Nigeria Surprised By News Of Possible U.S. Travel Restrictions

Zainab Ahmed at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Jan. 23.Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

BY HASLINDA AMIN, RUTH OLUROUNBI

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND(BLOOMBERG)--Nigeria’s government was surprised by the news that the U.S. is considering travel restrictions on its citizens and the ban would mean officials will have to find new ways to meet with investors, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed said.

Nigeria is one of seven countries, more than half of which are in Africa, included in a list that may be affected if the Homeland Security Department’s recommendation to expand restrictions is approved, according to a person familiar with the matter. President Donald Trump is reviewing it. The other African states targeted because of security concerns are Eritrea, Sudan and Tanzania.

Nigeria’s government was surprised by the news that the U.S. is considering travel restrictions on its citizens and the ban would mean officials will have to find new ways to meet with investors, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed said.

Nigeria is one of seven countries, more than half of which are in Africa, included in a list that may be affected if the Homeland Security Department’s recommendation to expand restrictions is approved, according to a person familiar with the matter. President Donald Trump is reviewing it. The other African states targeted because of security concerns are Eritrea, Sudan and Tanzania.

Nigeria, which vies with South Africa to be the continent’s biggest economy, is struggling to boost economic growth after a 2016 contraction. The International Monetary Fund projects gross domestic product will expand 2.5% this year. The possible travel restrictions won’t hurt growth, Ahmed said.

“We have some very active investors in the Nigerian bond market that are in the U.S. and also some that have taken up our Eurobonds,” Ahmed said. “We connect with them directly and through our advisers such as Standard Chartered and Citibank, who have offices in the U.S.”

While Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer, it imports fuel and relies on foreign investment inflows to help prop up the naira.

Zainab said she’s met with investors in London to discuss the possibility of issuing naira-denominated bonds on the London Stock Exchange.

“We are very positive that we will be able to refinance our debt obligations as well as acquire new financing to fund our major infrastructure projects,” she said.

Tanzania’s government hasn’t received confirmation that the country is being considered for a travel ban.

“We are also reading these reports from the media,” Emmanuel Buhohela, director of communications at the foreign-affairs ministry, said by phone. “So for now we are still waiting for official communication before we can react.”

— With assistance by Kenneth Karuri

AHIA MGBEDE: Alex Goma: Outsiders Will Not Fix Our League For Us

Alex Goma. Image: Twitter

BY HARRY IWUALA

It’s not every day you run into company executives who show active interest in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) but Alexander Goma is as big as they come and as intense as any diehard fan can be.

Goma, the head of Grand CereaIs, a subsidiary of United African Company (UAC) was one of the over 20,000 fans that thronged the new Jos Township Stadium to see the MatchDay 14 fixture between his favourite side, Plateau United and the visiting Akwa United. 

The fixture made it to the top billing of the MatchDay for a number of reasons with the main being that both sides were led by Managers who were immediate past Dugout leaders for the two teams. 

Kennedy Boboye came with Akwa United hoisting a bragging flag of being the only Coach that has led the Jos side to the league title and riding a current crest of five games unbeaten.

On the other bench is the cerebral Abdu Maikaba, a former college lecturer turned football Coach who at Akwa United, led the team to its first-ever national Cup win in the Aiteo Federation Cup before switching to Jos last season. 

Goma, soft-spoken but very cosmopolitan describes himself as “a lover of the round leather game”. Interestingly, he not just loves the game, he takes part as a player, match official, and fan. He’s a complete football man. 

“I have been a grade 2 referee in the past and currently play weekend football with Belle United FC Lagos, Naija Gunners in Lagos and Pro Leisure FC in Jos. I am a supporter of Arsenal and Plateau United”, he said to www.npfl.ng in a chat.

Goma is not a today’s Plateau United follower, he goes way back and said the affection was generally for Jos-based sides. 

Given that Mighty Jets used to be the dominant side in Jos with a comparatively illustrious pedigree, Goma said of his journey in Jos football: “Well, Mighty Jets has always been there and I admire and support them given they are from Jos plus the defunct Octopus FC of Jos but I grew outside Jos so there was never any real emotional connection. 

“I started watching football actively in Jos when JIB Rocks took over Nigerian Standard FC and the brand of football they played was outstanding. They didn’t care if it was home or away, they played on the ground and made you enjoy the game. Of course, they metamorphosed into Plateau United when the state Govt tried to merge both JIB Rocks and Mighty Jets. Of course the core Jets supporters split and Plateau United stayed on.” 

It would appear Goma has been prepared by Plateau United’s trophy drought to face what he has been going through as a supporter of English club, Arsenal that’s has won titles far and in between. 

Recalling the 2017 season when Plateau United broke their league title bogey, Goma, who has worked as Managing Director, Consumer at PZ Cussons, said, “Oh, It felt good. At least I got some bragging rights especially since Arsenal hadn’t won in a long time. I think beyond football, it was also something positive and of pride to the state” 

“I also liked the manner they achieved the victory by playing good football”.

In Nigeria, rival football fans of mostly European Clubs engage in what is called ‘gbas gbos’, a parlance for banters, something that’s not as widespread in followers of the NPFL. 

But Goma says he still has some friends that he engages in audio battles for his beloved Plateau United. 

“Yes I do have a number of friends though they are less into the local league”, he began and added. “I remember when I got an authentic Rangers jersey for one of them on his birthday. The look on his face was priceless” 

He seems to have found a balance for his dual support for Plateau United and Arsenal, noting that it has been natural to belong to the Plateau United crowd being his city and state club. 

He explains it thus: “Well, I guess for me it’s first about identity. I am proud of my roots and will always support my home club. Arsenal was adopted and initially was more because of the number of blacks that played in the team in 1977 when I started supporting and became stronger when I also understood the club’s philosophy” 

It’s also about the fact that things may be backward with our league and outsiders will not fix it and we have to fix it. The economic, social and psychological value that is waited to be reaped if we get our acts together is unbelievable. You can’t suggest what can be done if you don’t understand the local league”. 

Most often, a good number of those that denigrates the NPFL in comparison with European club football leagues, fail to properly make critical diagnosis of the peculiar challenges of the league, especially in the areas of infrastructure deficit and capacity of the economy to breed companies that can provide the financial muzzle by way of sponsorship of the league. 

Goma agreed that while the league has huge potentials, there are areas that need to be addressed to attract and win over bands of younger generation fans. 

His words, “There are a couple of things I think need to be fixed. We need to make the facilities enjoyable and safe for the family to watch. We have to create that atmosphere in the stadia for people to feel safe and want to come. So the focus on infrastructure should be about what will drive that”. 

He also canvassed that there should be a deliberate approach to improve the pitches and provide conveniences such as facilities for dining or relaxation and safety.

He’s not impressed with security provisions at match venues, saying, “Security today is a Joke, we don’t think of basics like not even allowing bottled water in because it can be used as a missile”. 

From his marketing background, he offers business tips to the clubs,; “The merchandising aspect needs to be developed. It’s hard to find authentic local jerseys. I was lucky to know the shirt sponsor for me to get a Plateau United shirt”. 

Goma also suggested that the clubs must retain trained personnel to manage different aspects of its operations. 

“We need to have professional people running different aspects of a club. Have to create proper academies that teach young people skills and also build their minds and prepare them for a life outside football”, he further advised. 

He suggested that the League Management Company (LMC) may have to consider avoiding timing clash with the English Premier League (EPL) which seems to have become a bug to the country’s huge young population. 

Goma also would love to see the LMC enforce regulations that will place time limits for stadium development as part of conditions to admit a club to play in the NPFL. 

While advocating for holistic government intervention in the provision of infrastructure, he insists that “Yes, it has to be part of the agreement to be put in place before acceptance of a club into the league. If LMC says in two years’ time this will be the required standards, the clubs will put in place. 

“Also the Govt will take that into consideration. The LMC can commission and have like a standard prototype for stadia as the basic and you can go beyond that if you so wish”. 

We returned our chat to Plateau United after the foray into league structure, management, and development. As a football player and analyst, Goma commended the club and their opponent on the day for playing well. 

He said, “the game was solid from them. They had control of the game. I think they have the potential but they have to fix the attacking unit. 

“In the first 15 mins, they could have been 3-0 up. I am not sure they have a clinical finisher 

“Their right-back was exposed a couple of times by the left-winger of Akwa United. He improved in the second half. And some poor decision making overall when they were attacking”, he said of the fixture he watched. 

He would not commit to predicting another trophy season for the side he saw, declaring, “No sure bankers. They should focus on playing well and getting results. I will take it one game at a time Winning is what the Coach is paid for, let him have that headache. I want to enjoy each game and if they win, it will be a bonus”. 

On his return to the stands to watch the NPFL fixture, Goma went nostalgic, admitting that, ‘It brought back memories because it’s been a while since I watched a game there”, promising that he would be inviting along friends with shared passion for the club when attending next time 

On improving the perception of the domestic league football, Goma advised the organisers to create value for the business community to invest in and to those who criticise from afar, he dared them, “You have to come close to understand and that can help in deciding when and how to support. Its a business at the end of the day even though it has social and communal value.

SOURCE: NPFL

Nigerian Troops Win Back Cities From Extremists

People pose for a photograph at the Emir palace in Mubi , Nigeria. With a military escort instead of the usual pomp, the Emir of Mubi was reinstalled Friday in his palace, where until recently the black-and-white flag of Nigeria’s Islamic extremists, Boko Haram, flew. An army tank now guards Mubi’s town gate fortified by sandbags, as residents return from the mountain hideouts where they hid while their city was held for more than a month by the Islamic extremists.

MUBI, NIGERIA (ASSOCIATED PRESS) — With a military escort instead of the usual pomp, the Emir of Mubi was reinstalled Friday in his palace, where until recently flew the black-and-white flag of Nigeria's Islamic extremists, Boko Haram.

An army tank now guards Mubi's town gate, fortified by sandbags, as residents return from the mountain hideouts where they hid while their city was held for more than a month by the militants. After weeks of setbacks and reports that soldiers ran away when Boko Haram attacked, Nigeria's military, including newly deployed Special Forces, have gone on the offensive and have recaptured some cities and towns that had been held by Boko Haram.

All is not yet back to normal in Mubi. Bodies of militants still litter one street — testimony to hard fighting by Nigerian soldiers who won back the town a week ago. They were helped by air raids, traditional hunters armed with guns and spears as well as vigilantes carrying clubs prickling with nails and other homemade weapons.

The emir's cavalcade drove by bombed out buildings, burned out armored personnel carriers, vandalized banks and government offices looted when the extremists seized the town in October. Banks are still shut and cell phone service is disconnected but the dozens of people who have returned home welcomed their traditional Muslim monarch, Emir Abubakar Isa Ahmadu.

"We appreciate the gallant efforts of the Nigerian military, hunters and vigilantes that saw the liberation of our towns," he told a handful of cheering supporters gathered to welcome him home. Later, at Friday prayers, the ruler said he was optimistic that other centers in northeastern Nigeria will soon be won back from Boko Haram.

"As you can see, we have started opening our shops in a peaceful atmosphere," said market trader Malam Garba Musa. "This is a welcome development, because when the Boko Haram guys were having a field day, they could pounce on you callously at any time."

Mubi, a major commercial center of more than 200,000 with an important cattle market that draws traders from across Nigeria's borders, is the biggest city to be recaptured. Others include Gombi, Hong and Maiha.

The militants are still attacking. Gajigana, a border town between Niger and Nigeria, was attacked by the extremists on Thursday and 11 people were killed. Major buildings were burned down but Boko Haram did not succeed in capturing the town.

Other cities and towns in the northeast remain controlled by Boko Haram who have forced young men to join their ranks, killed traditional, government and religious leaders and kidnapped scores of young women and girls. They have declared an Islamic caliphate in the large area they control and are enforcing their version of strict Shariah law, with public beheadings, amputations and whippings.

Thousands have been killed this year alone and tens of thousands driven from their homes in recent months, many sheltering in neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Halima Ibrahim's story is similar to many. She enjoyed a comfortable in Damassak town with her husband and seven children until the insurgents arrived on Nov. 24.

They shot her husband in front of her and took off with her two eldest girls, aged 11 and 12. She and her remaining children fled across the border to Niger, along with some 16,000 people from the Damassak, where they now live in a makeshift emergency camp at Gagamari village.

"I was there with my husband's body and with the children. They selected two of my children. What am I going to do?" Ibrahim, who is six months' pregnant, told aid workers from ECHO, the European Union humanitarian agency that delivered the first food for the refugees.

Many of the refugees are from families separated in the chaos of battle — children who have lost their parents and parents searching for children, ECHO said. The EU this week unblocked an additional 5 million euros to help some 1.6 million Nigerians forced from their homes by the Islamic insurgency. Niger declared a "humanitarian crisis" in the area, where refugees look across the river at a homemade black and white flag of Boko Haram painted with two assault rifles crossed over the Quran.

Faul reported from York, England.

Polish Model Anja Rubik at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival

On the main concept behind the magazine 25 which was relaunched on Wednesday night, May 22, 2012, in an interview with Oyster Magazine Rubik said;

"I love this magazine from the late 60s, early 70s, called Viva, which was a Penthouse publication for women. It was very erotic, very sensual and I was looking through it and thinking, “What happened to erotica?” because, now, the whole idea of erotic sensuality has disappeared and the approach to sex and nudity is very awkward — either it is really ‘cool’ or really trashy. So we decided to bring the idea of erotica in the 70s back to life. I also wanted the magazine to be about very ambitious, very strong women and so I started looking at people in my field — especially the photographers who are so incredible — but I started thinking that there are so few female photographers; so I worked with many female photographers. And the issue is about very strong women, very ambitious; she does what she wants and she is comfortable with her sexuality."