Get to eat!
A boat ride on the Nile.
At the background is the imposing Burj Al Fateh
Just finished accreditation @ the National Elections Commission Press Office
4/16/10
News Line
Bush, Blair should be facing ICC-Bashir· National Unity Government in the offing
By Emmanuel Ogbeche, Khartoum, Sudan
President Omar Al Bashir, Thursday, took a swipe at his indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague, as an imperialist organ for political persecution of leaders opposed to Western ideology, insisting that former President George Bush and Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Britain should be facing the court rather than him.
The president also gave an indication that he was ready to have a National Unity Government especially with parties that share similar programmes and policies in order to promote national consolidation and coherence.
Bashir who spoke through his assistant, Dr. Nafle Ali Nafle expressed the regret that those who have destroyed Iraq and shed millions of blood, encourages Israel to shoot at civilians at the occupied West Bank, were the ones dictating world’s morality.
The president while commending the African Union (AU) for opposing his indictment however said his expected victory at the poll would confirm that the indictment means nothing to the people of Sudan.
Speaking on the elections, Ali Nafle praised the National Elections Commission (NEC) for the successes they were able to record during the five-day of voting, stressing that though the election was not the fairest in the world, it was up to internationally prescribed standard.
Nafle used the occasion while speaking a group of select foreign journalists that the accusation of the opposition of a pre-determined outcome was not unexpected since they did not campaign as hard as the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) which started wooing voters about five years ago.
“The NCP worked hard to win this election. Remember this elections was initially slated for 2009 going by the 2005 agreement but with the latest CPA signing in DOHA, the elections was agreed by all the parties for 2010. We started five years ago to work towards this election and had structures all over the country. So any talk against the NEC is illogical, insensible and unfounded.
“The members of NEC are credible persons that all the parties agreed. So all those claims by the opposition is not reasonable,” Nafle stated.
He also said it was not possible for the government to be dissolved before elections given the time frame for the Darfur referendum which is slated for January next year in line with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to determine whether the south of the country want to continue as one country.
He expressed the desire of the NCP for the Sudan to remain as one country; therefore the party would be campaigning in the south as to why the people of the Christian and animists dominated south should vote for a united country.
He however gave the assurance that whatever the outcome of the referendum, the central government in Sudan would honour it.
According to him, Europe and the West were moving towards integration; therefore the Sudan and all other African countries should not be an exception.
In what appeared to be a warning to the opposition’s threat to encourage street protests and public dissent after the results are announced, the president’s assistant said no such thing would be permitted by the government and warned that the government would take firm action against those encouraging public discontent, but guaranteeing peoples liberties to free speech which do not threaten the country’s stability.
Days before the first ballot was cast and subsequently, opposition political parties have been accusing the NEC of being biased in favour of the ruling party and called for a Unity National Government to conduct the poll which if not the result would be rejected.
FG to establish Diaspora Commission
By Emmanuel Ogbeche
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that the Federal Government is soon to establish a Diaspora Commission that would harmonise the contributions of Nigerians living overseas and document their inputs in national development.
Jonathan made this known when addressing the Nigerian Community in the US, Washington DC, to round off his four-day visit to the United States, said the establishment of the commission would afford the government proper records of the Diaspora contribution.
According to him: “We want to upgrade the Diaspora department in foreign affairs to the level of a commission to coordinate experts in the Diaspora. We are looking at establishing the commission before the end of this administration, in the next 12 months.”
Applauding the contributions of Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Acting president observed that most of them have become some of the best in their chosen professions across the globe, promising that the government would continue to acknowledge the contributions of these noteworthy ambassadors, while thanking them for promoting the country’s image positively internationally.
He urged the Diaspora not to relent in making positive contributions towards nation-building, noting that the task of given the country a positive image is a collective responsibility.
Taking question on the power sector, Jonathan said government is in the process of diversifying the sources of power generation, and is putting in place relevant legislations and enabling conditions to promote public – private partnership to boost the sector.
“The compelling need to introduce a concept to ensure efficiency in the sector informed my decision to personally oversee the Ministry of Power,” he said.
On the 2011 polls, Jonathan reassured: “We are confident that the 2011 elections will be better than previous ones held in Nigeria.”
He said the Federal Government is taking bold steps to revamp the poor state of infrastructure in the country by embarking on major construction and expansion of national infrastructure particularly in transportation, healthcare and education.
On corruption, Jonathan urged the Diaspora, “You must not only shun corruption but join in efforts to combat it. You have roles in this crusade, including acting as whistle blowers and providing relevant information to track and prosecute corrupt Nigerians.”
By Emmanuel Ogbeche
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that the Federal Government is soon to establish a Diaspora Commission that would harmonise the contributions of Nigerians living overseas and document their inputs in national development.
Jonathan made this known when addressing the Nigerian Community in the US, Washington DC, to round off his four-day visit to the United States, said the establishment of the commission would afford the government proper records of the Diaspora contribution.
According to him: “We want to upgrade the Diaspora department in foreign affairs to the level of a commission to coordinate experts in the Diaspora. We are looking at establishing the commission before the end of this administration, in the next 12 months.”
Applauding the contributions of Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Acting president observed that most of them have become some of the best in their chosen professions across the globe, promising that the government would continue to acknowledge the contributions of these noteworthy ambassadors, while thanking them for promoting the country’s image positively internationally.
He urged the Diaspora not to relent in making positive contributions towards nation-building, noting that the task of given the country a positive image is a collective responsibility.
Taking question on the power sector, Jonathan said government is in the process of diversifying the sources of power generation, and is putting in place relevant legislations and enabling conditions to promote public – private partnership to boost the sector.
“The compelling need to introduce a concept to ensure efficiency in the sector informed my decision to personally oversee the Ministry of Power,” he said.
On the 2011 polls, Jonathan reassured: “We are confident that the 2011 elections will be better than previous ones held in Nigeria.”
He said the Federal Government is taking bold steps to revamp the poor state of infrastructure in the country by embarking on major construction and expansion of national infrastructure particularly in transportation, healthcare and education.
On corruption, Jonathan urged the Diaspora, “You must not only shun corruption but join in efforts to combat it. You have roles in this crusade, including acting as whistle blowers and providing relevant information to track and prosecute corrupt Nigerians.”
AGF advocates 75years as retiring age for JudgesBy Ipole Amajama
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), Thursday, canvassed for an upward review of the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court Justices from the present 70 years to 75 years.
He however noted that the justices would be given the liberty to enjoy a regime where the 70 years should be an optional retirement age.
Adoke who made the call at the valedictory session at the Supreme Court, Abuja, in honour of Justice James Ogenyi Ogebe who retired, stressed, “I am certain that if we can adopt such a regime, we will get the most out of our judges at appellate level due to the fearlessness, candor and courage which comes with old age and which are the attributes that out judiciary needs to constantly exhibit.”
According to him, since the National Assembly is going through the amendment of 1999 Constitution, it would be apt “for us to use the opportunity of the valedictory session to raise the issue of the appropriate retirement age for our judges.
“It has become obvious in the light of our contemporary experience and the tireless post-retirement activities of several of our otherwise retired justices of the appellate courts, that the time has come for is as a nation to take a second look at the present constitutional provisions relating to the retirement age of our judges who serve on the appellate courts.”
Speaking at his valedictory, Justice, Ogebe cautioned that corrupt lawyers should not be appointed to the Bench saying that such a judge “is a curse to the system.”
He also condemned the appointment of judges on the basis of federal character, a practice he said, “Breeds mediocrity and distorts the well cherished value of merit and seniority at the bar, with resultant inefficiency in the system.”
Ogebe who delivered the judgment upholding President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s election advised for the pruning down of the nation’s political parties “to at most three with for independent candidates if we are to reduce the flood of election petitions that have been bogging down the judiciary every election year and thereafter,” arguing that reducing the number of the political parties would usher in political progress and that by so doing, entrench internal democracy within their ranks would be assured.
NUJ @ 55: IBB charges journalists on professionalism
By Emmanuel Ogbeche
Journalists in Nigeria have been charged to embrace professionalism and dedication to fatherland as was the case that won the country her independence.
This call was made by former Military ruler, President Ibrahim Babangida at the 55th anniversary celebrations of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The former General who was represented by Alhaji Saleh Jambo remarked that journalism as practiced in the country at present was no longer that which was known in the past as media practitioners have derailed from their sacred responsibility of bringing the country together to dividing it.
“Journalists should dispassionately try to bring this country together; we are indeed at a cross roads in our political history and it then your duty to make sure that what the president said in terms of bringing in the right people to be our leaders have got what it takes,” he observed.
IBB said though Nigeria was diverse with many tribes and cultures, it was important for it to remain as one entity urging practitioners to always carry out their roles in ensuring the country does not break up, lamenting that it was common now for the journalist to pour venom on particular individuals which was against the grain of the profession.
“In our case it seems that ours has never been a history, rather it has been a recurring decimal we keep shifting and heaping and picking out various individuals especially our leaders, serving heads of states, ministers. I think there is a limit to which we can, everybody knows that to err is human and to forgive is divine. We all make our mistakes” he said.
He added that at 55, the union should rally internally to create the desired change because true change can only come from within.
In his address Secretary to the Government of the Federation Yayale Ahmed who was represented by Alhaji Suleiman Kazzim while noting that the challenges of journalism were centered on ethics of the profession, competence, fairness and accuracy.
He called on journalists to play their roles in nation building by imbibing and making patriotism, sincerity, transparency and honesty their companions at all times and to also be intellectually equipped as without these characteristics’ and competencies, it would be difficult for them to set the agenda for national discourse or contribute meaningfully to it.
Redeploy Allison-Madueke to another Ministry, group appeals to Acting presidentBy Goddy Ezeike
An appeal has gone out to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to redeploy Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke to another ministry in the interest of the oil and gas industry and for Nigerians at large.
A Non-Governmental Organization, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), which made the appeal recently in Asaba, Delta state, argued that the Allison-Madueke as petroleum minister would predictably undermine the strategic oil and gas sector because of her “unbroken strong connection with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
The Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Mr. Nnnimo Bassey answering questions from newsmen in Asab Wednesday, said that the body’s opposition to the minister was based on the strong ties with the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, which would likely make her compromise on protecting the interest of Nigeria.
Bassey stressed that since an official of Shell was reported to have publicly said that the company “will reject any oil policy by Nigeria unacceptable to Shell,” the appointment of the new petroleum minister who has earlier been a management staff of Shell would “lead to the doctoring of Nigeria’s oil policy, and primarily the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that is so critical to the oil sector reforms in the country.
According to him, “The person appointed as the new Petroleum Minister is first and foremost a Shell Person, even though she hails from the Niger-Delta,” adding, “We are vehemently opposed to a Shell person as Petroleum Minister. We sincerely believe this is a very blind action by Dr Jonathan.”
He stressed that the environmental rights group was not kicking against the woman “not because of her educational qualifications or even her competence – even though Nigerians found her tenure as transport minister uninspiring – but because she will actually be implementing the policies of Shell as Petroleum Minister.”
Bassey, therefore, advised the Acting President to immediately re-deploy Madueke to another ministry now that she is yet to settle down fully in the petroleum ministry, insisting that her deployment to the Petroleum Ministry “is a very dangerous trend that could be likened to the appointment of a British-American Tobacco Company to head the Nigerian Commerce department.”He recalled how “Mrs. Allison-Madueke, on being appointed Transport Minister, had adorned herself in Shell overalls and went to the deplorable Benin-Ore road, where she shed tears over the poor condition of Nigeria highways.”
Entertainment vibes
I’m confused about myself - Mr. IbuJohn Ikechukwu Okafor (Aka Mr. Ibu), is something like the proverbial Golden Fish with no hiding place. Each time he makes a public appearance, he is besieged by fans owing to his comic character in most of his movies. To many, he is about the best comic figure on the Nigerian movie scene. Recently, he spoke to some journalists, including Our Editor, Emmanuel Ogbeche on his career, Nollywood and issues of general interest.
Excerpts:
How do you handle public attention because it seems wherever you go people can’t let you be?
Anywhere I come out, I would not say that this is one special reason why it’s like this; but I’m beginning to appreciate that there is something I have in me that people love so much. I might say I don’t know. I might say I know very well because before you can make anybody laugh anywhere, you must have little or more stupidity in you that could make people laugh. So, if I have enough stupidity in me, that makes people to laugh because there must be stupidity for people to laugh and that’s the comedy in it.
How does it make you feel in a country where everybody ought to be sad because of hardship, when they see you they begin to laugh?
Among those people that are laughing, there must be somebody or few of them that may not be laughing, which means that my comedy is smaller than their problems or their problem is bigger than my comedy. So, I have to increase and mix it with those who are laughing already to be able to put a little smile on their faces because a little smile is a big dosage to life.
Looking at Nollywood, what would you say it has done for Nigerians?
Whether we like it or not, only Nigerians refuse to acknowledge the presence of Nollywood and entertainment generally in Nigeria. Sometimes, government invites us to some official functions; some of us will come and talk. Some will anchor and all that. But I can tell you that in the international communities, we are regarded more than in this country. We still have a problem here. We don’t have a home of our own. We don’t have Games Village as big as Nigeria is and as big as Nollywood in Africa. Whether we like it or not Nigeria is the head of Nollywood in Africa. We initiated the move and it was a wonderful result ever since we started. I just came back from a South African / Nigerian movie production, which we made together for the first time. The problem is the market.
What is wrong with the market?
The market is down. Pirates have taken over the market and that’s why we need government assistance. The government could come in now to shelter us and we stay under their shield. But the interest is not there because maybe Nigeria has problems which are considered to be bigger than the entertainment industry. That may be why attention is not given to us.
But there is a government agency that takes care of piracy. Are you saying it’s not working well?
My brother, I don’t want to blame anybody anyway, but I’m telling you that I’m crying. If I am crying, I’m crying on behalf of Nollywood. I’m crying on behalf of the entertainment industry because what we are supposed to be doing is not what we are doing right now. I’m talking about those who are supposed be there for us. We toil to produce our movies. We suffer to get our money back and in the process, government collects a whooping amount N50,000 or N40,000 to censor one movie. In a situation where we produce about 50 movies in a month and we pay about N50,000, you know how much we have been giving to the government that refused to take good care of us.
In specific terms, what do you want government to do?
First of all there is a body; there is a ministry or commission that we are actually under. Let this ministry come to our aid. We will tell them what we want. If they call us to find out our problem, we will be able to tell them what our problem is. But sometimes, bad eggs are still with us. If government releases anything to the wrong hand, you and I won’t even know when they release it and when they take it to where or to their own pocket. God forbid for such a thing to happen again. We are praying that the people that are supposed to be there will be there for us.
So many things have happened in the industry and I don’t want to actually point anybody out. But I’m telling you we have bad eggs even in the industry.
There are so many criticisms about the films you make in Nollywood. You either paint the country in bad light, it’s either ritual, money making, 419 or whatever. Is there no way you people can look inwards and begin to correct some of these negative aspects of the films you make? Other than paint the country in bad light?
If those things stop, it won’t happen in the industry. We are on our own and people bring stories to us. Those of them who are not in the industry that come with their stories and sponsor it by themselves, all we have to do is to act it. If this voodoo thing stops, it will stop in the industry. If 419 stops it will stop in the industry. It’s chicken, fishing or hunting. Now, I’m helping those who need help through me and I will do that by God Almighty.
In the industry itself, there appears to be a lot of un-professionalism. A lot of actors and actresses who are involved in Nollywood are not trained. Doesn’t it bother you?
That is an in-house thing and we know how to tackle it. There are those who are not even supposed to be there, but they come because they might bring one sponsor or another from outside. because the person brings a sponsor, you have to choose him because the sponsor could be a member of his or her family.
1/13/10
Friends
Friends
Originally uploaded by emmaogbeche
Sophie, me, Crystal and Charlie, Golda Meir International Institute Haifa, Israel
Rashmi and I
Rashmi and I
Originally uploaded by emmaogbeche
It was a beautiful Haifa evening, the laughter was great with friends and it just felt perfect to share love with this simple rose with someone speacial.
5/29/09
Features
.JPG)
Utako: The last slum standing?
Is it the last slum standing? And it is right in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory nestled in the fast growing nouveau rich neigbourhood that bears the same name. Like all slums, it is an eye sore to behold with stench-reeking, stagnated pool of black puddles running right through peoples’ cardboard-like houses. The squalid environment is a haven for social miscreants, prostitutes and their likes. The children, mostly looking gaunt and malnourished are most times playing on the huge garbage heap just a door step away. Our Managing Editor, Imiewanlan Oyakhire explores the living conditions of the residents and their fate given the construction of a General Hospital less than 50 metres from the ‘village.’ His report:
A serving senior Police officer once, unofficially, described Abuja as a magical city. It was just his expressive way of describing what he termed ‘artificial lifestyle’ in the Federal Capital Territory: where everything is assumed to be all right even at their very unpleasing state.
Take for instance accommodation, which defiles all known economic theory and market forces of demand and supply. There are unoccupied beautiful mansions and expansive estates everywhere occupied only by rodents and reptiles; yet, accommodation in Abuja for the ordinary man is unavailable. Availability is a factor of your capacity to afford and your affordability determines where you live. Where you live is, by and large, dependent on your economic power.
Like several other major capital cities in the world, Abuja in terms of accommodation is costly and naturally, it segregates, filtering the economically privileged from the not-so-privileged. The unfortunate, in this context, are often relegated to remote settlements, villages and satellites towns and slums.
As sure as natural laws in the affairs of men, it is also natural with the evolution of cities that it filters its inhabitants given the economic criteria. But a community, by its strange existence in a unique location, seems to have defiled that economic posit. The community is in Utako, a slum, but its ‘owners’ say it is a village, set in the heart of Abuja city.
Squashed in between a network of roads on all four sides, Obafami Awolowo, Augustus Aikhomu, Okonjo Iweala Way and Ajose Adeogun Close, the village covers less ten thousand square meters and a dense population of about three thousand people.
Its apparent existence in such a unique location catches attention that one would be prodded to ask, how has the community survived, without being ejected; not even in the restructuring and demolition years of Mallam Nasir el-Rufi’a, the no nonsense former FCT minister?
The secretary to the village, Chief Danjuma Daniel, Dansamani of Utako, whom the Etsu of Utako, Chief Audu Isah authourised to speak on behalf of the community to our correspondent said: “Well this is where we inherited. It is not easy for people to come and say move out from your inheritance. And when you move, where are you moving to? It is where we grew. It is where we met our elders and our parents.”
Though a unique village, due to its strange spot, it has the characteristics of a typical rural village setting, and even some peculiarity to it. Utako village is distinctively squalid and the pattern of unorganized and crammed buildings underlines this. No roads, no streets, residents junket through channels of footpaths that interlink the houses. The houses are borderless; each compound runs into another uninhibited. There are many footpaths as there are houses. However, no matter the footpath you trek, it surely leads you to somewhere!
The community is rich in gutters. Channels of dirty water flow freely from the compounds to no known destination while contents on the routes lay bare, stagnant in the open. The contents come in an assortment of forms as the lifestyle of each compound and nature of business transactions in the compounds that pass as both suburban and marketplace. To an unfamiliar person or visitor to the community, the atmosphere at first appeal, looks hazardous: polluted with mix of noises from grinding machines, vehicles and carbon monoxide from the always busy roads and the waste water from both bath, commercial and household use. The dangerous nature of the pathetic health situation can be felt from a distance from the village. Opposite the community, at Arab contractors end, is an open field that forever oozes foul odour of human waste. This is the foremost clear sign, even if you have not come within the reach of Utako village that a community without toilet facilities live close by. According to David Olovi, a resident, “we live here because we don’t have another place. But Business here is good.” Business, as operational in the village, is basically trading in articles and wares. The village’s core business attractiveness is in the sale of alcohol of various brands at various drinking spots. Food, as Pap (akamu), fried beans cake (kose) and fried yam are exceptionally cheap.
There is also a boom in sex trade. Though there are no hotels in the village, several prostitutes, due to the community’s strategic location and cheap rent, reside there. While in the day (especially early mornings), the village goes to sleep, it’s really awake in the night with a lot of activities that is easily noticeable even from a distance. Cars of various brands are parked at the sideways of its surrounding roads. The number of cars parked is a reflection of the number of night visitors to Utako village and those residing there. In a typical evening, there is hardly a space unoccupied for any other cars to park.
Filthy and foul as the community is, yet it attracts a lot of residents due to its cheap accommodation. Given its centrality in the heart of Utako district, N4000 per room, though makeshift, in a month charge is considered cheap. In a normal Utako going rate, a three bedroom flat goes for between N800, 000 to N850,000 depending on the quality of the house and the discretions of the owner. While a one bedroom goes for about N350,000. The accommodation, whether normal or abnormal both provide residents quick access to Abuja districts. In Utako village, landlords make brisk businesses from horrible and uninhabitable huts and improvised houses. Shockingly, the demand for accommodation in the village is on the increase: demand is higher than supply. To meet ever increasing demand and the business opportunities it brings, landlords resort to creating extended rooms known as “attachment”, made mainly of planks called and zinc.
The continued existence of these business opportunities for the community is being threatened. There are plans by AMAC to relocate the village to another settlement. There is a conflict as to whether if AMAC is indeed ready for this relocation or the villagers are unwilling to move. To Sule Shekolo, “the villagers are not ready to leave because of the business they do”. But the secretary countered, declaring the community’s willingness to relocate but wants government to “do what pleases us”. “The social amenities that are supposed to be done let it be done”. He clarified.
The community caught between a network of roads will soon truly be at crossroads. AMAC is erecting a public hospital on their land. This has further eroded their land space, their means of livelihood, and the business on their strategic land. With more developmental project like this, will the villagers be forced to relocate to their new settlement?
Is it the last slum standing? And it is right in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory nestled in the fast growing nouveau rich neigbourhood that bears the same name. Like all slums, it is an eye sore to behold with stench-reeking, stagnated pool of black puddles running right through peoples’ cardboard-like houses. The squalid environment is a haven for social miscreants, prostitutes and their likes. The children, mostly looking gaunt and malnourished are most times playing on the huge garbage heap just a door step away. Our Managing Editor, Imiewanlan Oyakhire explores the living conditions of the residents and their fate given the construction of a General Hospital less than 50 metres from the ‘village.’ His report:
A serving senior Police officer once, unofficially, described Abuja as a magical city. It was just his expressive way of describing what he termed ‘artificial lifestyle’ in the Federal Capital Territory: where everything is assumed to be all right even at their very unpleasing state.
Take for instance accommodation, which defiles all known economic theory and market forces of demand and supply. There are unoccupied beautiful mansions and expansive estates everywhere occupied only by rodents and reptiles; yet, accommodation in Abuja for the ordinary man is unavailable. Availability is a factor of your capacity to afford and your affordability determines where you live. Where you live is, by and large, dependent on your economic power.
Like several other major capital cities in the world, Abuja in terms of accommodation is costly and naturally, it segregates, filtering the economically privileged from the not-so-privileged. The unfortunate, in this context, are often relegated to remote settlements, villages and satellites towns and slums.
As sure as natural laws in the affairs of men, it is also natural with the evolution of cities that it filters its inhabitants given the economic criteria. But a community, by its strange existence in a unique location, seems to have defiled that economic posit. The community is in Utako, a slum, but its ‘owners’ say it is a village, set in the heart of Abuja city.
Squashed in between a network of roads on all four sides, Obafami Awolowo, Augustus Aikhomu, Okonjo Iweala Way and Ajose Adeogun Close, the village covers less ten thousand square meters and a dense population of about three thousand people.
Its apparent existence in such a unique location catches attention that one would be prodded to ask, how has the community survived, without being ejected; not even in the restructuring and demolition years of Mallam Nasir el-Rufi’a, the no nonsense former FCT minister?
The secretary to the village, Chief Danjuma Daniel, Dansamani of Utako, whom the Etsu of Utako, Chief Audu Isah authourised to speak on behalf of the community to our correspondent said: “Well this is where we inherited. It is not easy for people to come and say move out from your inheritance. And when you move, where are you moving to? It is where we grew. It is where we met our elders and our parents.”
Though a unique village, due to its strange spot, it has the characteristics of a typical rural village setting, and even some peculiarity to it. Utako village is distinctively squalid and the pattern of unorganized and crammed buildings underlines this. No roads, no streets, residents junket through channels of footpaths that interlink the houses. The houses are borderless; each compound runs into another uninhibited. There are many footpaths as there are houses. However, no matter the footpath you trek, it surely leads you to somewhere!
The community is rich in gutters. Channels of dirty water flow freely from the compounds to no known destination while contents on the routes lay bare, stagnant in the open. The contents come in an assortment of forms as the lifestyle of each compound and nature of business transactions in the compounds that pass as both suburban and marketplace. To an unfamiliar person or visitor to the community, the atmosphere at first appeal, looks hazardous: polluted with mix of noises from grinding machines, vehicles and carbon monoxide from the always busy roads and the waste water from both bath, commercial and household use. The dangerous nature of the pathetic health situation can be felt from a distance from the village. Opposite the community, at Arab contractors end, is an open field that forever oozes foul odour of human waste. This is the foremost clear sign, even if you have not come within the reach of Utako village that a community without toilet facilities live close by. According to David Olovi, a resident, “we live here because we don’t have another place. But Business here is good.” Business, as operational in the village, is basically trading in articles and wares. The village’s core business attractiveness is in the sale of alcohol of various brands at various drinking spots. Food, as Pap (akamu), fried beans cake (kose) and fried yam are exceptionally cheap.
There is also a boom in sex trade. Though there are no hotels in the village, several prostitutes, due to the community’s strategic location and cheap rent, reside there. While in the day (especially early mornings), the village goes to sleep, it’s really awake in the night with a lot of activities that is easily noticeable even from a distance. Cars of various brands are parked at the sideways of its surrounding roads. The number of cars parked is a reflection of the number of night visitors to Utako village and those residing there. In a typical evening, there is hardly a space unoccupied for any other cars to park.
Filthy and foul as the community is, yet it attracts a lot of residents due to its cheap accommodation. Given its centrality in the heart of Utako district, N4000 per room, though makeshift, in a month charge is considered cheap. In a normal Utako going rate, a three bedroom flat goes for between N800, 000 to N850,000 depending on the quality of the house and the discretions of the owner. While a one bedroom goes for about N350,000. The accommodation, whether normal or abnormal both provide residents quick access to Abuja districts. In Utako village, landlords make brisk businesses from horrible and uninhabitable huts and improvised houses. Shockingly, the demand for accommodation in the village is on the increase: demand is higher than supply. To meet ever increasing demand and the business opportunities it brings, landlords resort to creating extended rooms known as “attachment”, made mainly of planks called and zinc.
The continued existence of these business opportunities for the community is being threatened. There are plans by AMAC to relocate the village to another settlement. There is a conflict as to whether if AMAC is indeed ready for this relocation or the villagers are unwilling to move. To Sule Shekolo, “the villagers are not ready to leave because of the business they do”. But the secretary countered, declaring the community’s willingness to relocate but wants government to “do what pleases us”. “The social amenities that are supposed to be done let it be done”. He clarified.
The community caught between a network of roads will soon truly be at crossroads. AMAC is erecting a public hospital on their land. This has further eroded their land space, their means of livelihood, and the business on their strategic land. With more developmental project like this, will the villagers be forced to relocate to their new settlement?
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