Zimbabwe's Strongman President Robert Mugabe resigns after 37 years rule

ICMS, Inc Reports
NEWS FLASH
By Tom Okure, Ph.D

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe finally bows to pressure and resigns after 37 years of rule. In his resignation letter and statement, Mugabe indicated that he resigned voluntarily in order to ensure a smooth transition of power in the country.

Zimbabwe is in Southern Africa and is a landlocked country. The country is renowned for its dramatic scenery and diversified collection of wildlife within its protected parks, reservations and safari areas.

There was jubilation among lawmakers upon the reading of the resignation letter from the president and spontaneous celebrations erupted in the streets of Harare the capital on the news of Mugabe's formal resignation. There was expression of hope, excitement, optimism, honking of car horns in the streets among the residents of Harare.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe

Mugabe who is 93 years old has been trying to cling to power despite fierce resistance from his opponents over the past week, during which time the military partially took over power and Mugabe was expelled from his own ZANU-PF ruling party and put under house arrest with his wife.
The parliament this morning (November 21, 2017), had begun a legal process to impeach Mugabe after he failed to meet the dateline yesterday (November 20, 2017), imposed by the ZANU-PF ruling party for him to resign. The sudden announcement by Mugabe halted the impeachment hearing that had been initiated by parliament against him.

Celebrations in the streets after Robert Mugabe resigns.....Watch video

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Who is to be blamed for the abandoned status of Four Point by Sheraton hotel at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State

Update on the status of Four Point by Sheraton at Ikot Ekpene

ICMS, Inc Commentary
by Tom Okure, Ph.D
---------------------------------

Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom state is facing an economic development dilemma. He needs to establish his own foot print and legacy in the state by initiating and building significant development projects like roads and bridges, magnificent buildings, factories etc., while at the same time completing many famous and uncompleted projects that he inherited from his predecessor former governor Godswill Akpabio. Accusations have been mounting for some time now that Udom is deliberately abandoning many planned projects that the administration of Akpabio undertook like the Tropicana Plaza in Uyo, the dualiization of Uyo/Ikot-Ekpene Federal road, the multi-million dollar Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo etc.

In responds to the mounting accusations from critics of his development approach, governor Udom has begun a campaign to set the record straight. Recently, governor Udom during a recent briefing of attendees at the monthly state house prayer session emphasized to his audience that, what the former governor commissioned as a completed Four Point Sheraton was just the building, which does not amount to a hotel. But is this really the case? Many in attendance during the spectacular ceremony of the commissioning say they beg to differ with the governors assertion and statement to the extent that they witnessed what appeared to be a fully functioning hotel or were we deceived?  

Four Point by Sheraton hotel Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State

In his defense regarding the controversy and status of the hotel, governor Udom blamed those who are accusing him of abandoning projects started by Akpabio of not understanding the differences between a building and a hotel. He indicated that his administration needs an additional $7.2 dollars or about N2, 577, 600, 000 Naira at the current exchange rate, to transform the commissioned the Four Point by Sheraton building at Ikot Ekpene into a hotel.

For background, the Four Point by Sheraton building is located at the old site of the former federal prison, Ikot Ekpene which was situated in the heart of the city. The federal prison was demolished and relocated out of town to make room for the Four Point hotel which the city planners believe was essential to accord the ancient town of Ikot Ekpene a befitting image, facelift and boost it as a tourist destination enhancement within Nigeria deserving of its status as the first experimental local government area created by the British colonial government in Nigeria and West Africa.

On Tuesday May 26, 2015, the 4 Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, was commissioned by the outgoing governor Godswill Akpabio. During the commissioning event, Akpabio showed off the spectacular building and its amenities to the invited guests which included the current Governor Emmanuel Udom who at the time was the governor elect and was awaiting to be sworn in as Akwa Ibom State governor. In his usual boastful way and while showing off existing facilities around the hotel, former governor Akpabio, who is now Akwa Ibom State senator had praised the contractors for delivering the project on time. 

Swimming pool area at Four Point by Sheraton at Ikot Ekpene,

The hotel is a 14-Story Oval shaped building, consisting of 146 rooms, 14 suites, a 600-seater banquet hall, six meeting rooms, swimming pool, terrace, fountain, a presidential wing, etc.

One may recall that in 2016, the Akwa Ibom State government had indicated that it had designated Starwood Hotels as the manager to be of this hotel. Government statements also indicated that the hotel would be fully open and operational by April of 2017. Starwood Hotels, we were told was the manager designate because of its experience managing hotels in Akwa Ibom State as exemplified by  the well renowned Le Méridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo.

Former governor Akpabio (left) and current governor Udom (right) relaxing during
the commissioning of the hotel in Ikot Ekpene on Tuesday May 26, 2015. 

While responding to his critics who have accused him of abandoning the Four Point by Sheraton building in Ikot Ekpene, governor Udom said that he needs “7.2 million US dollars to turn that building into a hotel. And as at today, I have deposited the sum of 4 million US dollars, leaving a balance of 3.2 million US dollars and I am still looking for the 3.2 million dollars to pay so I can turn that building you see into a hotel. It is not yet a hotel."

Recommendation and Concluding Remarks

Part of the problem of abandonment and incompletion of projects in the state and many parts of the country stems from the existing approach used to fund large capital projects. The state government lacks proper long term capital planning foresight which should be incorporated into the capital budget of the state government.  The state government fails to build into the government capital budget for projects a contingency budget to accommodate unforeseen circumstances (like the fall in oil revenues) as has been experienced throughout the country. In industrial countries in Europe and the United States infrastructure projects are funded from dedicated funding revenue streams (mainly through the issue of dedicated bonds issued for a specific project). In New York State budgeting many specific programs and projects are funded through what is referred to as Special Revenue Funds (SRF). Initial funding for specific infrastructural projects can begin by issuing specific capital bonds guaranteed by the Federal government as a debt to the state. When the specific bond funded project is completed, it could be utilized to generate specific revenues to repay the long term bonds associated with the project.  

Read more about Four Point by Sheraton at Ikot Ekpene:

4 Points Sheraton Ikot Ekpene: Akpabio- Commissioned Building Not Hotel
Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

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While US House debates disaster aid package to Puerto Rico President Trump lashes out at the Island.

President Trump lashes out at the Island of Puerto Rico in several tweets.

ICMS, Inc. Reports

Tom Okure, Ph.D

Puerto Rico Island is blamed by President Trump for its looming financial crisis and “a total lack of accountability.  In a series of tweets, the President indicated that “electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes.” The President further tweeted that “We cannot keep FEMA, the Military & the First Responders, who have been amazing (under the most difficult circumstances) in P.R. forever!”

Highway 10, a major north-south connection in
Puerto Rico was totally washed out.

The House is currently debating passage of a disaster aid package of $36.5 billion which includes assistance for Puerto Rico. Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House said in his remarks that the U.S. government desires to see the Island “begin to stand on its own two feet” and consequently the U.S. “got to do more to help Puerto Rico rebuild its own economy.”

The bill under debate will combine $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with $16 billion to allow the federal flood insurance program which is financially strapped to pay a flood of Harvey-related claims. Another $577 million would pay for western firefighting efforts.

The bill also allows up to $5 billion of the FEMA money to provide assistance to local governments in order to enable them remain functional due to shortfalls in their cash requirements as a consequence of hurricane Maria, which has reduced local government revenues and stressed their resources.

Electricity poles and power lines toppled throughout Puerto Rico Island

President Trump’s tweets conflicts with recent statements he made on Puerto Rico. For example, in his remarks last week while honoring the heritage of Hispanics, he said, “We will be there all the time to help Puerto Rico recover, restore, rebuild.”

Democratic response to Trump’s attacks were swift noting that his remarks are “shameful,” especially in view of the hardship currently confronting 3 million plus U.S. citizens on Puerto Rico island. According to government statistics, many weeks after the hurricane hit the island, more than one third of the residents still lack access to clean running water and only about 8 percent of the island road as are passable.

Links for additional reading

Trump lashes out at Puerto Rico as House weighs aid package

Trump again lashes out at hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico as House weighs aid package

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Saudi Arabia’s King always travels in a super lavish style on his state visits with all the comforts of home.

Saudi Arabia Monarchs lavish travel style while on foreign state visits. 

ICMS, Inc Reports

Tom Okure, Ph.D

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz state visit to Russia

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has just recently concluded his official visit to Russia. This is the first visit of a Saudi monarch to ever visit Russia. The King led a large delegation to Moscow and concluded investment deals with the Russian government said to be worth many billion dollars.  This was a very welcome visit to Moscow and the planned investments are much needed investment in the Russian economy adversely impacted by low oil prices and US and European sanctions.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz visit has set a new and higher standard of lavish traveling on his foreign travels.  As a matter of fact, the Saudi monarch upped his own game of traveling in luxury since after his earlier travels, for example his visits to Indonesia, where he brought two limousines with him and to Japan.

Photo Credit NBC News: Members of Saudi delegation walk in front of the
Boeing 747 that Saudi King's Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud arrived with.

During his most recent state visit to Russia, the Saudi Arabian King arrived with a mind bugling lavish entourage. The Saudi delegation is reported to have flown in 1,500 staff, plush carpets and gold plated protective barriers to Russia.

While he was visiting Russia, it is reported that a Saudi plane traveled daily between Riyadh and Moscow transporting supplies for the King and his delegation which included 800 kilograms of food.  The royal entourage accompanying the King also replaced some of the hotel staff where the delegation was staying with their own personnel, because it is said, they know exactly how they like their coffee made.  In the just concluded state visit to Russia “The Saudi royal’s entourage includes staff familiar with specific food preparations and how the monarch prefers his coffee. Reports suggest plush carpets were also brought in by Saudi officials to make the stay a comfortable one”The King also came with his own furniture for use during his visit.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia with Russian President Vladimir Putin
during his state visit in the Russian capital

The Saudi government stayed at the Ritz Carlton and the Four Seasons in Moscow and booked the entire two luxury hotels for the duration of the Kings visit. The Four Seasons where the King stayed was alleged to be booked through October 8 and thereby closed to the public. As a consequence, it is reported that many guests had to have their prior reservations cancelled to make room.

 Photo Credit REUTERS: Moscow Ritz-Carlton hotel

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz state visit to Japan

Earlier this year in March 2017, during the King’s visit to Japan, it is also reported that the Saudi delegation arrived on 10 aircraft and about 1,200 hotel rooms were reserved in Tokyo for the Kings’ entourage for the four-day visit.  About 500 limousines was also needed to accommodate the Kings delegation. The entire fleet of 500 limousines used by the group were sourced from around the country. Reports indicate it was difficult to source that large number of luxury limousines in Tokyo because there is limited constant demand for such vehicles. A limousine industry insider stated that "Because we are unable to secure the needed number only in Tokyo, we are gathering the vehicles from Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures as well as the Tokai region."

During his Asia trip, King Salman also visited the Maldives and China. One can only imagine the extent of money, planning and logistics needed move the Kings delegation during his foreign trips. Nevertheless, money is not a problem for the king. He can afford to travel and live luxuriously as he is accustomed to while on any foreign trip. After all “The House of Saud is estimated to be worth around $1.4 trillion, meaning King bin Abdulaziz has a vast fortune to dip into when travelling abroad.”

Links for further reading

Saudi king’s Russia visit: Luxury carpets, golden escalator & 1,500 staff

Inside Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz’ 1,500-person entourage in Moscow

2 golden escalators, 10 aircraft, 500 limos & 1200 luxury rooms: Saudi king’s lavish trip to Japan

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Public health concerns spread in Nigeria over monkeypox viral disease outbreak in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital.

Monkeypox viral disease outbreak in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital of Nigeria.

ICMS, Inc Reports

By Tom Okure, Ph.D

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The disease symptoms include fever, headache, back pains and big rashes larger than chicken pox rashes as the disease progresses.  Even though the symptoms of the virus are similar to smallpox, it is less severe than the smallpox virus, which in 1980 was declared to have been eradicated.

Monkeypox Virus

The Bayelsa State government has identified at least 10 individuals determined to be infected with the disease including a doctor and have setup an isolation center at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state to quarantine monkeypox virus affected individuals.

The Monkeypox outbreak in Nigeria was first reported on Sep. 22, 2017, when an 11 year old male patient was brought to the attention of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and was suspected to have a case of Monkeypox.  A NCDC Rapid Response Team was immediately deployed to Bayelsa state to investigate and provide support to the state government in its quest to respond to the public health disease outbreak.

Monkeypox outbreak in Nigeria's Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital

While it is a relatively new outbreak in Nigeria, the disease has been known to occur in other parts of West and Central Africa, and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  As is commonly the case when unexplained diseases appear and people are frightened, rumors are floating around that you can catch the virus by shaking hands with an infected person or through intimacy.

Notwithstanding the name of the disease (monkeypox), medical research related to the disease in Africa suggest that the virus is transmitted to humans from monkeys and other types of animals including rodents such as squirrels and Gambian giant rats. Humans become infected with the disease through contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals and eating under cooked meat from infected animals.

Smoked bush meat for sale 

In a response to the public health disease outbreak and in an effort to curb the rumors regarding the spread of the monkeypox disease, Mr. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health has cautioned the Nigerian population to stop eating bush meat, dead animals and more specifically monkeys.

It is estimated that 49 other individuals may have contacted the disease so far, through exposure with other people infected with the virus. These individual are currently being tracked by health experts from NCDC. Nigerian health authorities have also sent samples of the virus to the World Health Organization laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation.

Read More: 

Monkeypox: Nigerians advised on how to avoid infection

WHAT IS MONKEYPOX? NEW CASES OF SMALLPOX-LIKE DISEASE AFFLICT NIGERIA

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Remembering Hugh Hefner, a Playboy men’s lifestyle magazine publisher and an American icon

Hugh Hefner, a social and cultural pioneer dies at age 96.

ICMS, Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D

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Memorable Quote:

"Life is too short to be living somebody else’s dream" ~ Hugh Hefner

Hugh M Hefner: Playboy Men’s Lifestyle Magazine Publisher

Hugh M. Hefner, an American icon and a men’s lifestyle magazine publisher who introduced the world to a new brand of magazine in 1953 called Playboy died peacefully on Wednesday September 26, 2017 from natural causes at his Playboy Mansion surrounded by loved ones according to a statement from his spokesperson.

Hugh M. Hefner with son Cooper

The phrase died from natural causes simply and usually means that the deceased individual did not die of foul play, did not commit suicide, and did not die of a drug overdose or accident. In short, the person’s death has been determined to be devoid of any external factors.

Hugh Hefner with playmates

Hugh Hefner founded his famous Playboy magazine at the age of 27 years in 1953. At the pick of the magazines fame in the 1970’s, it is estimated that it was selling more than 7 million copies for a single issue. During the period, Hefner was regularly attacked by feminists groups as exploiting women. The popularity of the magazine led to Hefner amassing a very large fortune in the millions of dollars. Hefner's fortune is also attributable to his later careful cultivation and promotion of his Playboy brand. There are issues over how much Hefner is worth upon his death or who will inherit his fortune.

Hefner with his wife Crystal 60 years his junior.

In 2016 Hefner sold his notorious Playboy mansion to one Darren Metropoulos for an estimated $105 Million dollars, an amount said to be way below its actual value. The mansion is famous for the wild parties that was frequently held there. Hefner continued to live at the mansion until his demise. Hefner was married three times. His last marriage was to one of his play mates Crystal Harris in 2012. Initially she had called off the wedding ceremony in 2011 on the basis of having cold feet. Crystal Harris was 60 years his junior.

During a 2005 appearance on a Larry King show, Hefner indicated that he wanted to be remembered simply as “somebody who had some positive impact on the social sexual values of his time." He was consistent in various interviews with other news outlets such as USA Today about how he liked to be remembered.  He always insisted that he did not care about being remembered for the famous individuals that his magazine interviewed, including Malcolm X, Bette Davis, or the famous Marilyn Monroe which his magazine helped to make a star of.  

Hefner is survived by his wife, Crystal, and four children from his first two marriages. His daughter Christie from his first marriage served as Playboy Enterprise CEO for over 20 years. His other children are David, Marston and Cooper, the latter of whom presently is the chief creative officer at the company. Cooper is the youngest of Hefner's children and is 26 years old. He is a member of the California State Military Reserve and the founder and former CEO of the upstart media company Hop.

Read more about Hugh Hefner

Hugh Hefner’s wife Crystal Harris, 31, ‘won’t inherit ANYTHING from Playboy founder’s £40m fortune because she signed a prenup and wasn’t in his will’

Just exactly how much was Hugh Hefner worth upon his passing?

Hugh Hefner's wives cheated on him

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Nigeria takes a bold step to promote free movement of goods and travelers by abolishing checkpoints across the country.

Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris, orders the immediate removal of all roadblocks across the country

ICMS, Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D
________________

The Nigerian government has introduced a new and very welcome policy across the country to improve the safety of travelers and enable the free flow of goods and travel in the country. 

Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris

In an announcement and statement signed by a spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, the Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris, ordered the immediate removal of all roadblocks across the country. 

Nigerian Police officer taking bribe from a commercial bus driver

More specifically, and according to the statement; the directive immediately abolishes road blocks especially along the Lagos-Ibadan, Shagamu-Benin, Benin-Onitsha, Okene-Abuja, Kaduna-Kano, Katsina-Kano, Otukpo-Enugu, Enugu–Port Harcourt expressways. These checkpoints and many similar road blocks across the country have been a source of frustration to the general public over a very long period of time.

According to the statement from the IGP, “No police department, section, squad or unit should mount roadblock without the express permission” from him. The announcement noted that the Special X-Squad teams of the Nigerian Force are being deployed nationwide and are directed to arrest, investigate and discipline any police personnel violating the directives. The statement cautions police personnel conducting patrols to properly identify their patrol vehicles, especially those serving along the border routes in the country.

Also expected to be dismantled immediately are illegal revenue and tax collecting road blocks across the country representing various transportation unions which restrict the free movement of vehicles and the unrestrained passage of passengers and commercial goods.

Excerpt from the IGP's statement:

“For avoidance of doubt, the Taxes and Levies act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a Tax Authority from mounting a Road block in any part of the Federation for the purposes of collecting any Tax or Levy. “While monitoring and ensuring full compliance of this directive by all the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Force hereby advised the relevant State Governments, Local Government Councils, Boards of States Internal Revenue service, and various Transport Unions, Labor and Traders Associations that it is against the law for any organization to create a blockage to restrict or restrain members of the public the free usage of Roads and Highways anywhere in the country,”

Commentary

What is amazing about this current action of the Inspector General is this. About two years ago, a similar directive was given by President Muhammadu Buhari ordering the immediate dismantling of all military checkpoints ‎in the country. 

Military check points where abolished by Nigerian  President Buhari over two years ago

The president directed the Nigeria police to take charge of internal security in the country. The directive at the time from the president had instructed the Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff to get the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector General of Police to remove all the military men along the road across the country. 

The question is why was it necessary as a policy decision to remove the military men from Nigerian check points and allow the police to man the check points? Was the Nigerian police better able to man check points than the military? Whatever may have been the underlying policy rational then to maintain check points across the country, it now appears that the whole notion of maintaining check points has proven to be a bad policy from the government perspective, both from a safety and economic development perspective. What led to the Nigerian government to change its mind regarding the value of mounting road check points? 

Nevertheless, one must applaud the government's determination and realization that road blocks in Nigeria are bad and inhibit the free flow of traffic and limit the free movement of goods and travelers. Road blocks also provide opportunities for corrupt police officials, armed robbers etc., to rob and extract brides from travelers. There are also frequent incidences of skirmishes between travelers and road blockers that have resulted in the unwarranted deaths of travelers. Commercial drivers and traders are especially vulnerable at check points and are subjected to various types of harassment, extortion, intimidation, illegal revenue/tax collectors across the country.

The economic cost associated with these road blocks over the decades has never been determined but it is assumed to be in the millions of Naira in terms of increased cost of doing business, loss of economic efficiency etc. Only time will tell whether the actions taken by the Inspector General of police will result in a marked improvement of road safety and security and increased economic efficiency across the country. One thing that will definitely and immediately be obvious is a sense of relieve from harassment and intimidation to the traveling public.

Links to read more:

Breaking: IGP orders dismantling of road blocks nationwide

Why Inspector General of Police ordered dismantling of all roadblocks

Inspector General Of Police Orders Immediate Removal Of Checkpoints Nationwide

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Nigeria and South Africa Declared to be Out of Recession.

Nigeria and South Africa are declared to be Out of Recession.
ICMS, Inc Reports

Reporting: Tom Okure, PhD.

Map of Nigeria

Africa's two largest economies Nigeria and South Africa are declared to be "Out of Recession." Nigeria and South African together account for about 40% of Africa's total GDP. Nigeria's growth indicators show that the economy has registered successive positive growth over the last five quarters.

According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, the second quarter of this year (Q2 2017) indicates that the economy grew in Q2 2017 by 0.55% from -0.91% in Q1 2017 and -1.49% in Q2 2016.  As a consequence of the continued growth of the economy after five successive quarters of contraction, it is confident to declare that the Nigerian economy has exited recession.

The oil sector and the agricultural sector coupled with foreign exchange stabilization efforts by the central bank of Nigeria are major contributing factors to lifting Nigeria out of the recession.

Map of South Africa

Reacting to the good news today, Aso Rock (The Presidency) stated through a spokesperson to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ( Laolu Akande) that the “Buhari administration welcomes news of Nigeria’s exit from recession with “cautious optimism and will continue to drive Nigeria’s economic growth by vigorously implementing the Economic Recovery & Growth Plan launched earlier this year by President Muhammadu Buhari.” The challenge for both Nigeria and South Africa is whether both countries can sustain the registered growth and prevent the countries from falling back into recession due to the very small marginal growth registered by both.

Read more:
Presidency reacts to Nigerian economy being out of recession

The Merchandising of the Gospel in Nigeria

The Merchandising of the Gospel in Nigeria
ICMS,Inc Reports

Donors try to outdo each other to gain recognition. The largest donors get special prayers dedicated to their continued success, and frequently conferred recognition awards and prominent church positions. The competition for status and recognition has turned the church from a place of sanctuary for the followers of Christ to a feel good gathering for parishioners. Church pastors don’t question the sources of income of their donors. Churches have become a means of laundering stolen and corrupt (blood) monies.

Increasing Incidences of Mudslides/Landslides and Global Warming

Are Increasing Incidences of Mudslides/Landslides the consequence of Global Warming?

ICMS, Inc Reports

Tom Okure, Ph.D

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Mudslides and landslides are a natural phenomenon but are increasingly frequent, perhaps as a result of increasing and more intensive rains, overflowing rivers and earthquakes around the globe. 

Mudslide in Freetown, Sierra Leone-August 2017

There is a growing general consensus among scientist and climate experts that the earth is warming and producing adverse climatic and weather effects. 

This year 2017, has witnessed more than its fair share of mudslides/landslides which has racked havoc on lives and property in many countries and all continents of the world including Southern California, Southwest Colombia, Lima Peru, Xinmo village in Sichuan Province China, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Napal etc.

California, USA Mudslide-January 2017 

Landslides are activated by gravity and intensifies by heavy rainfall after a dry weather period in which the ground in a hill or mountainside can suddenly become saturated with water. An over saturated ground generally becomes waterlogged and soil friction is loosened. Eventually, the ground gives way and mudslides can rapidly develop and speed up with heavy debris merged with huge rocks which can inflict severe damage.

Lima, Peru Mudslide - March 2017

The severity in terms of the cost to life and property of the incidences of mudslides/landslides are huge. 

In many developing countries like Sierra Leone, Napal, Peru etc this year, the scale of these natural disasters has been so overwhelming for many countries to handle alone. Help is needed from other countries and international charitable organizations to donate funds needed to buy food, water, and basic necessities, which are distributed to families affected and displaced with the most needs In many of these devastating events, houses and towns/villages that surround mountain and hillsides slopes are typically buried after gushes of mud empty down under the powerful force of the water. 

Columbia Mudslide-April 2017

The aftermath of these events that we are witnessing globally are heavy death toll, mass funerals, mass displacements of residents from familiar surroundings, serious health consequences, many unaccounted for people which in many occasions are forever lost etc.

It is difficult to tell people who have historically lived around the slopes of mountains and hills to move. There are also people, especially wealthy individuals in many countries who purposely decide to build their homes around mountains and hillsides because of the scenic beauty etc. 

Sri Lanka Mudslide-May 2017

The recent mudslide in Sierra Leone in West Africa which has killed close to 500 hundred people has been blamed on many factors including heavy rains due to global warming, deforestation of the hillside by residents for firewood and charcoal etc. Freetown where the mudslide took place is notorious for clogged drainage channels like many other cities in Africa because of garbage dumping due to insufficient sanitation services in many areas.

Nevertheless, as these events continue to increase globally, and we all internalize the fact that global warming and earthquakes are real and intensifying in their effects, this writer concludes with the note that sound minded people should avoid building or residing near mountain or hill sides for their own safety.

Read More:

Death toll mounts in Sierra Leone mudslides

California Storm Raises Mudslide Fear, Triggers Evacuations

President Vladimir Putin of Russia kicks out 755 United States diplomatic workers from Russia effective September 1 2017.

President Putin of Russia kicks out 755 United States diplomats

ICMS, Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph. D

-----------------------------

Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin

Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin while talking today in a television interview on the Rossiya 1 network, indicated that the United State must reduce the number of workers at American diplomatic posts all over Russia by 755 effective September 1 2017.

In announcing the retaliatory action against the United States, Putin noted that Russia’s patience in waiting for improved relations with the United States had worn out.  The action escalates the tensions between Washington and Moscow.

The retaliation is in response to new sanctions under consideration in US Congress over Russia’s meddling in the 2016 US elections.  It will be recalled that in December 2016, the Obama administration also imposed sanctions against Russia for meddling in the presidential election which included seizing two Russian diplomatic compounds located in the United States. Russia objected to US actions vigorously saying it was egregious, but did not retaliate at the time because of alleged assurances made by Trump's National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign earlier this year.

Additional links to read more:

After Sanctions, Putin Orders U.S. to Cut 755 Embassy Workers

Putin expelling 755 U.S. diplomats from Russia

2017 Rhino Charge

2017 Rhino Charge

A unique annual fund raising event in Kanya which raises money to safeguard Kenya's mountain water towers and forest ecosystems, through the use of electric fences designed to shield local farmers from crop raiding wildlife. This year 65 teams try to reach 13 Guard posts located in the bush, in the shortest distance possible.


Watch and learn about this noble event:

FIRST Robotics Competition 2017 ends with six teenagers from the African Burundi robotics team reported missing.

Six teenagers from the African Burundi robotics team reported missing after FIRST Robotics Competition 2017 games ends.

ICMS, Inc. Reports

By Tom Okure, Ph.D.

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FIRST Robotics Competition Logo

FIRST Robotics Competition 2017 that just ended can be termed a critical Mind Sport. The annual international student robotics competition which took place in Washington combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology.

Using limited resources and very stringent rules and a six weeks dateline, competing high school teams are required to accomplish the task of creating an industrial robot. 

Teams of high school students all over the world are invited annually and challenged to raise funds, create a team brand, sharpen teamwork skills, and build and program an industrial size robot to compete with each other. The annual competition welcomes all skill levels among the students both technical and non-technical.

Ivanka Trump congratulates talented competitors
at the FIRST Robotics Competition event

Each team plays a hard field competitive and engineering game close to a real life situation and student teams get the assistance of professional volunteer mentors who give of their talent and time to guide their teams. 

FIRST Robotics Competition operates during the school year. Participating high school teams form and are required to register in the fall. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.

Ivanka Trump welcomes Teams USA, Afghanistan
and FIRST Robotics Competition winners,
Team Hungary, to the White House

Yesterday July 20, 2017, it was reported that six members of the African Burundi team had vanished from the competition. Law enforcement officials in Washington D.C. reported that two of the missing teenagers were seen crossing into Canada. 

The missing Burundi team members had competed in the inaugural international event of the FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition. This year the event, drew hundreds of high school students from 157 nations to Constitution Hall in Northwest. The event opened with a parade of nations and closed Tuesday the 18^th of July 2017 at around 6:30 p.m.

Six teenagers from the Burundi robotics team
reported missing.caption

Event officials stated that the students appeared to have left of their own accord, as their housing keys were left in their mentor’s bag and they took their clothes from their dormitory rooms. Could it be that the teenagers used their opportunity to visit the United States as a chance for defecting? FIRST Robotics students attending the event are alleged to have been given a one year visitor visa to the United States.

The Police confirmed the names of the two Burundi students crossing into Canada as Don Ingabire, 16, and Audrey Mwamikazi, 17. The destination and current location of the two runaways remained unknown according to police. Official missing person posters have been issued by the police and event officials. 

Aquita Brown, a police spokeswoman said they don’t suspect any foul play. It is amazing that the Burundi Embassy in Washington stated in an email that the Embassy was unaware that a team from their country was in the United States until after the teenagers were reported missing.

The official game animation for the 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition game below:

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Burundi Robotics Team Vanishes After U.S. Competition

Manilla: The first documented modern form of money used in trade in Nigeria

Manillas are the first documented modern means of exchange used in Nigeria

ICMS, Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D.
May 29, 2017

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The typical Manilla form used in Southern part of Nigeria

Manillas are the oldest documented form of money used by Europeans in trade with West Africa including for the purchase of slaves from slave dealers.

Manillas were widely used in Southern and Western Nigeria especially among the Efiks, Ibibios, Annangs, the Igbos and the Yorubas tribal groups and served the significant monetary functions of convenience, transportability and wealth display by the well to do in Nigerian traditional communities. In Annang communities, bridal price (or dowries) for women was paid with Manillas called "Apkogo" in Annang language. In Efik (Calabar) language it is called "Okpoho."Before the introduction of Manilla, the most common dowry used for marriages were animals consisting of four types: goats, sheep, pigs and cows. The dowry could be paid to the bride’s family with a combination of the four domesticated animals or many of either of the group of animals. But at the beginning of the Second World War, it was becoming fashionable to add turkey to the group. The economic status of the bride’s family was always the deciding factor regarding the quantities and species of animal demanded for in the dowry. The end of World War II saw the slow decline in the use of animals as dowry in many parts of Africa. 
Manillas were made in different forms, sizes, texture and thickness. A traditional husband to be could be required to pay anyway between 10 to 25 or even more manillas in traditional Annang marriage as dowry price and settlement to his father in-law for the good upbringing of his wife to be. The British colonial administration paid for services and bought and sold goods utilizing the manilla. Since there are many sizes and forms of the manilla that was used as a means of exchange, one can suppose that a large size mannilla was equvilaent to a smaller number of manillas. This brass bracelet-shaped objects featured prominently in our culture and was the principal means of exchange from about the 16th century to the late 1930s. Manilla was mainly used in the Annang/Ibibio heartland of the present Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria along with other less renowned local monies. On the Oron coastline of the state, a variety of other currencies such as cowries was widely used.

Variant forms and sizes of
manilla money used in West Africa

Originally made in Europe, perhaps based on an African original design, there were various variants of the manilla form used and accepted either as money or jewelry everywhere in Africa. Manillas though monetary objects, were very desirable and valuable objects. It was not uncommon to see wealthy chiefs use them for body ornamentation in some parts of colonial West Africa. 

Even as late as the 1940’s Manillas continued to serve as money and decorative objects in many traditional contexts. Traditionally, the Manilla is called by different names (Apkogo in Annang land) depending on which part of Nigeria. The proliferation of names throughout Africa is perhaps the result of tribal and regional customs rather than the manufacturing practices for the object.

In terms of historical context, manillas are mostly connected with the Atlantic slave trade Manillas were used by the Europeans for the purchase of slaves. This monetary artifact are increasingly hard to come by these days but are still available in specialized outlets for purchase by tourists and collectors in many parts of Nigeria as memorabilia or momentous.

Giving and taking monetary inducements for free government services in Nigeria

ICMS, Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D.
Updated August 4, 2017

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Many Nigerian government agencies in compliance with the directives of the current government administration’s policy to combat corruption in the public service, are issuing press releases and puting up posters warning the public to stop giving monetary inducements to government officials for services they are entitled to receive free of charge. 

Poster in Nigerian Consulate in New York City

Monetary inducement is used in this narrative to mean the act of giving someone (a public employee) money intended to persuade or influence the individual to do something or act in a certain manner.

My cursory research and observation in Nigeria suggests that members of the public, despite government warnings, continue sometimes voluntarily, to give out monetary inducements to government officials daily for the performance of their public duties. A visitor to Nigerian public institutions these days may notice posters in Nigerian airports, Consulates, some major government agencies clearly display posters and press releases forbidding monetary inducement to government officials. Even so, a careful observation of activities between agency clients and employees may reveal the exchange of cash gifts to obtain services or gratuity freely given by agency clients for services. Anyone including myself who has resided in Western Europe and the United States where government employees perform their responsibilities diligently without asking for inducements from agency clients, will find such actions disturbing when transacting business in many developing countries. I was curious while visiting Nigeria recently, to determine the underlying reasons behind this peculiar cultural habit in Nigeria and other African countries.

Nigerian Immigration press release informing 

the public to shun inducement for recruitment

into the service

Why is monetary inducement to government employees happening and continuing to persist? I decided to interview a cross spectrum of Nigerians on this phenomenon. Some of the responses I heard to my questions was that monetary inducements, gratuity, bribes etc. is part of the culture. Nigerians like giving and receiving gifts, sometimes involuntarily depending on the circumstances. Having been embedded in the Nigerian psyche for decades, it is alleged that monetary inducement is nothing more than gift giving which over the decades has become a cultural trait (habit) among Nigerians that is difficult to break. 

A government official in Abuja indicated that living in the federal capital is very expensive and stated that monthly salaries (remunerations) are so small in both public and private agencies and this fact forces employees to supplement their income by demanding monetary inducements from agency clients. 

Another respondent noted that wages of employees in Nigeria have remained stagnant for several years. High inflation in the economy has effectively reduced their purchasing power and the present value of wages significantly to a point that it is very difficult for public employees to support a decent livelihood with their salaries. Another respondent to my questions indicated that apart from very low wages, many employers including government institutions regularly owe their employees back wages for many months. Consequently, many employees have to borrow monies from family members to support themselves until they are paid. Under such circumstances, government employees engage in inappropriate behavior such as seeking monetary inducements from agency clients to provide services that the public is supposed to be given freely by agency staff. Every aspect of an agency’s operation becomes fair game and a means of making money by the employee responsible for an activity that has public value. For example, an employee required to hand out a necessary agency form for certification may refuse to provide the form to the public unless some monetary inducement is provided. Action on an application for a passport, employment, or admission to a university etc., can be purposely delayed by an agency/institutional staff or collusion of staff members until the staff are placated with a stipulated monetary inducement (or bribe) by the applicant.

The Federal Government of Nigeria recently announced the re-opening of the registration portal for its young entrepreneur’s empowerment program called YouWin. It became necessary to warn prospective participants in the program to disregard other websites offering alternative links for registration and demand money to facilitate the process or invite applicants to a meeting anywhere. 

For the avoidance of doubt, Kemi Adeosun‏, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance alerted the public to the appalling activity of fraudsters in government agencies. In a televised video announcement to the public, she noted that the Federal Ministry of Finance and other government agencies do not collect money for application forms or anything to provide required program services to the public. All programs of government, unless specifically stated in policy are free.

Nigerian Police collecting bribes at checkpoints

Monetary inducements are observable at police checkpoints all over the country, where taxi and bus drives are regularly compelled by police and soldiers manning the checkpoints to pay some money to them before they are allowed to cross the checkpoint. One can encounter many of such checkpoints within a stretch of highway deliberately put up by various law enforcement agencies like immigration, highway patrol, and customs for the sole purpose of extracting monetary inducements from the public.  

So what can be done to break this bad cultural habit? My personal observation is that the campaign against corruption, indiscipline and forceful or voluntary monetary inducement must take on a multifaceted approach in order to be effective. Corruption has been embedded in the Nigerian psyche for decades and a change in an embedded cultural habit will take a very long time to achieve. 

Satire of an arrested police officer for collecting bribe

Government public awareness campaigns of the ill effects of this bad habits as is currently being done can help to an extent. However long term structural changes in the economic, educational and social fabric of the Nigerian society are needed to achieve a long term result. Educationally, this will entail including within the educational system, a curriculum that incorporates educating the younger generation in schools against bribe taking. An economic agenda is also needed geared at uplifting and increasing the wellbeing of public employees in terms of higher wages and training sensitizing employees about the adverse consequences of taking bribes. Adequate legislation is also needed to be put in place that supports living wages for public sector workers. 

BusinessDay/Mike Asukwo's catoon satire on monetary inducement to police officer

Deliberate efforts by the government to increase salary levels including the minimum wage level and the general economic wellbeing of the masses is necessary. Punitive laws should also be enacted making it a crime to give inducement or take inducement in delivering or obtaining public services etc.  Finally, in order to succeed, government efforts at all levels must be focused and sustained for a very long time into the future.