Shielding your phone from the sun, turning it off if you have to leave it in a hot car, and otherwise keeping your device at a comfortable temperature are good ideas for preventing accidental damage.

5. PROLONGED CHARGING
Leaving your phone plugged in overnight is one habit that might eventually affect your phone’s lifespan. Once your battery reaches its charging limit, prolonged charging will make your phone generate excessive heat and further strain your phone’s battery.

6. EXHAUSTING PHONE STORAGE
Although many smartphones are characterized with a large storage space, they still have their limit. Once the storage limit is exhausted, your smartphone may start malfunctioning and slow down your productivity. Investing in an external storage device may be wise, and cloud storage will provide a responsive access to your files without overloading your device.

SOURCE: https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/six-common-habits-that-may-damage-your-smartphone/

A person might learn a new language for the purpose of business, travel, job, and family or personal decisions. Ideally, people learning a new language want to do so as fast as possible but learning a new language can be challenging. In addition to learning new words, an individual will also need to learn how to apply these words into grammatically correct sentences.

Language learning institutions and language tutors swear by their credibility to teach the mastery of a new language to a student in a short period of time. In certain cases, these claims may not be true. This is because the key ingredient in learning a new language is missing: which involves more commitment from the speaker than the teacher or tutor.

Despite the initial challenge, it is very possible to learn a new language as fast as possible with the following three steps:

1. SET A LANGUAGE LEVEL GOAL
In most languages, the three basic levels include beginner, intermediary and advanced. By setting a goal, a person is able to predict a timeline for studying the language and when they hope to begin interacting in that language. also, goal setting helps to measure and track progress made.

2. USE TOOLS
With the help of tech, it is very possible to learn a language without a human tutor. Downloading applications like FleuntU, and Duolingo, gives user access to an unlimited supply of language grammar, phonetic, oral and written lessons. Also, platforms like YouTube provide content creators whose main focus is language tutoring.

In the absence or dissatisfaction of the use of these tech tools, one might opt for language learning and cultural institutions like Goethe and Alliance Française.

3. RESIDE IN A COMMUNITY SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE
The fastest way to learn a new language is to constantly practise with speakers of that language. But sometimes practising isn’t quite enough. Residing in a community where the language you’re learning is spoken, does two important things: it leaves the learner with little choice but to interact in the language and pushes the learner to immerse the culture of the language they’re learning.

SOURCE: https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/learn-new-language-fast-easy-steps/

Nigeria: 2018 Full Year Banking Sector Performance and 2019 Outlook by Coronation Merchant Bank

SOURCE: Brand Spur

How Nigeria’s ColdHubs is solar-refrigerating farms to profitability

Nigerian startup ColdHubs is helping farmers and market vendors become more profitable by eliminating food waste via 100 per cent solar-powered walk-in cold rooms. Founded July 2015 by young farmer and social entrepreneur Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, ColdHubs is producing cold rooms and selling them to smallholder farmers, retailers and wholesalers to store and preserve fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods, extending their shelf life from two days to 21.

The startup had a good 2018, winning funding from the MIT Solve initiative and the Microsoft Airband Grant Fund, yet its concept is relatively simple. Its “ColdHubs” are made of 120mm thick insulating cold room panels to retain cold, with energy provided by solar panels mounted on the roof. The energy efficient monoblock refrigeration unit is connected to an inverter that enables solar-powered batteries to supply energy for night cooling. Each ColdHub can fit approximately three tonnes of perishable food, arranged in at least 150 units of 20kg plastic crates stacked on the floor.

“Each ColdHub is guaranteed to provide autonomous refrigeration 24 hours a day without grid connection. The cooling temperature is adjustable from five to 15 degrees celsius, and the cold room’s unique safety door efficiently keeps cold air inside,” Ikegwuonu told Disrupt Africa. Prior to ColdHubs, farms and markets lacked cold storage solutions, meaning sellable food was often wasted. The solution has been eagerly accepted by farmers and merchants, with the five ColdHubs currently in use having reached 100% capacity utilisation by August of last year.

ColdHubs operates a simple pay-as-you-store model, with farmers and retailers paying NGN100 (US$0.50) to store one crate for one day. Each hub is operated by a manager, who monitors the loading and unloading of crates, collects the fees, and builds relationships in farm clusters and markets.

The startup has been funded by a combination of equity and debt investments, and grant funding.

SOURCE: http://disrupt-africa.com/2018/10/how-nigerias-coldhubs-is-solar-refrigerating-farms-to-profitability/

The AS Roma Italian Football Club has banned its players from taking pictures with Canadian rapper, Drake following the controversy of the ‘Drake Curse’ trailing the singer.

The rapper is reported to have posed with players from 5 different clubs, after which they went ahead to lose their next football game.

The last victim was French club Paris Saint-Germain, whose defender Layvin Kurzawa’s selfie with the Canadian rapper Drake emerged on social media before the game and they went ahead to play Lille in a game they lost disgracefully.

SOURCE: https://www.gist mania.com/talk/topic,384997.0.html

Borno state has completed its PVC pipe factory. With the capacity to meet up the demand of the entire North East, stop purchases from Lagos, and still export enough to Chad. Engineer Ibrahim Ali, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and Coordinator of Borno State’s industrialization program, says the PVC pipe factory which will begin to roll out within the week has the capacity to produce Chad’s one year demand in just one month.

The PVC pipe factory will produce all types of pipes such as conduit, water hose and 64 variants of pipes, making it the most comprehensive ever in Nigeria. According to the former minister, “This investment is coming after extensive and elaborate research into the profitability of PVC pipes and how they are critical in making life less costly and less complicated. Nigeria is a nation that is making a head way in its diversification program and this places emphasis on giving attention to agriculture in order to lessen our dependence on oil."

He noted that although there are a number of PVC pipe factories in Nigeria, the one in Borno is the most comprehensive in the country because it is the only one operating six lines of production. “All the 6 lines have been fine-tuned. The factory is 100% reliant on petrochemical elements and it may interest you to know that we currently procure all out raw materials from neighboring Chad because even though we have four refineries in Nigeria, none is working at a capacity to supply us. The Kaduna Refinery alone would have been sufficient for all of our needs but because of the lack of production, we are left with no alternative than to source from Chad which is close to us.” said Engineer Ali.

He reiterated further, “We left nothing to chance. We cannot fix a factory as big and as ambitious as this without doing the necessary research from all perspectives. In fact, we will have about the best quality PVC products in the Nigerian market. We have the latest equipment, high quality mix material, the best hands, manpower, the market, commitment and the enabling environment to succeed. Another contributory factor is Governor Kashim Shettima’s sheer courage, political will, his vision and foresight to perceive a good business and his commitment as soon as his conviction is made up. Just take the casing and the pipes for boreholes that we are going to produce, the technology we deploy is such that will produce pipes for all types of boreholes to stand any pressure.”

Within the PVC factory, there will also be a production of very high quality elementary school chairs, tables and desks among others, which are still petrochemical by-products that are used to produce pipes.

“The Borno State government and indeed many state governments in Nigeria have prioritized education. In Borno, it is even more paramount in view of the mindless destruction of schools by the Boko Haram insurgency. You are aware that as a result of this, thousands of pupils are out of school and have been roaming the different IDP camps and other temporary places of abode. With a massive turn around in the education sector and provision of infrastructure by the Kashim Shettima administration, it behoves us to also provide quality complements and furniture to take care of the massive take-in of displaced and new pupils. Our target to secure patronage from other schools across the country and even beyond is hinged on the superior quality of our products. It is also important to look at the employment this has created for our graduates, skilled and even unskilled young men and women.”

“I would like to add that the over a dozen of industries that have been established by the Kashim Shettima administration, all of which have either been completed or are very close to completion have provided a platform for our emerging high tech and egg head engineers and other scientists to sharpen their skills and improve access to credible platforms to either work or carry out research to influence our future growth and prosperity” says the former Minister of State.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/04/14/bornos-pvc-pipe-factory-set-to-commence-take-off-pictures/

At a ceremony in Kano on Thursday, April 11, 2019, private sector investors – Popular Farms & Mills Nigeria Ltd commissioned a strategic multi-billion Naira Rice Mill expansion of 140,000 MTs per year milling capacity, as well as laid the foundation for 44,000 MTs per year Sesame Processing Plant at its Challawa Unit.

Speaking at the ceremony, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, represented by FMARD State Director, Kano State – Mallam Mohammed Adamu Muneer commended the investors for their ingenuity and contributions not only to the Agricultural sector in Nigeria but also for the efforts and commitment to reducing unemployment and empower farmers.

He pledged the Ministry’s commitment to continue to support the initiative: “What we saw today is in line with the Federal Government’s policy of self-sufficiency in Rice production.” On the challenge posed by rice smuggling, he assured that “government at all levels are working on several options, including diplomacy, towards curbing the menace”.

Other dignitaries represented at the event included the Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, represented by Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim Madakin; the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele was represented by a director, Mr Hassan Tom; Kebbi State Governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Ministry of Agriculture. Also in attendance was Ambassador Mrs Kupoluyi among other dignitaries. Representatives of Rice Cooperatives and Supply Chain partners I the Agricultural sector also witnessed the event.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/2019/04/15/agribusiness-investment-popular-farms-mills-nigeria-expands-operations-in-kano-pictures/

Jumia Technologies AG, founded in Lagos, Nigeria, by two ex-Mckinsey French entrepreneurs in 2012 with MTN, Africa’s biggest telecoms company, as its largest shareholder is now formally listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); a move that could pave the way for other tech start-ups from the continent.

Shares in what has been called “Africa’s Amazon” started trading today. Jumia was set to list up to 18% of its shares in an initial public offer (IPO), giving it “unicorn” status – a technology start-up worth $1bn-plus. Jumia set a share price range between $13 and $16 with its updated S1 filing showing the company will offer 13.5 million shares for purchase. Following a roadshow to gauge investor interest, Jumia’s share could raise as much as $216 million if it goes on sale at the highest point of the range.

According to Bloomberg, Jumia Surges on New York Debut, Valuing Company at $1.5 Billion : “The stock traded 34 percent higher at $19.22 as of 10.43 a.m. local time on Friday, valuing the company at about $1.5 billion and putting it in so-called unicorn territory. Jumia earlier sold 13.5 million American Depositary Receipts at $14.50 each, in the middle of a marketing range, raising about $196 million.

The listing caps seven years of growth for Jumia, which was founded by French entrepreneurs Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara in 2012 and now has more than 4 million customers in 14 African countries. While the retail platform isn’t profitable, sales jumped by almost 40 percent last year to 130.6 million euros ($147.3 million).”

SOURCE: https://www.proshareng.com/news/TECH%20INVESTORS%20&%20FINANCING%20VC/Jumia-Becomes-First-African-Start-up-To-List-On-NYSE--Raises-$200m-On-Day-1--Now-Valued-At-$1.5bn/44900

Solomon Ogbonna, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State chapter has said the reason he mobilised people of the Southeast region residing in Lagos to vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in last month’s governorship election in the state was to liberate them from opposition politics.

According to him, the solution to the challenges the Igbos are facing in Lagos lay with joining the politics of the ruling party in the state as against playing the opposition role. He stated this on Saturday in an interview with Daily Independent newspaper.

Ogbonna said, “When you look at what is playing out in the country politically, you will agree with me that there was need to guide our people. It is because of the Igbo people and what they stand to gain that motivated us into taking the decision. No money exchanged hands. We wouldn’t have done so because there was no need for that. We wanted our people to enjoy their stay in Lagos. So, we wouldn’t cheapen ourselves by collecting money.

“The people intimidating Ndigbo in Lagos are not those in government or influential people, but those who do not have any stake in Lagos. I live in Lagos and I know the challenges that Ndigbo have in Lagos. Jimi Agbaje has been my good friend. I have known him before I met Sanwo-Olu. In 2015 when he vied for the same position, I supported him. I travelled overseas to buy materials for his campaign. I attended rallies with him, campaigned with him.

“This time, we decided to move beyond the party and focus on individuals. We have been in opposition for years and we have not fared better. If the party decides not to recognise us after all the support, I would just say it is one of those things.

“I will also tell you that when I met Sanwo-Olu, I saw some leadership qualities in him which I admired. He strikes me as a Christian who has conscience. He has been coordinating youth activities in Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM) for many years.”

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2019/04/13/apc-vs-pdp-real-reason-igbos-voted-sanwo-olu-lagos-ohanaeze/

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday cautioned its officers against chasing erring motorists no matter the traffic offence committed. FRSC Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. He was reacting to media reports of an accident on Friday in Ibadan following a chase by FRSC officers.

Kazeem told NAN that the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, frowned at the incident. “The Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, condemned the act as it is our rule that officers should not chase any erring motorist. Rather the vehicle number should be taken and the offender will in no time be arrested through our drivers’ licence portal.

“As a paramilitary agency investigation must be carried out and if the officers are found guilty, they will be dealt with accordingly,” Kazeem said.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2019/04/14/frsc-issues-warning-officers-fatal-car-chase-ibadan/

A cabbie and some of his passengers lost their lives in an accident that occurred while the car was being chased on Friday morning 12th April 2019, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident occurred around Moniya. Eyewitnesses were said to have cornered and flogged the officials before they were rescued by security operatives.

SOURCE: https://www.gist mania.com/talk/topic,384635.0.html

A director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Victor Igboanugo, has been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for purchasing a property worth $140,000 in the USA and taking kickbacks worth millions of naira. During his arraignment before Justice V. B. Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, Igboanugo was accused of using his office and position to also commit fraud worth N162m.

The ICPC told the court that the accused, while acting as the Deputy Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, bought the property in the US, whose cost was above his legitimate income.

The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said, “The accused is being arraigned for alleged contract fraud to the tune of N162m and ownership of a property valued way above his legitimate income. Mr Igboanugo, who had worked at various times in the ministries of Environment and Niger Delta Affairs, is facing 17 counts before Justice Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 23, Apo, Abuja.”

The commission also accused Igboanugo of abuse of office and conferring undue advantage upon himself, saying the alleged crimes contravened sections 10, 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and were punishable under the same sections. Counsel for the ICPC, Henry Emore, told the court that Igboanugo, while being the Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board at the Ministry of Environment, facilitated the award of multiple contracts to private companies where he held personal interests.

“He was further accused of receiving N20m kickback through one of his companies, Phinavic Ventures Limited, from the Chief Executive Officer of Lufem Engineering Limited, Mr Asiwaju Adekanbi, after the award of a contract for the construction of a skills acquisition centre.

The charges read in part, “That you, Victor Igboanugo, sometime in October 2008 or thereabout in Abuja, the FCT, while being a public officer, used your position as Deputy Director and Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board of the Federal Ministry of Environment to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by awarding a contract for the construction of a three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow at the Prototype Housing Scheme, Asaba, Delta State, to your company, Echedom Technical & Trading Company Limited for a contract sum of N10.5m, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

SOURCE: https://www.gist mania.com/talk/topic,384579.0.html

A brown bear is serving a life sentence in prison alongside 730 dangerous offenders. Ekaterina – or Katya – was sent down in Kazakhstan for two separate attacks on people at a campsite where she was previously caged.

The Kostanay “strict regime” penal colony holds criminals, including killers, whose sentences do not exceed 25 years. But Ekaterina, jailed in 2004, is the only inmate serving a life sentence – and the only prisoner to have a swimming pool in her cell.
Ekaterina in her cell. She was sent to Kostanay aged seven because there was no zoo in the region that could take her.

Colony head Aslan Medybayev said: “She is friendly, not aggressive at all. Other prisoners visit her. She woke up a month ago from her hibernation.” The 22-year-old bear, who is looked after by prisoners, has become the prison’s symbol and a statue has been erected in her honour.

One prisoner Igor Tarakanov, 43, said: “She is calm, not aggressive. She adores sweet things that prisoners give her - sweets, biscuits, apples. He added: “Of course, communicating with an animal brightens my time here, makes it not so painful.”

Mr Medybayev said that Ekaterina had become less threatening as a result of her time at the jail, 435 miles north-west of Kazakhstan’s capital Nursultan, near the country’s border with Russia.

Ekaterina was caged at Belaya Yurta campsite after she was abandoned by a circus trainer as a cub. She mauled a boy who was feeding her and attacked a drunk who tried to shake hands.

Photos show Ekaterina in her cage, and her statue made by the prisoners.

SOURCE: https://www.mirror.co.uk

Petrolex Oil and Gas’ Chairman Segun Adebutu yesterday revealed plans by his firm to pump about $5 billion into the economy of Nigeria’s Ogun state. Petrolex will be constructing a mega oil city in the state. Adebutu made this disclosure to DAILY INDEPENDENT on the outcome of the2-day Ogun State Investors Forum recently held in Abeokuta, the state capital.

According to Adebutu, the first phase of the mega oil city, a 300 million-litre capacity tank farm was completed. “Many people thought an oil and gas hub in Ogun State was farfetched and impossible,” Adebutu said. On December 12, 2017, I declared that Ogun state is now home to the largest tank farm in Sub-Saharan Africa. But that is just Phase 1 of the project,” he added.

The next phase of the Petrolex Mega Oil City includes a 250,000 bpd refinery, a lube plant, gas bottling plant, and a fertilizer plant. The project will require investments of over $5 billion over the next five years. To date $330 million has been invested.

“This shows that Ogun-state is a front-burner in development, in everything, including oil and gas,” the chairman said.

SOURCE (photos added): Brand Spur

CEO Eat ‘n’ GO Limited Patrick McMichael, operators of Domino Pizza (leading global pizza chain) has disclosed that the company’s investment in Nigeria over the last seven years has climbed to N8 billion. The company, which started operation in Nigeria in 2011 now has over 90 outlets with over 2000 staff. Mcmichael believes its total investment in Nigeria could be more, when other factors such as human capital development and other infrastructure are factored in.

The firm which said it is in constant innovation to consistently delight its customers, recently revamped its extensive menu in Nigeria. Labelled the "Dominos Taste the Extra Menu", the exercise reinforces the company’s commitment to providing the best customer experience through high-quality products and customer service.

“Domino’s pizza has uniquely customized its pizzas to suit the tastebuds of its Nigerian customers with a significant enhancement of all the pizzas, including new flavours at a more value is driven price. The improvements in the new menu have been designed to provide customers with better value by providing Xtra toppings, Xtra flavours and Xtra cheese at reduced menu prices to present customers with a wider selection of quality pizza options that are delicious and affordable,” Marketing Manager, Domino’s Pizza Nigeria, Ilyas Kazeem, stated.

He said: “Our menu revamp is aimed at reaffirming our continuous quest for providing only the best quality pizzas to our customers. We are passionate about delivering hot, fresh, delicious, cheesy& juicy pizzas with loads of toppings to provide happiness in every bite. Also, reducing the prices of our pizzas is a way of ensuring that more people can afford yummy pizzas, and enjoy extra value.

According to Kazeem, the new cheesy pizza flavors are: Smoked BBQ Sausage –A Smokey flavoured sausage pizza with lots of cheese and a drizzle of extra barbeque sauce on top; Chicken Pie Pizza – A first-of-its-kind chicken pie flavored pizza with large helpings of cheese and Southern Style BBQ Chicken, which he claimed is loaded with chicken, cheddar cheese, sweet corn and a drizzle of extra barbeque sauce on top.

Earlier, the CEO of Eat ‘N’ Go Limited, Patrick McMichael, had stated that the Quick Service Restaurant company has continued to position itself as a socially conscious leader in the industry with continuous efforts to prove their commitment to the satisfaction of their customers In Nigeria.

“Domino’s Pizza Nigeria believes every pizza experience should be extraordinary and the team will go the extra mile so that customer can “taste the extra” in every bite. It offers a variety of amazing Pizza flavours, made from fresh dough every day,” he said

SOURCE (with extra photos): Brand Spur

Officers of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) on Sunday seized narcotics worth 12 million Liberian dollars from two Nigerian nationals in Gbarnga. Henry Cheigwu and Christian Onhuwu, who were arrested, are suspected of supplying drugs to citizens in Gbarnga, Alex Tweh, commander of the LDEA in Bong County said.

The drugs recovered by LDEA officers from the suspects include 50.9 grams of valued and 116.7 of heroine. Tweh said the arrests of Cheigwu and Onhuwu came nearly after a month of investigation following a tipoff from someone, who was informed about the gang’s members in Gbarnga by an alleged drugs trafficker arrested three months ago.

“We received a tip off that the two Nigerian nationals have been dealing drugs in Gbarnga, Bong County for the past ten years,” he said. Upon the search of their business center on the Gbarnga main street, LDEA officers found plastic bags. The suspects were interrogated and they confessed that the bags contained drugs known as heroine.

He said Cheigwu and Onhuwu are believed to be the primary dealers in Bong County. The LDEA head in Bong County commended officers for their hard work and swift response to the information supplied that led to the arrests of the suspects. Tweh thanked the community for working with the police by reporting illegal activities. “The criminals destroying the future of our children will be dealt with iron hand,” he said.

SOURCE: https://www.gist mania.com/talk/topic,384263.0.html

An agreement has been reached between parents of students of Morit International School, Ajegunle, Lagos, and the school management to pay their wards' fees with waste plastic bottles. This became possible after the school adopted the RecyclesPay Education Project, an initiative of African Clean Up Initiative (ACI), an environmental non-governmental organisational in Lagos.

The school management embraced the initiative to ease the burden of parents finding it hard to pay their wards' fees. Over 25 parents of the low-income school have reportedly embraced the initiative whereby parents bring plastic wastes on designated days. Wecyclers, the recycling company attached to the project, comes to collect the plastic bottles after getting a substantial amount of the plastic wastes. The amount given to parents are determined after weighing what each of them has brought.

Speaking on the development, Partrick Mbamara, Proprietor of the school, described the effort as a welcome initiative, as it is helping to mitigate the financial burden of many parents. "It is helping to cushion the financial burden of parents in the school. We have a history of parents finding it difficult to pay each term school fees of N7,500," he said. The money from the PET bottles is not much but it balances for what the parents can pay. My staff and I are happy with this initiative. It has improved parents' payment of school fees and it teaches the children how to manage their waste and promote a cleaner environment."

Stressing the significance of the initiative, Alex Akhigbe, Chief Environmental Officer of the ACI, noted that the money realised by each parent might look small but it is of value too. He explained that a kilo of the sorted palstics goes for N20 to N25, adding that little drops of money realised help make up for the balance of the school fees.

"PET bottles in the past were seen as waste but they are not anymore. Parents can raise money from collecting them and making them available to recyclers. They in turn convert them to other products usable by man. The recyclers weigh the plastic bottles and pen the kilogramme each parent brought. A kilogramme goes for N20 to N25 per kilo, depending on the recycler. If a parent comes with 10kilo, he or she will get N200 to N250. It looks like a huge effort is required. However, it's a valuable to the environment and parents struggling to pay their children's fees. Wecyclers come two times a week to collect the sorted waste from the parents. This is to encourage parents who do not have space in their homes to be storing the waste." The project, which started last year, was first introduced to Morit International School, Agege, but more schools across the country will soon embrace it.

Recently, the management of the Miss Earth Nigeria surprised 20 of the parents with active participation in the project by awarding their wards scholarship during the 'Pick that plastic and stay in school' project, held in the school. The scolarship served as part payment of the school fees. The gathered recyclable brought by the parents will be used to complete the school fees for the term.

Explaining the reason for the 'Pick a Plastic and stay in school' project, Maristella Okpala, Miss Earth Nigeria 2018, said Nigeria is a consuming nation and some people are not aware they can benefit from the littering PET bottles, hence the need for sensitisation.

Showing her appreciation to the school management for embracing the initiative, Mrs Agnes Frances, 31, whose child in Primary 1 benefited from the scholarship, said they had been struggling to pay school fees.

The Recyclepay Educational programme is running presently at Morit International School, Ajegunle, Lagos and Road 12 Learning Centre, Ikota, Ilaje Ajah, Lagos. Next term, it will start at Monarch Base Private School, Alagbado Lagos and some other schools.

SOURCE: https://www.gist mania.com/talk/topic,384269.0.html

Venezuela boasts of the largest oil reserves of any country in the world (a whopping 25% of total OPEC oil reserves). Yet today it is facing the worst economic crisis in its history amid an inflation rate of over 2,000,000%. The current crisis facing the country is predicated on a cocktail of negatives - chief of which is the “oil curse”.

Its authority’s statist economic leaning, a currency peg at a fixed rate despite an obvious overvaluation, as well as external sanctions by the US, are all factors that have contributed to the country’s economic demise.

While Nigeria’s economic situation is nothing near Venezuela’s, the traits of pre-crisis Venezuela are discernible - continued reliance on oil exports, dominance of recurrent expenditure, grand social/subsidy schemes, CBN’s hold on forex rates above fair value till unbearable pressure builds up, and government’s interference in the oil sector which has deterred investments are the most apparent. As it is said, “never let a crisis go to waste.”

We believe Nigeria can learn from Venezuela's experience. This would involve taking the bold (but difficult) steps of letting market forces allocate economic resources - at least to a decent extent. In addition, addressing infrastructural deficits, and other policy reforms that would incentivize foreign investments into the economy will help.

SOURCE: United Capital Research

SARS Has Been Reformed! See The New Rules of Engagement & Numbers to Call in Case of Assault

Following the unjust killings of innocent civilians by unruly officers of FSARS, the police have enacted some new rules to check the excesses of these 'bad eggs'

Here are the rules:

1. No FSARS personnel is allowed to interfere in any civil matter.
2. They are not allowed to interfere in cyber crime (yahoo yahoo).
3. No FSARS personnel is allowed to conduct a stop and search exercise unless there is a distress call from victims or members of the public.
4. They are not allowed to be involved in commercial matters (debt recovery, landlord vs Tennant issues).
5. They are also not allowed to interfere in any social /relationship cases ( marital matters, boyfriend / girlfriend relationship).
6. THEY ARE STRICTLY FOR ARMED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING CASES.

NOTE: If members of the 'New' FSARS harass you, please contact:

DIG, Department of Operations:
08037025670.
IGP X-SQUAD:
Phone Call: 0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000.
SMS: 0903 227 8905.
WhatsApp: 0903 562 1377.

SOURCE: https://www.gist mania.com/talk/topic,384177.0.html

Nigeria (officially referred to as the Federal Republic of Nigeria) is a federal state in West Africa. It borders Cameroon and Chad to the East, Benin to the west, and Niger to the north. It also has a coast in the south that lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. Nigeria is made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where Abuja, the capital city is situated.

Nigeria has a lot of historic empires and cultures compared to other countries in Africa. History of Nigeria can be traced back to as early as 11,000 BC when a number of ancient African communities inhabited the area that now makes up Nigeria. The greatest and the best-known empire that ruled the region before the British arrived was the Benin Empire whose ruler was known as Oba of Benin. Other tribes such as the Nri Kingdom also settled in the country, especially in the Eastern side. The Songhai Empire also settled in some of the country’s territory.

-- By the 11th century, Islam had arrived in Nigeria via the Hausa States.
-- In 1851, British forces seized Lagos, which was later annexed officially in 1861.
-- In 1901, Nigeria was made a British protectorate and was colonized until 1960
-- In 1960 October, the country gained independence.
-- In 1963, Nigeria became a republic.
-- In 1966 January, Nigeria fell under military rule as a result of a coup d'état.
-- In 1966 July, there was a counter coup.
-- In 1967 May, the Republic of Biafra was formed and this led to the 3-year Nigerian Civil War.
-- In 1967 July, the Biafran war started.
-- In 1970 January, the Biafran war ended.
-- In 1979, the country became a republic again after a new constitution was drafted and Alhaji Shehu Shagari won election as President.
-- In 1983 December, the military under the leadership of Major General Muhammadu Buhari seized power.
-- In 1985 August, Buhari was overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida.
-- In 1993 August, a new republic was formed after Babangida "stepped aside" for a Transitional Council led by Mr Ernest Shonekan.
-- In 1993 November, the Transitional Council was overthrown by General Sani Abacha.
-- In 1998 June, Sani Abacha died and was replaced by General Abdusalam Abubakar.
-- In 1999 May, Abubakar handed over to the newly elected government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, leading to the creation of a forth republic, which has subsisted until now.

With the above in mind, the country’s history will be discussed in more detail below:

EARLY HISTORY OF NIGERIA (500BC – 1500 AD)
Between 500 BC and 200 AD, the Nok civilization living in Northern Nigeria thrived in the territory. They made life-sized terracotta sculptures which are among the earliest recognized figures in Sub-Saharan Africa. Other cities further north such as Katsina and Kano also have a history that dates to around 999AD. During this era, the Kanem-Bornu Empire and the Hausa kingdoms flourished as trade points between West and North Africa.

In the 10th century, the Igbo people of the Nri Kingdom merged. The kingdom, however, lost its power to the British in 1911. The city of Nri is believed to be the cornerstone of Igbo culture. In the 12th and 14th centuries respectively, the Yoruba kingdoms of Ife and Oyo in the southwest region of Nigeria attained prominence. The first evidence of human civilization at Ife’s present-day location goes way back to the 9th century, and whose main culture included bronze and terracotta sculptures.


MIDDLE AGES IN NIGERIA (1500 AD – 1800 AD)
In the late 17th to early 18th centuries, Oyo was at its zenith and was able to expand its influence form western Nigeria to present-day Togo. The Benin Empire had sovereignty over the region between the 15th and the 19th centuries. The Fulani Empire, also referred as the Sokoto Caliphate, was then developed at the beginning of the 19th century by Usman dan Fodio who led a successful jihad. The empire ruled over what is currently central and northern Nigeria and its sovereignty lasted until 1903 when it was broken up into a number of European colonies.

People in the territory traded a lot with merchants from North Africa and cities in the region were transformed into regional centers for trade routes that extended to West, Central, and North Africa.

In the 16th century, Portuguese and Spanish explorers began direct trade with the locals in Calabar and in the port they named Lagos. It was these trade interactions that led to the Atlantic slave trade and the port of Calabar became one of the biggest slave trading stations in West Africa during the transatlantic slave trade period. Other slave stations were Bonny Island on the Bight of Biafra and Badagry, Lagos on the Bight of Benin.


BRITISH NIGERIA (1800 – 1960 )
A number of European states and non-state actors, for instance, Portugal, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and private organizations, as well as a number of African countries and non-states actors were actively involved in the slave trade business. It was in 1807 when Great Britain abolished the transnational slave trade. After the Napoleonic Wars, Britain created the West African Squadron in an effort to put an end to the transnational slave trade.

In 1851, British bombarded Lagos while intervening in the Lagos Sovereignty power struggle, deposed Oba Kosoko who favored slave trade and in his place appointed Oba Akitoye. On 1 January 1852, the treaty between Great Britain and Lagos was signed and in August 1861 Lagos was annexed as a Crown Colony via the Lagos Treaty of Cession.

In 1856, Britain chartered the Royal Niger Company and in 1900 the company’s region came under the leadership of the British government which then consolidated its control over the area of present-day Nigeria. Nigeria was then made a British protectorate on 1 January 1901 thus becoming a section of the British Empire. Towards the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th centuries, the sovereign kingdoms that would later become Nigeria fought against Britain’s attempts to enlarge its territory. Benin was conquered by the British in 1897 who also overpowered other opponents in the Anglo-Boer War that took place from1901-1902.

The Niger was officially merged as the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914. Nigeria remained administratively divided into the Southern and Northern Protectorates and Lagos Colony. Western learning institutions were established in the Protectorates by Christian missions. The Christian missions were, however, not encouraged to operate their missions in the northern region of the country which was Islamic.

After World War II there were demands for independence by the locals and consecutive constitutions established by Britain helped move Nigeria towards a self-government. Towards mid-20th century a big wave for sovereignty was sweeping across the African continent and Nigeria attained its independence on 1 October 1960. The government was made up of an alliance of conservative parties: the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, dominated mostly by Christians and Igbo people, and the Nigerian People’s Congress (NPC) which was dominated by people of Islamic faith and Northerners. The opposition party was made up of the liberal Action Group (AG) which was dominated by the Yoruba. The first Federal Republic was created in 1963 and in 1965 elections were held and the Nigerian National Democratic Party assumed power in the western region of the country.

CIVIL WAR OF NIGERIA (1967-1970)
The results of the 1965 elections led to two military coups in 1966 due to the alleged corrupt electoral and political processes. In January 1966, the first coup was executed by soldiers majorly from Igbo tribe under the leadership of Majors Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna. A counter-coup took place in the same year, executed by military officers from the north, resulting in Lt. Colonel Gowon becomng head of state.

The Eastern Region, in May 1967, declared its sovereignty as the Republic of Biafra and was led by Lt. Colonel Emeka Ojukwu. On 6 July 1967, The Nigerian Civil War started when the government attacked Biafra at Garkem. The war came to an end in January 1970 and it is estimated that between 1 and 3 million people in the former Eastern Region died from warfare, starvation, and disease.

MILITARY JUNTAS IN NIGERIA (1970-1999)
In the 1970s, Nigeria experienced an oil boom. It joined OPEC and the oil revenues generated helped enrich the economy. Much was, however, not done to improve the standards of living for the locals; the military government did not invest in infrastructure or help businesses grow thus leading to a political struggle in the country.

In 1979, power was returned to the civilian regime led by Shehu Shagari but his government was viewed as corrupt. In December 1983, a military coup led by General Muhammadu Buhari was executed and people thought of it as a positive development. Major reforms were promised by Buhari but his government was no better and he was overthrown in 1985 by another military coup.

Ibrahim Babangida became the new president and during his tenure, he enlisted Nigeria in the Organization of Islamic Conference. He also introduced the International Monetary Fund’s Structural Adjustment Program to assist in repaying the country’s debt. On 12 June 1993, the first free and fair elections were held since the military coup of 1983 and the presidential victory went to the Alhaji Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the Social Democratic Party, after defeating Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. The elections were, however, cancelled by Babangida. This led to civilian protests, which eventually led to the shutting down of the nation for weeks.

In August 1993, Babangida "stepped aside" and handed over to a Transitional Council led by Mr Ernest Shonekan. However, in November of the same year, the Transitional Council was overthrown by General Sani Abacha. On 8th June 1998, General Sani Abacha died and was replaced by General Abdusalam Abubakar. On 29th May 1999, Abubakar handed over to the newly elected government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, leading to the longest stretch of democratic rule in the country's history.


DEMOCRATIZATION OF NIGERIA (1999-present)
Democracy was regained by the county in 1999 after Olusegun Obasanjo was elected President of Nigeria. He was re-elected again in 2003. In the 2007 general elections, Umaru Yar'Adua came to power under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He died on 5th May 2010 and was replaced by Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who won the 2011 general elections but was defeated in the March 2015 general elections by Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Buhari later won a second term in the February 2019 election.

SOURCE (abridged/updated): https://www.studycountry.com/guide/NG-history.htm

The River Niger flows in an unusual direction. While most rivers take a fairly direct route to the sea, the Niger instead runs directly away from the Atlantic Ocean (which is nearby its source), to make a run towards the Sahara Desert. The mystery of the River Niger 'made' Nigeria.

Explorers for a very long time couldn’t make sense of the flow and termination of the river. Without the mystery associated with the course of the Niger, the history of Nigeria would be very different. Beginning from the time of Augustus Caesar, the Romans launched expeditions to cross the Sahara desert and determine the source of the River Nile. They used five routes and one of the expeditions went through the Tibesti mountains, toward Lake Chad and actual Nigeria.

The Lake Chad expedition was done by Julius Maternus, a Roman explorer/trader who described a mammoth “lake of hippopotamus and rhinoceros”. Maternus returned to Rome with a two-horned rhinoceros. The Rhino was a sensation in Rome - due to its performance in the arena. Emperor Domitian was so impressed with the beast that he minted coins bearing its image. After Maternus, the lure of what lies in the interior of Africa continued to haunt the restless Western mind (Europeans, actually).

In 1796, Mungo Park became the first European to reach the mid-course of the Niger in Segou (Mali), after surviving a journey where many had died before him. He made it because of the kindness of the natives, who pointed him in the right direction and saved him from beatings and hunger. Indeed, at the end of his journey he wrote “whatever difference there is between the negro and European, in the conformity of the nose, and colour of the skin, there is none in the genuine sympathies and characteristic feelings of our common nature.”

Park returned home to tell the tale of his travels. He was hailed in London as the first to bring home news from the Niger River. His account of his travels sold well and a song was composed to celebrate him. Some business people in London sensed an opportunity. Inspired by the success of his first trip, the British government enlisted Park to make a second trip. This time he was charged with finding the source, course, and mouth of the Niger. His sponsors hoped the journey would settle the question of where the River ended.

They also wanted to know the extent of the wealth of the kingdom beneath. There were two views at the time. One school of thought, following the Romans, insisted that the Niger flowed into the Nile. The other school believed that the river flowed into a great lake (Lake Chad).

In January 1804, Park embarked on his second journey, accompanied by 36 soldiers. Most died of sickness before ever reaching the Niger, ravaged by malaria. By the time they arrived, all that remained of his retinue were a guide, three slaves and four soldiers! They continued to sail past villages without stopping to offer the expected gifts to villagers along the river (as was the custom), and were shooting at the slightest hint of danger. Unimpressed by Park’s single-mindedness and rash behavior, his local guide soon abandoned him.

Not long after, they arrived in Bussa (now New Bussa in Niger State) where they were ambushed by the locals. The townspeople mistook them for an advance party of Fulani attackers. Mungo Park threw himself into the river and drowned while trying to make an escape. Could Mungo Park have 'discovered' the River Niger if he was accidentally killed by the natives living in the area along the River Niger?

The news of the tragedy soon reached England, along with tales of a splendid country called Bornu under a certain powerful Sheikh Al-Khaneim. The British apparently heard news about him in Tripoli (Libya). At the time, Al-Kanemi was locked in both physical and ideological war with Uthman Dan Fodio. He argued that since the Fulani Jihad was predicated on paganism and misrule, the Fulani Jihadists had no right to strike at a state like Borno, which had been Muslim for at least 800 yrs.The clash of religious ideologies going on in the North East today is not new. Al-Kanemi’s argument is still being echoed against Boko Haram.

On 17 February 1823, a team of British explorers from Tripoli reached Borno. One of them, Hugh Clapperton, decided he wanted to travel across the River Niger and maybe retrieve the belongings of Mungo Park.

In 1824, Clapperton arrived at the court of Muhammed Bello in Sokoto. He was cordially received by Sultan Bello, whom he found reading an Arabic translation of a Greek maths textbook - Euclid’s Elements. We now have leaders who act like they've not read anything meaningful. In the course of their conversation, Bello told him he was aware that the British had begun to colonize India (remember there were no radios at that time). To Bello, England had conquered India by trickery and he wondered out loud about Clapperton's intentions. According to Clapp’s written account of events, the Sultan drew up a map of the River Niger, the country's vegetation, and even gave a vivid written description of the people across the Niger - the Yoruba. He returned to England shortly after.

On Clapperton's second trip to Sokoto, the Sultan was ready to forestall any attempt to seize his caliphate. Clapperton was detained and in his diary described the new mood of the Sultan: “He was desired to say that I was a spy...hinting at the same time that it would be better I should die, as the English had taken possession of India by first going there by ones and twos until we got strong enough to seize upon the whole country”. Clapperton died of malaria in Sokoto, as a prisoner of the Sultan. British ‘exploration’ continued nevertheless.

After defeating Lagos in 1851 (thread here: https://twitter.com/Adxpillar/status/1089920933693927424 ), the British quickly expanded their presence. By 1902 Frederick Lugard felt it was time to move against the Sokoto caliphate and Kano (which was the focus of the hostility to the British).

An incident happened at Keffi in Nassarawa - the British Resident in the area, Captain Maloney, called on the Magaji of the town to respond to allegations of slave raiding leveled against him. The Magaji refused to meet him. The Resident issued an order for troops to come out, but the Magaji, rushing out from his house, murdered the British resident with his own hands before troops could reach the spot. He escaped from the city immediately.

After the murder of Maloney, he and his followers fled to Kano, still outside the limit of British administration. At Kano, the Magaji was greatly received by the Emir. Who showered gifts on him for his act of bravery. Shortly after this, the Emir of Zaria was also suspected of having attempted to poison the British Resident officer. The plot failed, and he was promptly arrested. Poisoning was a kind of tactic used against British officers back then. With the death of Maloney and the failed assassination of the Resident, it became very clear to the British that the Hausa and Fulani were not willing to serve two masters. Attahiru the first was then Sultan - a princely man who was described as always dressed in white.

The situation was such that all eyes were now turned to the north. Suddenly the question turned upon whether Great Britain or Sokoto was to be the permanent head of the area. There, Hausas have a proverb “only by fighting can the stronger man be found out”; and everyone agreed that a trial of strength would have to take place to determine which of the two was stronger. News of the impending battle traveled across from Ilorin to Chad to Oyo. The comment of the Emir of Kano upon the murder of the British Resident represented a very general feeling. “If the little town of Keffi could do so much…what could Kano not do?” Confidence levels so high!

On January 29th of 1903, Lord Lugard gave the order to advance on Kano (1,050 men in total). The Kano forces put up a stiff resistance at the walled town of Bebedji but were unable to prevent the British force from capturing Kano. They were able to slow down their advance tho. British forces arrived outside Sokoto in mid-March. Hundreds, thousands of Muslims, shrieking Allahu Akbar, mounted and on foot, marched forward. Drumming and horning with Quranic chants, they ran forward. The British forces opened machine gun fire on them - Rat-tat-tat-tat-ta!

Later in the day, British officers went over the battlefield to shoot the wounded. Some mooched around the dead bodies, seeing if there was anything worth having on them." What they thought was gold (and they hacked off someone's leg to get at it) turned out to be brass. SMH! Soon all was calm. A number of Muslim faithful died by the score around the mystic green flag of the Sultan. The green flag of Islam was the ancient banner of Uthman Dan Fodio, and Attahiru's men managed to recapture it from the British.

The British were in control of the city, but Attahiru held the countryside. He quickly marched away from Sokoto and used the flag to rally his people into a resistance force. His movement rapidly assumed the proportions of a Jihad. At least, most saw it as a Jihad. It would be easy to assume that Boko Haram's activities are a recent phenomenon, but that would not be accurate. British troops walked into the area to fight the locals – the area had been under Islamic rule for the previous hundred years. A terrible precedence!

In Sokoto, Lugard had organized a public ceremony to install a successor to Attahiru. As at Kano, he chose the Sultan's brother, also called Attahiru. After the ceremony, they continued to pursue Attahiru's forces "in a south-easterly direction”. Soon, they reached a walled town named Burmi, near the banks of the Gongola river (in Adamawa). The force that arrived at Burmi met instant resistance. Burmi had often opposed the Sultan, but they were even more firmly against submission to the Christian British.

Here, the British suffered a heavy defeat and they fled the town before nightfall. Attahiru and Burmi prepared to resist the inevitable British counter-attack. On July 27th, at 11 a.m., the attack began with a shelling of the town walls with machine gun fire, followed by an advance on the main gates. Boyd Alexander, one of the soldiers, described the preparations at Burmi: "The defenses had been strengthened…construction of double trenches revealed a degree of ingenuity unexpected in the natives…all the women and children had been sent away...”

As the troops neared the trenches and got within the angle of the walls, suddenly the air was benighted with clouds of arrows and shouts of Allah! Allah! arose upon a deafening sound of drums. So tremendous was the surprise of the shock, that the leading column was forced to fall back on its supports, and the men refused to go on, for they said the place was full of charms ('juju').

A Major Marsh, who had been directing the operations from the square, realizing the critical position, went down at once to the fighting line to lead the assault; but he had no sooner come within the line of fire than he was struck in the thigh by a poisoned arrow. The poison was probably one known as onaye, from the Strophanthus plants, which is quick-acting, paralyzing the heart muscles in within a short time. He died within 20 mins. It’s the kind of thing called ‘jazz’ or juju.

After a day of hand-to-hand fighting amidst the town’s mud huts, and aided by machine gun fire, the British eventually prevailed. The Muslims, refusing to surrender, had made their final stand at the mosque. Attahiru was praying in the mosque when the attack was made, and hearing that the British had carried the gate, went down to save defeat. His dead body was found ‘protected’ by a heap of bodies of his personal followers bearing the green flag of Islam - the banner of Dan Fodio.
Once identified, the body was decapitated, and photos of head and corpse were circulated throughout Northern Nigeria, to prove to surviving supporters that he was dead.

END.

Too long I guess. If you're still here, congrats!� For further reading, you can check out free online editions of:
1. Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa by Hugh Clapperton.
2. A tropical dependency by Flora Shaw (Lord Lugard's wife).
3. From the Niger to the Nile by Alex Boyd.
4. Death of a Sultan by Richard Gott

SOURCE (abridged): https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1109017196280324096.html

A Lagos-based waste management start-up, Wecyclers, was on Wednesday March 20, 2019 awarded the King Baudouin Foundation African Development Prize for 2018/19. The announcement was made in the offices of the start-up on the occasion of the first day of the Silicon Lagoon Mission.

The € 200,000 prize will assist the local start-up to further develop their business and increase their impact at national and global levels.

In a statement made available to Africanews, Hervé Lisoir from the King Baudouin Foundation said “We are proud to recognize Wecyclers for their very effective model. The independent Selection committee selected the enterprise out of 244 applications for its innovative approach to engaging the community, turning recycling into an economic driver for communities and turning citizens into agents of change.”

According to the statement, the start-up utility's low and high technology solutions made up of SMS technology and a mobile application, including low-cost vehicles, which collect recyclable waste directly from households to sell to recycling plants before they are made into new products.

Wecyclers was also selected for its economic impact. By rewarding citizens with ‘‘points’‘, it allows low-income communities to derive value from waste. Currently, the organization already benefits from the engagement of over 17,000 subscribers in 7 local communities in Nigeria’s commercial city, Lagos. And every month, it registers some 200 new members. The Nigerian waste management start-up has also created 200 jobs in 7 years, with a focus on women who currently account for 60 % of their workforce, the statement said.

The Prize will also provide Wecyclers access to a wide network of stakeholders in Europe and the US, who may support them as they grow. With current growth projections, Wecyclers aim to collect 5,000 tons of recyclables by 2020 and could be serving 500,000 households by 2023.

By 2100, Africa will hold 5 out of the 10 biggest cities in the world, and Lagos could be the biggest city in the world.
Today, Lagos residents generate 15,000 tons of waste per day, of which only 40% is collected by the municipal government. Wecyclers’ model is designed to help fill this gap and reduce solid waste in the streets of Lagos, improving both the environment and the well-being of populations.

The ceremony was organized by Close the Gap and Startups.be. The award ceremony will be held in Brussels, Belgium on June 12, 2019 in the presence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at the Royal Palace.

The King Baudouin African Development Prize aims to acknowledge the work of African individuals or organizations which have made an exemplary contribution to development in Africa. Past winners include, Dr Denis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, for his contribution to founding the Panzi Hospital in Eastern DR Congo, where tens of thousands of sexual violence victims were treated.

Others are BarefootLaw Limited for its work in providing online legal service in East Africa to the most vulnerable so they can understand and defend their basic rights for free. Farmerline Limited for its work in connecting over 200,000 farmers and enabling them to share information, helping some small-holder farmers grow their profits by 50 percent among others.

Photo Credit: King Baudouin Foundation African Development Prize

SOURCE: https://www.africanews.com/2019/03/22/climate-action-lagos-based-wecyclers-wins-african-development-prize-201819/

Three Nigerian boys from Dansol High School in Lagos have developed an application that helps monitor data of electronic cigarette smokers in the US. This is coming at a time when another four boys made the country proud after winning the bronze medal at the recently concluded International Festival of Engineering, Science & Technology (I-FEST) held in Tunisia.

The students — Oluwatunmise Ayeni, Rotimi Adegbiji and Egie Akede — designed the ‘RET-Vape Selling App’ to help the US government regulate the purchase of e-cigarettes. The ‘RET-Vape Selling App’ also helps the government better monitor and regulate the purchase of e-cigarettes by producing individualized data. The app can be used to end underage smoking since it can recognise the age of prospective buyers, flag ineligible and underage smokers, and also serve as a source of smoking history for hospitals and regulatory agencies.

The trio, who founded a company named ‘RET Innovate,’ participated in the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge, and qualified for the final stage of the competition. As a 2018-2019 Conrad Challenge finalist under the ‘smoke-free world’ category of the competition, the RET Innovate team will proceed to represent Nigeria at the 2019 Florida’s innovation summit on April 23. The team will be competing with about 36 students’ innovators from across the world for seed funding, partnerships and the challenge’s top honour.

The young Nigerian boys also said that efforts are ongoing to develop a Nigerian version of the application to assist the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the fight against underage smoking.

The Conrad Challenge is an annual, multi-phase innovation and entrepreneurial competition that encourages young adults to engage science, technology and creativity for solving societal issues.

SOURCE: https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/three-nigerian-boys-develop-app-to-curb-underage-smoking/

Practitioners in the Nigerian entertainment industry will soon be able to access single-digit loans from banks across the country.

Speaking on Thursday at the end of the Bankers Committee meeting of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Herbert Wigwe, managing director of Access Bank, said the funds would be made available to the movies, music, IT and fashion segments of the industry. The Access Bank boss said the loans would have flexible collateral conditions and can be repaid for a maximum of 10 years.

“They are reflective of the fact that in this specific industry, what is required is long-term financing at single digit funding and for collateral which is flexible,” he said. “It is a big initiative which will do a couple of things for our country. As a starting point, it will lead to about 300, 000 employment in five years time. It will lead to a significant accumulation of foreign exchange and significant savings.”

Listing likely conditions for the loan, Wigwe said interested parties must have their primary business in the entertainment indistry, adding that the asset which is being funded by the loan could also be used as collateral.

SOURCE: https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/artistes-filmmakers-single-digit-loans-banks/

A 30,000-barrel capacity modular refinery is set to be opened in Akure, Ondo state.

Speaking during a recent visit to Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of the state, Kassim Adeleke, CEO of Crown Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, said the company’s proposals had been declined in other states. Adeleke said within a year of submitting their proposal to Ondo, the coast has been cleared for the project to begin. He said the project will make the state accessible to Lagos on water with the use of speed boats.

The refinery is expected to have a capacity of 30,000 barrels per day of crude processing, 120,000 tons per annum of base oil and 25,000 ton per annum of lubricant with a supporting 50MW power plant.

In his remarks, Akeredu said his administration is determined to make Ondo state conducive for all genuine investors willing to partner the state in its industrialization drive. This, he said, would be achieved by easing the cost of doing business in the state. He commended the Crown Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for coming on board to be a partner with the state government and assured them and their partners of a second to none atmosphere in their business deals in Ondo.

SOURCE: http://petrobarometer.thecable.ng/2019/04/05/30000-barrel-capacity-modular-refinery-open-akure/