Enugu sacks 16 local council education secretaries

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has sacked education secretaries in 16 out of the 17 local government councils in the state. 

The governor equally dismissed the management of Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. 

Poor performance was cited as the reason for the sacking of all the affected officials, which took immediate effect following the approval of the State Executive Council. 

Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ikechukwu Udeuhele, who announced the development, explained that a panel set up to probe the activities of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board had recommended the sacking of education secretaries of all the local councils in the state, except that of Awgu Local Government Area, who was appointed in June. 

The dismissal of the education secretaries is expected “inject fresh ideas and impetus” in the basic education system in Enugu State, the commissioner said. 

IYC begs FG to increase funding for Amnesty office

Ijaw youths, under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, have begged the Federal Government to increase funding for the office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The youth’s group said the Coordinator of the Amnesty office, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.), had demonstrated commitment to drive the programme and achieve its objectives in the Niger Delta.

The group expressed optimism that with Boroh on the saddle, the amnesty office would remain the best avenue to reach the region and minimise violent agitations pervading the area.

The IYC hailed Boroh’s recent agreements with an Israeli company and the Ministry of Agriculture to engage ex-agitators in agricultural training at the Natural Bio-Resources Centre, Odi, in  Kolokuma/Opokuma area of the state.

A factional President of the group, Mr. Elvis Donkemezuo, who spoke in Yenagoa, on Saturday,  said the recognition of Odi centre, abandoned since its establishment by the Amnesty boss, underscored his interest in transforming the region.

Donkemezuo said, “We are thrilled with the report that the Amnesty office entered into partnership with an Israeli team, the Ministry of Agriculture to train ex-agitators on specific areas of agriculture at the Natural Bio-Resources Centre, Odi.

“Ijaw youths are happy that Boroh is thinking in this direction. For him to have remembered to harness the potential of the abandoned centre shows his commitment to the Niger Delta project.

“This is what we have been asking for. Training like this should be domiciled in the region. Nobody has deemed it fit to tap the resources in this Odi facility. But today, Boroh is thinking in that direction.”

He asked the youths to remain calm and peaceful to enable the new leadership at the centre to attract development to the Niger Delta.

Donkemezuo, who said agriculture remained one of the best approaches to diversification, added that countries such as Malaysia and Brazil rely heavily on bio-ethanol for their energy creation.

Donkemezuo, who said the Niger Delta had a large population of good people, appealed to Nigerians not to dismiss the region as a militant enclave because of the activities of a few bad eggs.

To accentuate his belief that the region is blessed with intellectuals, he rationalised that recently, youths from the region under amnesty programme graduated with first-class degrees from the United Kingdom.

“In every community around the world, there are bad eggs but the good ones are more in number than the bad ones. We call on the Federal Government to look inwardly and ensure that the amnesty office is properly funded.

“We understand that our children and youths studying around the world under the amnesty programme are facing funding challenges. But we have seen that the amnesty office is committed in ensuring that the programme is sustained.

“So, the government should ensure that the amnesty office is given all the needed support. They should also see the amnesty office as a scheme to renegotiate with the Niger Delta people and to renegotiate the structure of this country.”

Obama chases Clinton

Not what you’re thinking, folks. Obama is not chasing Hillary Clinton, he’s chasing Bill’s high job approval record during Bill Clinton’s second term. Just recently, the American people gave Obama a 54% job approval rating, the second highest in the second term of a modern-day American president. Guess who has the highest rating at this time of his second term?

No, not Ronald Reagan, he and Obama are tied at 54 percent. Heck no, not George W. Bush, his unpopular war in Iraq dumped his approval rating deep in the toilet at this time of his second term. It’s Bill Clinton? Yes! Hillary’s husband, despite all the Monica Lewinsky’s scandal, had a 57 percent approval rating, the highest in recent memory. Despite Obama’s soaring popularity, Donald Trump says he is the worst American president in history. Trump probably doesn’t realize that most Americans don’t really care about anything he says about Obama. First, he lied that he could prove that Obama was not born in America, hence was ineligible to be American president. Now, he says Obama is the founder of ISIS. (Say what?) That’s what Vice President Joe Biden would call a bunch of malarkey!  These are some of the things that make even Republicans worry about Trump’s mental health. Now that Obama and Bill Clinton are campaigning for Hillary, any surprise she is leading Trump in every national poll since the Democrat convention? Now they are five If you thought Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were the only presidential candidates in the U.S. elections, think again. They are now five. Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), Jill Stein (Green Party) and just this week former CIA operative Evan McMullin declared to run as an Independent candidate. Besides Hillary and Trump, the other three have one major hurdle: Any candidate below 15 percent in the national poll cannot participate in any of the debates scheduled for presidential candidates. And without that national exposure, their campaign is as good as dead.   Police Targeting African Americans Remember the disturbing images of protests and riots in Fergusson in the state of Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland? While not condoning riots and violence, it is now proven that those black people and others who joined them in the protests against police discriminatory brutality were not crazy after all. Just this week, the Department of Justice confirmed what black people and civil rights activists have been saying all along. After a year-long investigation, the Department of Justice concluded among other things that Baltimore police officers made repeated stops in poor black neighborhoods and used dubious reasons to unlawfully arrest blacks. Imagine this: Although 63 percent of Baltimore residents are African American, they account for 84 percent of those routinely stopped by police. Also, between 2010 and 2015, African Americans make up a whopping 95 percent of the 410 residents stopped at least 10 times by the police. Wait, there’s more: During that five-year span, Baltimore police officers stopped 34 African American residents 20 times and seven African Americans were stopped 30 times or more. Meanwhile, nobody from another race was stopped more than 12 times. As if those were not bad enough, officers publicly (and unconstitutionally) strip-searched African Americans, including those who were not under arrest. Officers routinely and unreasonably used excessive force against residents, some of which resulted in deaths, including the death of Freddie Gray, which ignited the protests and riots in Baltimore. Wow! With this kind of “indictment” of American police, what do you say of the Nigerian police? The $400 cup of coffee Just imagine an exchange rate at N380 to $1, then multiply by 400. That amounts to about N152,000. If you were driving in the state of New Jersey, that’s what you would have to cough out if a bill before the New Jersey House passes. Well, one legislator is sponsoring a bill against additional distraction while driving, specifically those who try to open their beverage or mix cream in their coffee. If the bill is approved, that violation could cost first-time offenders between $200 to $400 and between $400 to $600 for second time offenders. A third offence could result in the suspension of the offender’s driver’s license.    Remember, the state already has laws against texting while driving and other distractions, such as reading newspapers or opening maps. But the fines for those violations pale compared to what the state legislator is proposing. Trump Not Running to Win Call me crazy if you want, but I am convinced that Donald Trump does not really want to win the U.S. Presidential Election. Not that he wouldn’t like to win, but frankly, I think he is scared at the prospect of winning and is doing everything to help Hillary win. He repeatedly stirs up controversy that takes the focus off his campaign message and then he and his surrogates spend the next couple of days defending or clarifying his remarks.    Imagine the Trumpster already is preparing his supporters for a potential defeat by saying the November 8 election will be rigged even before the first presidential debate is held. After losing about five days fending off the firestorm that sparked off his remarks against the wife of the American soldier who died in combat, he gave his big address on his economic plan. The very next day he caused another controversy with his remarks that seemed to suggest that he was calling for gun owners to find a way to stop Hillary Clinton. As that was still brewing, he called Hillary the devil and Obama the founder of ISIS, with Hillary as the co-founder. On Thursday, Trump told CNBC network that he will not change his style or tactics and if for some reason he doesn’t win the election he will go ahead and have a nice vacation. So why is Trump running if he does not want to win?    My take is that if Trump is hoping to lose gallantly to Hillary Clinton and then move on to expand his business empire. I foresee Trump TV network, something that can give him the kind of international influence he so desires, crowned with the kind of unlimited, criticism-free control the White House cannot provide. What do you think?

Real reasons women remember things more than men

In their 24-month-old marriage, Kingsley and his wife, Victoria, have had a number of conflicts than they envisaged, and most of the time, it could have been avoided. Even though the issues involved do not qualify as something that could tear them apart, it became a major cause of concern to the wife.

According to Victoria, a 32-year-old business woman, her husband’s forgetfulness is one issue she had yet to come to terms with. “It’s so bad that sometimes he forgets my birthday, sometimes it could be to pick our clothes from the drycleaner, and from time to time, he scatters many things in the house because he is always looking for his things,” she added.

Kingsley’s case might sound extreme, but he is certainly not alone, especially among fellow men.

While Kingsley and Victoria would continue to deal with theirs, Mr. and Mrs. Anifowose, who have been married for 15 years, say they have devised a means to manage theirs, as the man said his wife had taken the place of his reminder since she’s the one who reminds him of everything.

He said, “What I do is to tell her anything I don’t want to forget, and I tell her when to remind me. Guess what, she doesn’t fail me, and sometimes I ask myself if I’m suffering from amnesia or she is just gifted. And she doesn’t use any organiser. It amazes me, really.”

These two accounts somewhat give a fresh perspective to the fact that there is a wide range of differences between men and women, beyond their anatomy. Meanwhile, findings by some researchers have shown that women have better retentive memory than men.

In a study by Prof. Qi Wang, an expert in human development at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology, New York, United States, it was found that gender has a role to play in how people remember things.

In the course of the study, which involved 60 college undergraduates, she sent three text messages to them in one week, and instructed them to write down what had happened to them during the previous 30 minutes. Thus, once they received the text, they should quickly type their experience within the last 30 minutes and forward to her for documentation.

At the end of the week, she asked all of them to describe in detail those events they wrote about in the text messages. She titled the study ‘Gender and Emotion in Everyday Event Memory.’

According to the result of the exercise, which was posted on the institution’s website, the researcher found that the women in the study wrote more detailed piece on their past 30 minutes experience in the text message they sent. And beyond that, they were able to recall more details about what they sent via the text message than men after one week.

Wang ascribed the difference to the fact that women pay more attention to happenings and are able to recall such when  needed.

Wang said, “It appears that, compared with men, women may attend to and encode more information during ongoing events, experience similar rates of forgetting, and then show greater ability to access retained event information at recall.

“Our findings also suggest that the content of memories is reconstructed over time in a gendered fashion. The findings help us understand gender differences in memory and inform the theoretical debate about where in the memory formation process these differences emerge.

“These findings are provocative in showing that women and men see their worlds differently, likely due to different cognitive styles, and that gendered ideologies come into play in memory reconstruction.”

In another study by Dr. Liana Palermo, a researcher at Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom, it was equally discovered that women are better at remembering things than men, which he ascribed to the fact that women develop the ability when they juggle responsibilities at home with their career and that it may be due to hormones or brain structure. He said men helping in the home could boost their memory.

He involved 100 men and women, aged between 15 and 40 in a task that puts them through a series of memory tests. And at the end of the study, it was concluded that even though both men and women find it hard to remember things as they age, women are still better at remembering things.

He also points to the fact that previous research has shown that in men, the brain’s memory hub shrinks when they are between 20 and 40 years old, unlike in women.

In the study published on Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology and reviewed on Daily Mail, he said, “An alternative hypothesis is that the sex differences we found could be due to the care-taking role often assumed by women and the fact that in addition to work responsibilities, women also have more responsibilities at home.

“This means that the skill needed to balance running a home and bringing up children with holding down a job improves prospective memory.

“A real life example of this would be, in a family, you would expect the woman to be the one to remember to buy some milk after work. Or she will remember to give a book back to a friend when she sees him next. She will be better at all of these kinds of tasks than a man.

“As a consequence of this social role, in daily life women might perform tasks involving prospective memory more than men, enhancing their performance in remembering to remember. If this is the case, one way for men to improve their memory would be to help more around the home.

Meanwhile, an expert in gender and memory at Hamilton College, New Zealand, Azriel Grysman, said women having better memory could be traced to when they were young, when parents often demand details of their experiences.

According to Grysman, demanding more details from girls than boys at that early age is indirectly training them to take note of details and remember them when asked.

“Kids whose mothers asked them to elaborate more when they were young had better recall as adults, and gender norms orient girls more toward elaboration than boys, which may lead to better memories,” she said.

Explaining further in a piece on New York Magazine, she said, “A memory is a pattern of mental activity, and the more entry points we have to what that pattern might be, the more chances we have to retrieve it. Since girls are more likely to be trained to elaborate and include their feelings in their memory-making, they are more likely to remember better.

“It’s quite possible, over time, that those tendencies will help women establish more connections of different pieces of an event in their brains, which will lead to better memory long-term.”

Giving a perspective to the studies, A neurologist, Dr. Adilkaibe Ezeala, said if there is any difference in the ability of men and women to remember things when compared, it would be psychological and not because a part of the brain is responsible for it. He explained that the part of the brain responsible for memory; the temporal lobe, and to some extent the frontal lobe, are present in both men and women.

Meanwhile, a psychologist, Dr. Adepeju Omoteso, said there are many aspects to remembering things, and that if it is about the cognitive aspect, which has to do with what they are learning in school, men and women tend to be on the same level, but when it comes to social things, because women are more emotional, they don’t forget things easily, most especially the wrong done to them.

She said, “Men may forget things more than women because they don’t have time to think of many other things that women think about. Even when they are involved in the same kind of work, the women would likely remember things more than men.

“Women also remember things because they are good record keepers, while men don’t bother about several things. I don’t think it has anything to do with the brain, even though there are many faculties in the brain. There is a faculty in the brain where feelings and associated issues are kept, and because women are more sentimental, they tend to remember all those things. Whatever touches on their emotions, they will remember.

Omoteso explained further that when it comes to episodic memory, women are better at remembering events. Episodic memory is the memory of autobiographical events (times, places, associated emotions, and other contextual who, what, when, where and why) that can be explicitly stated. It is the collection of past personal experiences that occurred at a particular time and place.

“When it comes to the social aspect, women will always remember those things more than men,” she added.

Troops kill suspected cattle rustler in Katsina

Troops of 35 Battalion, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army on Friday killed a suspected cattle rustler on Tsambe-Fafare road, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A statement by Col.Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations on Saturday said the troops were in a joint patrol with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Katsina State, under operation “SHARAN DAJI”

He said the operation followed information received from well patriotic citizens that three gunmen were sighted on motorcycles in the area.

Usman said that the team swung into action and pursued the suspected armed bandits towards Dumburu forest in Zamfara.

He said the team killed one of the suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits, while the other two escaped with gun shot wounds.

Items recovered included an AK-47 rifle with registration number 1985PS6288, additional AK-47 rifle magazine and 3 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

In a related development, a combined team arrested a suspected notorious cattle rustler and armed bandit, Abubakar Mohammed and his boys, Ana’s Gora and Bello Sani.

He said items recovered from them included 49 cattle and 25 sheep.

Usman said that the special raids were carried out along Faskari-Sheme-Mairuwa road, Katsina State.

He said the suspects have been handed over to the police for prosecution and animals recovered handed over to the secretary, Faskari Local Government Area Council for handing over to their owners.

I was paid N500 for my first movie role –Chinedu Ikedieze aka Aki

From humble beginnings in the eastern part of Nigeria, Chinedu Ikedieze popularly known as Aki, hit the limelight after he starred in Aki na Ukwa in 2001.

Ever since, the pint-sized actor has continued to grow from strength to strength, winning awards both within and outside Nigeria for his exploits on the silver screen. The climax was when he was awarded an MFR by the Goodluck Jonathan administration a couple of years ago.

Sharing his grass to grace story in a chat with Entertainer, Aki reveals that despite his small size, he knew he was headed for the top of his career in Nollywood, and even when he was paid a meager N500 for his first ever role, he was not discouraged.

In his words: “As a little boy and like every other kid around me, I had dreams. We all had it at the back of our minds that when we grew up we wanted to be this or that. What I am saying in essence is that when I was much younger, I had the dream that someday I would make it. To God be the glory, I just knew that there was something peculiar about me; my life has been exceptional, I must confess.”

For Aki, the journey started in 1998 after he got admission to study at Institute of Management & Technology (IMT) in Enugu. Luckily for him, he had been a member of the Debating & Dramatic Society and had acted in a couple of movies, so when he got into IMT, he wasn’t much of a green horn; and his likable nature made him blend easily into the fabric of Nollywood.

“I used to admire the late Gary Coleman,” he recalls. “I thought he was a small boy like me. I used to watch Different Strokes and I was keeping my hair like him. Each time I looked at him, I felt I was seeing myself; there was this resemblance. He inspired me a great deal and I took a cue from him. I was like, ‘if Gary Coleman could do this then I could do it’. And then I found out that he was a man and I was like ‘wow!’ In deed, Gary Coleman was my mentor.”

Enter Aki & Pawpaw

Together with his friend, Osita Iheme aka Pawpaw, they have carved a place for themselves in Nollywood, winning various diadems including AMAA Lifetime Achievement award and being honoured with Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).

But how did the duo hook up? Hear Aki: “I started acting in 1998 and he (Pawpaw) came into the industry three years later. I was in school then and we had this opportunity to shoot in Enugu. He had just started acting then. We met in the hotel lobby where we were lodged. We talked and I discovered he was a very shy fellow.

“Before then, Amayo Uzor had been telling me that ‘Chinedu, just hang on, there is a boy I have seen that looks just like you, and guess what, he is in the industry and I am working on a script for the both of you.’ After our meeting, they called and gave us scripts; that was the first time I did pure comedy. The movie was Aki na Ukwa.”

Debunking rumours that they have parted ways, Aki continued: “We are still friends and together run an NGO and a company, Aki & Pawpaw Child Care Foundation, and Aki & Pawpaw Entertainment. We have shows five times every year. However, people should know that we also have our individual dreams.”

How much was Aki paid for his first movie? “Very interesting, you won’t believe it, I was paid N500,” he says, as we share a hearty laugh. “I did not do that movie for the money. I used the N500 to buy a ring boiler. I was not discouraged. The movie was Evil Men Part 1.”

What is the secret to his success? Aki responds thus: “The secret to my success is ‘God first’ and I try to be myself. I try to research and learn that which I don’t know, and that has really helped me.”

Finance and Lifestyle Magazine Hits News Stand

A premium quarterly finance and lifestyle magazine known as Market Digest that provides maximum exposure for selected brands is now available in Nigeria news stand.

The Publisher, Market Digest Nigeria Limited Mr. Esele Walter Odion during the unveiling in Lagos recently said the magazine is a premium quarterly finance and lifestyle magazine that provides maximum exposure for selected brands.

“In terms of quality we are undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best local print publication. The magazine production is driven by advertisements not by sales. We have relationships with courier companies”.

“So immediately after publication we distribute 70 per cent to the desks of high net worth individuals and senior management of all multinational and local companies as well as the places where this high net worth individuals go to like, Airport V.I.P. lounges, selected hotels chains, golf, polo and boat clubs, ” he said.

He explained the marketing /distribution strategy will be far more valuable for advertising companies that cater to its target market than any other print or online marketing platform.
Odion also pointed out the focus of the publication is simply to create a better platform to connect products and service providers to the right customer and consumer to the content.

“The focus of the publication is to provide relevant information on products and services as well as news and happening to our market segment on a quality platform, “he said.
He noted the magazine is positioned to serve its markets’ passion and people interested in wealth investment and business tools..

He posited the magazine is targeting the matured citizens of 40 or older high net worth individuals who can afford luxury goods and services, hence, creating value for our advertisers.

“We get advertisements from financial institutions, Real Estate companies, luxury living and related companies, Automobile companies, fashion houses, and travel companies, “he said.
Odion further maintained the initial challenge faced was production quality because they wanted a print quality similar to foreign magazines.

“A printing press will show you a sample and at the end they end up producing something else. We had no choice but to source for a press outside Nigeria to get our desired quality, “Odion said.

On where he sees the magazine in the next 10 years, he stated: “In the next 10 years I see market digest Nigeria magazine, being a major player in its niche. We have and will continue to build relationships with the best companies in Nigeria”.
“For us, successful marketing is a relationship driven business driven by creating connections”.

Inside the world of prostitutes

It is the oldest profession in the world so says the Holy Book. In Nigeria, ashewo, akwuna, karuwa, opio and ayambga are just a number of sobriquets for workers in the flesh business. All over the world, night and day, their services are readily available and the metropolitan city of Lagos is not left out. Saturday Sun hit the streets recently on the trail of these women and below are our findings.

Kalakuta Republic

Almost four decades after it was demolished by ‘Unknown Soldiers,’ the now defunct Kalakuta Republic aka Empire remains a haven for prostitution. Located in the Mosalashi area of Lagos, it could be described as a ‘prostitute’s connoisseur’s playground.’ As the reporters drove in through Funso Williams Avenue (Old Western Avenue) to connect Oguntokun Street, they met a bubbling environment at 1.30pm under the blazing sun!

Indeed, Empire, despite its small size has over 15 brothels. From White House to Number 6, Number 17, Cool Corner and Ludo, it was business as usual. Prices fluctuate according to the time of the day and the ‘economic situation’ of the Ashana. As we stepped into a bar, a beautiful and well-endowed lady beckoned at one of the reporters who immediately replied with a wink and chuckle to reveal his non-JJC status.

As we sat to deliberate on the strategy to employ, two other ladies, Shandy and Rose, took seats next to us and asked for bottles of beer. We obliged and the conversations began.

“You must be happy to be in this profession” one of the reporters asked. “Yes I am but the situation is quite tough now,” she replied. She was wearing a short dress with a plunging neckline which revealed every curve of her voluptuous figure.

“You are beautiful and I wish you will get a man to marry you,” the reporter added.

“Not now,” she responded, a desperate note in her voice.

Like the popular pidgin saying goes, time na money. The ashana before us was not ready for banter as she wanted to get down to action at once.

Her eyes darted around sizing up everything in trousers as she told the reporter to come to her room and the reporter obliged. As soon as they hit her room the following conversation ensued.

“How much is your ST (short time),” the reporter asked.

“N2000 and that’s the final price. I cannot do ST for less than that. Besides this is afternoon and I don’t know how tonight will be like. What if I don’t get up to two or three customers? I am already planning for December; I want to travel to my village.”

“Really? Where is your village?

“I am Igede in Benue State,” she replied as she picked up an item from under her bed. She brought out a condom and asked if she should do the insertion.

“No, not yet,” the reporter replied.

Oga abeg you dey waste my time, she blurted out impatiently. Abi you never do am before? She quickly un-zipped her skimpy jeans skirt to reveal a G string as she kicked-off her slippers.

Ok I go pay N1500 for the ST, the reporter pleaded. “Oya, bring am since you don enter my room already.”

Saturday Sun checks revealed that prostitutes are willing to accept between N1000 and N1500 for ST if you’ll meet them in their rooms because they make more money when customers come to their rooms rather than booking a hotel room. In most parts of Lagos, an hour costs between N700 and N2500. The brothels or hotels with air-conditioners cost more.

In Ojuelegba, Surulere, you may not need to walk around for long before you discover 24hoursservice brothel. Though the heady days of Ayilara Street being a prostitutes’ den are gone, there are still at least three or more bubbling brothels. Likewise Aguda and Orile also boast of similar hang outs where men dash to for quickies.

The prostitutes usually dress in skimpy, provocative clothing, regardless of the weather. Prostitutes pay between N3000 and N12000-a week for a room as rent and that puts pressure on them to work extra hard to eke out a living. Imade, in a popular guest house in Ayilara told these reporters that three STs in a day and maybe, eight in a week will help to sort out her bills but the market is quite competitive now.

“I used to make up to N6000 or more daily from ST’s and TDB’s but 2016 is really tough. It wasn’t like this last,” Imade revealed.

Asked if the change in government has affected her job and standard of living, she stated that politics has nothing to do with the trend.

‘If a man is horney and he has money, he will look for where to release it. That is why there are Osho-free people who will beg to have sex without paying or they might want to drop N500 for ST. Sometimes we collect just to make ends meet but some others will deny this fact. Well I collect sometimes because the next minute mugu fit come pay N5000 for ST. That’s the nature of the business.”

However, commenting, another prostitute, Nkechi said: “Things are really bad now. During Jonathan administration we enjoyed a lot. Ever since Buhari came to power, everybody has been broke and patronage has dropped drastically. My brother my bill for ST is N2000 but how much can you offer me? Let us go to my room and talk.”

Small Kuramo

Remember Kuramo Beach? A couple of years ago it was notorious for prostitution and peddling of hard drugs. Consequently it was sealed thus displacing thousands and majority of the prostitutes relocated to Second Gate, Lekki Expressway. Welcome to the new Kuramo Beach aka Small Kuramo.

As early as 7pm the area is pulsating with loud music and business is thriving. Here pimps call the shots and take a huge percentage of income accruing to prostitutes and to the shock of a first timer, the ‘ashanas’ could be girls barely in their early teens. The air is thick with the smell of marijuana and Wizkid’s Carol is blaring away on a speaker overhead. As we make our way through endless rows of bars and matchbox dwellings with skimpily dressed ladies, a couple of guys were playing snooker in a corner while others strolled by dazed by excessive use of Indian hemp and alcohol.

Blessing was one of the displaced prostitutes from Kuramo Beach. A pretty lady with big body parts, she winked at us as we approached smiling broadly.

“Aboy, how na. Come browse my tin na,” she said grinning from ear to ear and smelling of cheap perfume.

“How much for ST?” the reporter enquired.

“Na N5000!”

“Why na?” Na gold de there,” the reporter asked feigning shock. “Na how much last?”

“I wan f*ck you and your friend. Una money na N4k last but una go pay for room oh.”

Eventually we settle for N3000 but we decide to take a drink and she happily joins us. After two bottles of Odeku, Blessing is ready and roaring to go. “Aboy, make we go enjoy yourself na,” she says looking lustfully at us.

Indeed, Kuramo beach is a prostitute’s connoisseur’s paradise. During the peak periods, Blessing reveals that ST might go for as much as N3000 while TDB goes for as much as N7, 000. When ‘market is dull,’ Blessing says short time might go for as low as N 1,000, even less sometimes, depending on the customer’s bargaining power.

Ikeja/Opebi

A drive through Opebi, the epicentre of hustling any day of the week at night reveals a sea of female flesh especially at Peckers, an open air night club. As early as 8pm, Opebi Roundabout is overflowing with prostitutes in different shapes and sizes provocatively dressed. Here a lot of the girls are under graduates in universities.

“I am a student of LASU,” says light complexioned Grace dressed in a pair of bum shots, a sleeveless top and high heels. “I am not like all these other cheap girls you see around here. How could you offer me N3000 for TDB?” she says in a fit of anger waving her ID card. “If you want me give me my due!”

After calming her nerves over a couple of drinks, Grace reveals that a lot of UNILAG and LASU students hustle at Peckers and most of the clubs around Ikeja.

“I am young and my body is very flexible. I can handle like eight men on ST a night. The best part is when you get TDB which goes for between N7000 and N15, 000. But sometimes business could be bad especially during Ramadan. I use the money I make to fund my education and I also cater for my family in the East. I send them something every month.”

Are her folks aware of what she does for a living? “Never! If my parents knew they would disown me.”

Interview

I want to quit but – Edith, Italian returnee

Forty-five year-old Edith is a veteran in the flesh business but she is willing to throw in the towel and do something ‘meaningful’ to make ends meet. Saturday Sun caught up with her at home in Surulere, Lagos, and she opened up on the good, the bad and ugly sides of the job.

Is the business growing?

There are more people in it now compared to five years ago. There are so many young girls in it now. You can imagine a 20-year-old girl who has three ST at 3k each. It means she would make 9k within six hours.

So you went into it because of quick money?

Yeah, I must confess. I had a lot of problems as a single mother with two children. I had a misunderstanding with my husband and we fell apart. My second child was three years old when the marriage failed. In 1997 I left Nigeria for France. I had a madam but I never knew I was going into prostitution. I wanted the survival of my children. After a while I left France for Italy. I made a lot of money but my uncle failed to remit it into my Nigerian account. I worked hard over there but came back to nothing.

You must have slept with so many men to have made a huge amount of money?

No, you know it is foreign currency. I can’t remember the number of men I slept with but in a day, may be one or two but I made a lot of money even though they paid directly to the Madam.

How long did you live in Europe and what is your biggest regret?

My stay in France and Italy was for four years. I was deported but I had no regrets because I made money and I didn’t test positive to HIV. Today, I understand basic Italian but I also understand and speak French. When I returned to Benin because I am from Edo State, I felt so bad but when I set my eyes on my children, I was happy because they made me forget all the pains. Now, my daughter is 25 while my son is 22. My daughter will soon get married.

Do they know that you are in this kind of business?

No, they don’t. It is a secret that I will take to my grave. I have been in Lagos since 2002 and I send money to them in Benin.

One wonders if you still attract any attention at this age and how much would any young man be willing to pay for your service?

In the night you can hardly know who is beautiful or ugly because we spend a lot on makeup. I am 45 years-old now and some men still find me attractive and sometimes, young boys do approach me. Maybe, they are already high and just need a sharp sharp thing. TDB is usually from N5000 upward while ST is N3000 or less.

But you said you would like to quit this business?

I want to quit but if I quit, how do I pay my house rent and other bills? I make at least N5000 a day. I go to clinic at least once a week as I also do check-up. The business is favourable to the younger ladies because they are hot cake. Men always prefer the younger ones and it is tougher now. Police is the bane of the job. Besides, the business has been tough since the beginning of the year and patronage has dropped.

There are allegations that Juju plays important role in the business?

Some use it to attract customers. I don’t and I have never tried it. What I know is that ladies prefer married men because they are humble and pay promptly.

Do you experience depression because of your job?

I do. I drink alcohol and I also smoke. Anytime I am depressed and lonely I do all these. I prefer mature men. They like to advise prostitutes. I am fed up and I really need help, I want to quit.

Confessions of a runs babe

It is a cold Saturday evening and I am sited at a popular joint in Ikeja, Lagos, and waiting for my date for the evening. We met on facebook, chatted and exchanged numbers and now I was finally going to meet her face to face. What attracted me to Sandra (real name withheld) were her provocative pictures on facebook and her posts which suggested that she was a runs babe.

At exactly 6:30pm the door swung wide open and in strolled Sandra clutching a designer bag and looking like she just stepped off the Red Carpet of a Hollywood premiere. But don’t get carried away. Beneath the veneer is lurking a hardened runs babe who has seen it all and done it all. After a couple of drinks, Sandra was at home and was chattering like a cockatoo divulging how she entraps men on facebook and her escapades.

Once upon a time

Twenty-eight year-old Sandra, an indigene of Rivers State from a broken home reveals that until 10 years ago she was a good girl who went to church regularly and dreamed of the day she would meet the man of her dreams. But all that came crashing like a pack of dominoes after her mum’s boyfriend raped her and threatened that if she ever spoke up he would kill her.

“I was devastated. I couldn’t tell my mum and the abuse was getting worse and so one night I ran away from home.”

That journey brought her to Lagos in 2006 where she squatted at Kuramo Beach and was introduced to prostitution and also worked part time as a dancer and a stripper. She later got pregnant and even though the father of her child, a fellow squatter and drug dealer ordered her to have an abortion, she went ahead and had her baby. However, soon after his first birthday in 2008, he was kidnapped by a fellow prostitute and to this day she is yet to set eyes on her son whom she named Gallas.

“After Kuramo Beach was sealed I realised I had to up my game. I met a couple of friends who introduced me to a clique of girls and they let me know the advantage of using social media to hustle especially facebook. I have over 3000 followers. I get calls from lesbians and guys but I am straight.

“There was this manager of a popular joint in Lekki I befriended. He advised that if I wanted to hustle at his bar I had to be classy because most of their customers come there with their wives. I must not look trashy. I should come with a group of my friends say four or five and buy a bottle of Hennessey. He said that way only responsible men will be attracted to us.”

According to Sandra, dating a white guy is the best thing that could happen to a runs babe: “White guys are great because they pay well! There was this Jewish guy I hooked up with who spent so much money on me. He was staying at Eko Hotel and was about 68 years and all he loved was blow job.  He pays $150 per session. He takes me out and spoils me with gifts. I went for him because of the money. We met at the pool side of Eko Hotel.

“Sometimes they want you to tie them up and flog them or the reverse could be the case and I charge extra for that. Sometimes they want you and your girls to do it with them. There was this retreat politicians had at a popular resort in Lagos. We were there for a whole week and it was fun and when we left we all went home with N200k each.”

Loneliness

Despite all the money she makes, Sandra is lonely and depressed and says she needs a man in her life: “Even if you are doing this thing you must have someone in your life that you look up to. I don’t have a boyfriend. I am not lucky when it comes to love. I have never had a stable relationship.”

Sandra adds: “I want to build my career. I believe the hustling should be secondary. I just finished studying at Allianz Francais. I have not been going out for a while because I am trying to focus on my career. Every church I go to they have been prophesying to me. I was complaining that lately all the men I have been sleeping with have not been giving me good money when a prophetess told me that God was punishing me for refusing to heed His call by concentrating on my career.”

BIAFRA: I am ready to negotiate with FG- Kanu

ABUJA—Detained  leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, said he was ready to negotiate with the Federal Government to regain his freedom from Kuje Prison. Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television,  has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

He is answering to a six-count treason charge alongside two other pro-Biafra agitators, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu. Trial Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on January 20, ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison  custody, pending the determination of the case against them. Meanwhile, briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday, Kanu, through his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, denied having any links with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND. The IPOB leader said he never gave MEND the nod to negotiate with the federal government for his release from detention. “In the past few days, the media was awash with news on negotiation going on between the Federal Government and the members of MEND, where our client’s name (Nna-mdi Kanu) conspi-cuously featured. “It is on that note that we wish to inform the general public that Nnamdi Kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any form of relationship with the members of MEND. “As such, MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation, going on between MEND and the Federal Govern-ment. “The general public is accordingly advised to ignore, discountenance and disregard the falsehood being peddled by MEND. Nnamdi Kanu does not know them! “However, Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to political solution, in resolving his present politically orchestrated ordeal. Kanu welcomes genuine political solution to this case. “The FG does not need to sponsor their repre-sentatives to travel to far away Bayelsa State or the creeks of Niger Delta region, in order to reach Nnamdi Kanu. They know where they kept him, which is easily accessible to them.

Arsenal name ‘injured’ Mertesacker captain

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has been named as the Premier League club’s new captain even though the injured German may not play again this year.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger defended the curious decision and said he will choose from a pool of experienced players to lead the side during Mertesacker’s prolonged absence.

“Per is a very respected figure in the dressing room, is loved as well and is also a very demanding figure,” Wenger told Arsenal Player.

“I think it is absolutely natural to be him. In his absence that’s where it will be taken by the assistants

“One of them will be Laurent Koscielny, also Santi Cazorla – the experienced players – Petr Cech maybe.

“We will have a group of people that will take care of the energy levels and the problems of the team. That will be down a lot to the experienced players.”

Arsenal needed to appoint a new captain following Mikel Arteta’s departure in the close-season.

The Spaniard’s injury problems over the last two seasons have seen several players fill in as temporary captain.

Mertesacker, who joined Arsenal from Werder Bremen in 2011, captained the side on occasions last season before he was dropped as Wenger preferred to partner Gabriel with Koscielny at the heart of his defence..

Police confirm killing of 3 persons in Akokwa Imo State

DSP Andrew Enwerem, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) who confirmed the incident in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Owerri, said some others sustained injuries. He explained that an unidentified man, said to be from the northern part of Nigeria, had run amok and killed a girl and a woman and thereafter killed himself. He said some aggrieved youths immediately went for reprisal attacks. This he said led to some other persons sustaining various degrees of injuries. According to Enwerem, the report came to the Imo police headquarters not long after the incident occurred and the commissioner of police deployed anti-riot policemen who stopped the incident from spreading further. “Report to police showed that a yet to be identified northerner ran amok at Akokwa community and used weapons to attack and kill a girl and a woman and thereafter killed himself’’, he said. Enwerem said the problem has been brought under control, adding that normalcy has returned to the area. A witness had told NAN that the girl killed was hawking snacks when the northerner suddenly chased her till she ran to an elderly woman for protection. The witness added that the man attacked both the girl and the woman with shovel resulting to their immediate death. He said that the killing sparked off reprisal attack by the youths and the killing of the attacker, while some others sustained various degrees of injuries. NAN learnt that Police and other security agencies deployed to the community are still there as at press time to prevent the clash from spreading

Two members of Niger Delta Avengers arrested

The Nigerian Navy, on Saturday, paraded two suspects believed to members of the dreaded militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, who were apprehended by men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta.

Parading the suspects at the Warri Naval Base, Warri, Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve said the suspects were behind series of attack on oil and gas facilities especially in Warri South West Council Area of the state.

Commodore Dzunve, disclosed that the suspects were behind the attacks on Chevron Nigerian Limited (CNL) facilities within May and July 2016.

The two suspects who were identified as Stanley Toghan and Felix Miyenminiye were arrested in Sapele area of the state.

According to the Naval Chief, “You are all aware of the recent series of attack on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta and in particular Delta State for which some groups/persons have claimed responsibilities.

“Today, I am pleased to inform you that after persistent efforts, the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, being part of the maritime component of the Operation Delta Safe, has arrested two suspects responsible for the attack on Chevron facilities, witnessed between May and July2016, around Warri North axis of Delta state.”