tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220600062024-03-23T18:05:34.096+00:00nigeria, what's new?Today is done. Lets write future history.Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-48932138849312118852012-01-11T15:22:00.002+00:002013-01-17T06:14:19.166+00:00Nigeria and its Fuel Subsidy Crisis<div style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
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Want to help Africa? Do business here was the TED rallying cry by former World Bank MD now Nigeria Finance minister<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1avbx_pTbo&feature=related" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="If you are not in Nigeria, you are not in Africa"> Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala</a>. But, who is going to do business with you if you appeared clueless in the face of the future? Spearheading the controversial plan to scrap fuel subsidies was a mistake as anger sparked unrest forcing banks, petrol stations, manufacturing companies and Nigerian airports to close. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16459188" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Clueless">President Goodluck Jonathan</a> has gone on national TV to defend the fuel cuts. But words like <em style="font-style: italic !important; font-weight: normal;">"I have no intention to inflict pains on Nigerians"</em> and <em style="font-style: italic !important; font-weight: normal;">"We must act in the public interest, no matter how tough, for the pains of today cannot be compared to the benefits of tomorrow"</em> missed the point.</div>
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Petrol prices in Nigeria are currently very low by international standards at about $0.40 per litre. Many Nigerians regard cheap fuel as the only benefit they get from the nation's oil wealth. There are compelling arguments for the removal of fuel subsidy, however, the government could have executed it better. The town hall meeting was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLd8o8z-2CU&feature=related" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Our best is not good enough">a disaster of jargon and platitudes</a>. The announcement to remove fuel subsidy was made in a statement from regulators, which said the changes would begin immediately. Petrol prices more than doubled overnight in response and angry street protests followed.</div>
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This non-progressive and socially unjust tax has led to chaos in every sector. It was poorly planned and executed hence the angry protests that are threatening other areas like security as we learn that sympathisers of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16462891" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Yes, you guessed it">Islamist Boko Haram group are in government</a> and security agencies. <em style="font-style: italic !important; font-weight: normal;">“<a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.newsvine.com/_news/2012/01/01/9869801-nigeria-and-that-infamous-2005-report" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: black; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="That infamous report">Downside scenarios included</a>: Nigeria as a failed state, dragging down a large part of the West African region.”</em> Is the game over for Nigeria as people sit at home while their elected representatives take home pay is more than that of US President Obama?</div>
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I do not think so. All is not lost in Nigeria, those incompetent lot in the Nigerian government have to do the difficult task of leadership. A U-turn. Admit error and blame God. Rather than tax poor Nigerians. Now, how about taxing those that benefit from Nigeria? A one-off $100Billion 2012 pollution and corruption tax on all multi-nationals will deliver on the economic benefits as we re-plan the removal of petroleum subsidy. Shell, Chevron, P&G, PwC and others have turned around Trillions in US dollars out of Nigeria. Is it wrong to now ask them to share in the benefits of tomorrow?</div>
Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-57318412656312619182011-03-22T18:26:00.002+00:002011-03-22T18:30:01.489+00:00Nigerian Elections - Who to vote<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkxsyi1iPTiROObFl_8gq7wiLJs-d9I2zJRyOL8G9VDCy8hOKqc6MunlrkZ3xOZQ5pnU6MH0UDpa311U2JqGYazlpSWwMDL4nmn9V5Zq62yqrzdHtO9A_o-4c51OnrBuwnTfXIA/s1600/Anti%20Corruption_Eng.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 414px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkxsyi1iPTiROObFl_8gq7wiLJs-d9I2zJRyOL8G9VDCy8hOKqc6MunlrkZ3xOZQ5pnU6MH0UDpa311U2JqGYazlpSWwMDL4nmn9V5Zq62yqrzdHtO9A_o-4c51OnrBuwnTfXIA/s1600/Anti%20Corruption_Eng.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkxsyi1iPTiROObFl_8gq7wiLJs-d9I2zJRyOL8G9VDCy8hOKqc6MunlrkZ3xOZQ5pnU6MH0UDpa311U2JqGYazlpSWwMDL4nmn9V5Zq62yqrzdHtO9A_o-4c51OnrBuwnTfXIA/s1600/Anti%20Corruption_Eng.jpg"><br /></a>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-72804367601943855572010-09-30T15:52:00.005+01:002010-09-30T16:34:48.437+01:00In The News For The Wrong Reasons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.kingston.gov.uk/1968_biafra_-_web_res-2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 360px;" src="http://www.kingston.gov.uk/1968_biafra_-_web_res-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">Who wants to live to 100years when he is almost dead at 50? As we celebrate mediocre and continue a pigsty existence in a cosmos of many billion planets. Perhaps a reflection on our <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11434483">kidnapped children in Abia</a>, our <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11438341">sex slaves</a> in Mali, our dead in Jos mayhem, on death trap roads, preventable diseases and others brought on by effects of extreme poverty. All of this <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7519302.stm">in the midst of plenty</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">The root causes of most ills in our country today is corruption by those claiming today as a day of celebration. The illusion that we won independence is a good starting point. So, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello (note, no titles) were idiots according to General Obasnjo (note title) on <a href="http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5624764-146/obasanjo_blames_nations_woes_on_regional.csp">“Nigeria@50 What celebrations?”</a>. But <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obasanjo">look who is doing the talking</a>. The independence deception has created a corruption that killed our society. Why else would those who could leave? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">Celebrating independence in a zombie nation is not going to get us to where we should be. The colourful flowing gowns ought to make room for sombre and simple attaire ready for work. Our over fed VIPs have failed us over many decades yet we continue to look the other way as they celebrate mediocre. Cheering them on rather than booing them off the stage. The rest of Africa does not fare well as Zuma leads South Africa but to those Nigerians that are yet to see <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/search?q=district+">the movie D-9</a>, go figure.</span></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-81351589618589467352010-06-20T07:45:00.005+01:002010-06-20T09:55:40.556+01:00Next News Nigeria - What a joy!<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5582540-146/bankole_shuns_official_residence__.csp">"Bankole shuns official residence"</a></i> could easily have been dissmissed as a none starter but the end of the story revealed <i>"a house adjacent to Mr Bankole’s private residence, which he rented for some members of his family, was attacked by armed robbers, who invaded it at about 4am"</i>. So we should care that the current Speaker lives out of his official residence but wait, <i>"Work on the two residences began in 2007 when the former Speaker, Patricia Etteh, and the management of the National Assembly awarded the contracts for N628 million"</i>. Again, one of those inflated contracts that is keeping 90 million Nigerians in poverty while <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/2009/02/god-will-not-provide.html">the UN speaks about MDGs</a>. A highly recommended story as more hundreds of millions of cash are bandied about in a story that give a general picture of home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It gets worse, <i>“<a href="http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/Finance/5582534-147/after_consolidation_former_bank_staff_suffer.csp">In July 2006,</a> my wife suddenly had a stroke... “I could not take her to the hospital because there was no dime with me.” Mr Egein could eventually get his wife to the hospital six hours later, after his church pastor raised some money for him. However, the money could only cover part of the initial cost of his wife’s treatment. Subsequently, she was outside the hospital’s care three days later. Again, Mr Egein could not raise more money for a longer stay that would lead to increased observation and more treatment. “We felt that if we continue to keep her there, we will not be able to shoulder the bill. So we asked the hospital authority to release her to us. ” Mrs Egein, 37, died three months after</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This Banking, Healthcare and The Pastor story is about <a href="http://www.nigeriahealthwatch.com/">thinking, asking and acting</a> on the failures, missed chances, inadequate care and non existent emergency services that might have saved Mrs Egein´s life. Now join it up with the Dimeji Bankole, speaker, House of Representatives story. How honorable? <i>"...But now, most Nigerians are hypocrites, they see somebody doing something wrong, they laugh with him, they celebrate him, he doesn’t know that he is doing something wrong"</i> - <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/2008/08/corruption-breeds-poverty-poverty.html">Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>“<a href="http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5582435-147/calabar_home_gives_succor_to_street.csp">Why should parents/guardians</a> allow their children/wards take to the streets?</i> A story of hope and a few good people performing daily miracles is an encouragement that all is not lost. Chief Michael Iso and many others are doing their best in a bad environment, what is stopping the state and federal governments? Least we forget, its corruption, stupid.</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-39753137961584390812010-05-15T11:14:00.010+01:002010-05-15T11:36:56.087+01:00Nigeria Oil & China News and Corrupt Politics<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet="" times="" new="" style="font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"My initial reaction when I heard of Ibori's arrest was that of excitement, and surprise too. Surprise because somebody said he had gone to Ghana. Some people also said he is still somewhere in Delta, some say in his village in Warri. My mind never went to Dubai"</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - Mrs. Farida Waziri</span></span></blockquote><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet="" times="" new=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Clueless or what? In 2007, a UK court froze assets worth $35m allegedly belonging to Chief James Ibori </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(annual salary less $25,000)</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, the former governor of oil-rich Delta state is accused of stealing funds worth $290m by Nigeria's EFCC anti-corruption agency. The same man is connected to the </span></span></span><i><span><a href="http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com/2010/04/corruption-inc-halliburton-list.html"><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Nigerian power house</span></span></span></span></a></span></i><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet="" times="" new=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and Tory MP Tony Baldry whose </span></span></span><span><a href="http://richardwilsonauthor.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/a-response-from-tony-baldry-mp"><i><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">involvement</span></span></span></span></i></a></span><span trebuchet="" times="" new=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">in this matter has not been as a Member of Parliament, but as a barrister. More on two faced Tony Baldry MP, <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/2010/01/uk-parliament-sleaze-nigerian-politics.html">Conservative member for Banbury here</a>.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet="" times="" new=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mrs Waziri and others appear hapless chasing <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.newsvine.com/_news/2010/04/14/4158724-1970-2008-africa-lost-854-billion-in-illegal-financial-outflows">cockroaches and rats</a> in the midst of plenty. Hounding our petty thieves is perhaps a crime in itself as the big deal slips through the net, with thanks to the smoke screen provided by our daft media. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1754944.stm">General Obasanjo came and went</a> but his corrupt practices legacy remained as General Babangida seeks to return. So, our </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">houseboy returns fire with the</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></i></span><span><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703460404575244352434677796.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines"><i><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Nigeria, China Sign $23 Billion Oil-Refinery Big Deal</span></span></span></span></i></a></span><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet="" times="" new=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Who is fooling who as </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">China National Petroleum Corp., China's largest oil company by assets, said it had no information on Nigeria's announcement</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">?</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet="" times="" new=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The FT and others picked up the story and that will no doubt mask the downward spiral in money supply everywhere. However, there is some good news out of the rot in Nigeria. The dizzying opportunities are in </span></span></span><i><span><a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/2009/02/god-will-not-provide.html"><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">70% of Nigerians who live below poverty level</span></span></span></span></a></span></i><span lang="EN-US" trebuchet="" times="" new=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and the lack of infrastructure in the country. From logistics to virtually every sector, Nigeria can single handedly turn around the global economic crisis if only its thieving elites would get a real world education. We have a very big government that is happy to continue <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8672294.stm">eating skins and bones</a> while the fillet steak goes elsewhere. And that is the problem.</span></span></span></o:p></span></p>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-43114936599459399542010-04-17T13:16:00.003+01:002011-03-31T10:05:15.642+01:00Why do you think Ibrahim Babangida must never rule Nigeria again?<a href="http://maxsiollun.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/ibb4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 610px; height: 407px;" src="http://maxsiollun.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/ibb4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Excellent answer below, just watch the video</span><br /><div><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eUXN-cTSkLw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-72735529827731002582010-04-06T11:19:00.007+01:002010-07-11T10:54:42.000+01:00Nigeria, What´s Wrong With This Picture?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WVfcMMS5y3vcTV7Klosdlw4YsjiKbmnL5YJXrTLBoQQSWKhV3lZo5Fy3KTjMSAvtYkQA1vhUMcu2mJTGz_EPt0jW67POgDuKlBHWmMhJvdSA99pdTK7JJkDI3kg2P527oxRBqg/s1600/developing+corruption.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WVfcMMS5y3vcTV7Klosdlw4YsjiKbmnL5YJXrTLBoQQSWKhV3lZo5Fy3KTjMSAvtYkQA1vhUMcu2mJTGz_EPt0jW67POgDuKlBHWmMhJvdSA99pdTK7JJkDI3kg2P527oxRBqg/s400/developing+corruption.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492584625300137506" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-34240895255284898922010-03-31T19:09:00.009+01:002010-03-31T19:40:54.724+01:00Nigeria And A Silent Danger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/assets/images/2009/01/090127112641_carrying-fruit-to-market.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 203px;" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/assets/images/2009/01/090127112641_carrying-fruit-to-market.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">They killed my daughter and my son is truly horrific as the world ponders the recuring brutal massacres around Nigeria's Middle Belt which is largely <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/01/201012333947758520.html">attributed to Muslims and Christians</a>. However, the bigger killer remains silent and many more are in real danger. Never mind the lawlessness on a grand scale from top down government, this cycle of violence was left to ferment and it is not going to be over quickly. The struggle between ethnic groups for fertile land and resources in the region is not new in an area with a history of tin and columbite mining as abandoned mines mark the landscape. Vicious fights for the scraps of state patronage has <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6908960.stm">corruption coming back full circle</a> as huge sums of cash allocated to land rehabilitation simply disappeared.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the surrounding countryside, abandoned mining equipment and rain-filled quarries litter a barren land, where waste dumps and gully erosion render much of the<a href="http://www.theafricareport.com/archives2/business/3278866-nigeria-big-miners-stay-away-from-jos-plateau.html"> land unusable for farming</a>. Nigeria has lost 285,000 sq km of land, nearly a third of its total 924,000 sq km territory, to various forms of soil degradation, according to official statistics. The culprit is a phenomenon called 'gully erosion'. Mainly a product of human activities such as deforestation, unsustainable farming practices, path and road construction, and poorly constructed drainage systems, gully erosion takes place when wear-and-tear on the surface land causes rainwater to accumulate in one area, causing loss of vegetation cover, localized erosion, and the formation of gullies.</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-11627993998769725732010-02-24T10:17:00.005+00:002010-02-24T11:18:45.520+00:00A very dangerous game in Abuja, Nigeria<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;font-size:13px;"><i></i><blockquote><i>"</i><a href="http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE61N0AT20100224?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0"><i>The Senate</i></a><i> resolution was very clear. It says the acting presidency lapses once the president sets foot on the shores of Nigeria,"</i></blockquote></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;font-size:13px;">The coup in Niger Republic may not be justified, but it was inevitable. Former President Mamadou Tandja, 71, wanted what all men with power had, more power. He had governed since 1999, serving two terms. In 2009, he assumed special powers <i>"because the independence of the country is threatened"</i>. A few months later, he was ousted in a coup and taken into custody and the government was dissolved. Former President Obasanjo's <a href="http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com/2009/03/third-term-agenda-revisited-any-regrets.html"><i>'Third Term Agenda'</i></a> was not too far back, but isn´t education a good thing? However, Nigeria´s elite are yet to learn about History.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px;font-size:13px;">How can Good People make a Nation Great? Genius! The evidence on <a href="http://www.news24.com/Content/Africa/News/965/42d04cc927324bb18452bd4ae97037dd/24-02-2010-12-07/Nigerian_presidents_return"><i>the ground supports</i></a> incredible ignorance and unimaginative selfishness. In the early hours (0200), President Yar'Adua returned to his own country, on a hushed up visit after Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has adopted the mantle of power. What in hell is going on? The crown rightfully belongs to the largely Muslim north but as a Christian from the Niger Delta sits on the throne, what is expected to give? <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/2006/02/introduction-back-to-front-4.html">Nigeria as a failed state</a>, dragging down a large part of the West African region? </span></span></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-8964277042763075892010-02-14T21:42:00.009+00:002010-03-05T11:42:37.355+00:00How many sewage treatment plants are there in Nigeria?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg&STREAMOID=coysqc9JfKtXofyMlsOFvi6SYeqqxXXqBcOgKOfTXxQPB7ZX6tQA7j0KVbDO5wQXwLkdkNm4NaK1iliY4aRX7GEabxkeoo57KN3LcI4Be79xyJSXHeyn6i9C8rc3E0xoX_kuXYWCUJRqviwH8FNPwULIcdFM9zupuYHBJc2ySZk-"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg&STREAMOID=coysqc9JfKtXofyMlsOFvi6SYeqqxXXqBcOgKOfTXxQPB7ZX6tQA7j0KVbDO5wQXwLkdkNm4NaK1iliY4aRX7GEabxkeoo57KN3LcI4Be79xyJSXHeyn6i9C8rc3E0xoX_kuXYWCUJRqviwH8FNPwULIcdFM9zupuYHBJc2ySZk-" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Canadian and Australian cities account for seven of the top ten spots in the Economist Intelligence Unit's latest liveability ranking. They used Stability, Healthcare, Culture and environment, Education and Infrastructure as the broad criteria. <a href="http://www.eiu.com/site_info.asp?info_name=The_Global_Liveability_Report&page=noads&rf=0">Lagos, Nigeria </a> came in 5th from bottom place to live on the planet is an indictment on those in all tiers of government which, begs the question. Does anyone know the number of <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/PhotoDetail.aspx?ImageId=2006956">sewage treatment plants in Lagos</a>, or in <a href="http://lookingforgoodinlagos.blogspot.com/2008/10/3rd-good-thing-about-northern-nigeria-i.html">Nigeria as a whole</a>? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are aware of Nestlé’s Agbara factory in Nigeria as <a href="http://www.nestle.com/SharedValueCSR/Environment/Water_old/CaseHistories/AllHistories/Case01.htm">its concerned marketing informs</a>; <span style="font-style:italic;">"Ghana, Nigeria and Morocco are amongst the most water-stressed countries in the world. Investments in efficient infrastructure by corporations help to fill the technical and budgetary gaps left by municipalities, as well as to protect local people from the negative side-effects of poor infrastructure"</span>. Good for Nestlé’s, they get my vote. The question remain. How many sewage treatment plants are there in Nigeria? The world bank <a href="http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=104231&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P002175">93-99 project in Lagos</a>?</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-42170068135243459842010-02-12T21:31:00.002+00:002010-02-12T21:39:59.019+00:00Great Pacific Ocean Garbage<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uLrVCI4N67M&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uLrVCI4N67M&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />A real issue that requires real action.Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-13616694584681586102010-01-09T18:05:00.003+00:002010-01-19T18:55:56.884+00:00UK Parliament Sleaze, Nigerian Politics, Tony Baldry MP & Sarosh Zaiwalla<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://news.pinkpaper.com/uploads/house-of-commons546567876.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 138px;" src="http://news.pinkpaper.com/uploads/house-of-commons546567876.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Last year, a Telegraph's investigation called <a title="MPs' Expenses" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses">The Expenses Files</a>, into how politicians from Gordon Brown's Cabinet to backbenchers of all parties exploited the system of parliamentary allowances to subsidise their lifestyles and multiple homes claimed about 21 casualties . However, is it so bad to be able too claim up to £10,000 for a new kitchen, more than £6,000 for a bathroom and £750 for a television and employ anyone in your family on Parliamentary allowances? Does this action corrode democratic governance by undermining the integrity of the legislative process in the UK? Were people in the UK right to be angry about the open secret that suddely became worldwide news headlines? <em>Lack of accountability continue to undermine the legitimacy of the British Parliamentary system</em> by <a title=""Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely"" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hannah-fisher/power-corrupts-and-absolu_b_216599.html">Hannah Fisher</a> is a good answer to those questions since the damage done by the claims is minimal in comparison to other forms of corruption in the Houses of Parliament.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In February 2002, Yemen born, Keith Vaz MP, the former Europe Minister was rebuked by a powerful committee of MPs for <em>"recklessly" </em>making an untrue and damaging allegation to the police against a witness who made a complaint against him. He had consistently enjoyed the support of Tony Blair, and was <a title="Vaz faces Commons suspension" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1808303.stm">found guilty of </a><em><a title="Vaz faces Commons suspension" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1808303.stm">"contempt"</a></em><a title="Vaz faces Commons suspension" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1808303.stm"> of the Commons</a> by <em>"wrongfully interfering with the House's investigative process."</em> Mr Vaz was also rebuked for failing to answer MPs' questions about his business affairs, and misleading the inquiry with inaccurate information. Today, he is <a title="The Committee chooses its own subjects of inquiry" href="http://www.parliament.uk/homeaffairscom/">the Chairman of the Committee charged with the task of examining the expenditure</a>, administration, and policy of the Home Office and public bodies. So you see, <em>Parliament isn't corrupt, just mediocre</em> by <a title="The focus on MPs' integrity is a red herring, as it usually is in British politics" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-parliament-isnt-corrupt-just-mediocre-1801802.html">Steve Richards</a> is an excellent reference and insight into British politics today.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">In April 2005, <a title="MP used his parliamentary position to lobby an African government over the award of a lucrative aviation contract to a company in which he is a big shareholder." href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article376788.ece">Tony Baldry MP</a>, the Conservative member for Banbury, Oxfordshire was reported as exploiting his position to further his business interest in a series of letters sent on House of Commons notepaper to the Vice-President of Sierra Leone discussing the privatisation of the country’s failed national airline. Companies House records showed that Baldry owned 439,000 shares in Angel Gate, although he made no mention of this in any of the letters. The firm paid him £30,000 in the previous year as its chairman. As chairman of the Commons international development committee, Baldry was responsible for scrutinising the millions in government aid spent in countries such as Sierra Leone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Baldry gave a <em><a title="We agree with the commissioner that Mr Baldry did not fully comply with the House's requirements in respect of the declarations of interest ???" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4703565.stm">"heartfelt and unconditional apology"</a></em><a title="We agree with the commissioner that Mr Baldry did not fully comply with the House's requirements in respect of the declarations of interest ???" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4703565.stm"> </a>even though the same <a title="Banbury MP Tony Baldry was censured by the Commons sleaze watchdog over his dealings with lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla." href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/686906.stm">Tony Baldry MP</a>, was told to apologise to MPs after recommending that Sarosh Zaiwalla, a lawyer who had lent him £5,000 should be awarded a CBE in March 2000. Mr Tony Baldry, the Conservative MP for Banbury has his finger in many pies. HT to Sahara Reporters of Nigeria. He is Vice-chair All-Party Overseas Development Group, Head of a London barristers’ chambers, chairman of a company investing in emerging economies, deputy chairman of an energy company and an executive partner in a film company among many. From his early days as PA to Margaret Thatcher 1974 general election, served in her private office March-October 1975 to today, Mr Baldry´s ambitious streak may have now have out done him as he appears to be deep in the <a title="Endless favours for Ibori: British MP Tony Baldry met with Yar’Adua, got paid" href="http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/131-sr-headlines/4769-endless-favours-for-ibori-british-mp-tony-baldry-met-with-yaradua-got-paid.html">dirty politics of Oil rich Niger-Delta of Nigeria</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 2007, a UK court froze assets belonging to <a title="He is one of several former Nigerian state governors who remain wanted for questioning in London on money-laundering charges." href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7035427.stm">James Ibori, former governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Delta State</a> worth $35m (£21m) whose annual salary was less than $25,000. He had already left the UK when <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnw0H08SYwk">his assets were seized</a>. But several of his associates and his wife, Theresa Ibori, are facing trial on related charges in the UK and Mr Ibori is named on legal documents as a co-conspirator in the case. Mr. Tony Baldry MP, has been reported trying to persuade senior cabinet ministers of the need for Her Majesty’s Government to discontinue the ongoing prosecution for various money laundering offences on the grounds that the prosecution is damaging to <a title=" Is the failure of money-laundering controls in Britain going to destabilize Nigeria? Is the Nigerian government aware of the damage in progress?" href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/2009/09/nigerias-bad-politics.html">the interests of Her Majesty’s Government</a> in the Niger Delta region. He further lamented the "Draconian world-wide freezing order on all of Ibori's assets" which has "serious consequences for Ibori and his ability to live his life day by day".</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;padding-left: 150px; "><em>four days after he sent his letter to the Foreign Secretary, on 28 September 2009, he registered the following interest in the MPs’ Register of Interests: “Received fee of £22,012.57 from Zaiwalla & Co. (Solicitors to James Ibori), for advising clients. Time worked: 16 hours.”</em></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, same old <a title="Testimonials for RT Hon Sir Michael Kerr, Lord Mackenzie-Stuart, RT Hon Lord Wilberforce" href="http://www.zaiwalla.co.uk/html/testimonials.html">Sarosh Zaiwalla</a> again! Citizens expect parliamentarians to maintain a high moral standard in their professional and private lives. They expect parliamentarians to serve out of conviction and a commitment to the public good, rather than for aspirations of personal power and the pursuit of private profit. Former PM, John Major accused Gordon Brown´s Labour of <em>'systemic sleaze'</em> a couple of years before the expenses scandal broke, but Martin Bell, former war reporter and MP puts it another way,<em> "I’ve long been arguing that corruption in the House of Commons is not peculiar but widespread and endemic"</em>. This supports Hannah Fisher´s statement that <em>"Corruption breaches the Parliamentary code of conduct which states that Parliamentarians "must never accept any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence". Astonishingly the very same code does not shield peers from the temptation of bribery because it fails to outlaw their ability to advise and maintain interests in private business and so remain subject to clandestine influence."</em></div><p></p>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-43936040722977213272010-01-01T15:41:00.010+00:002010-01-02T18:12:25.295+00:00Nigeria 2010 and beyond<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/621462.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 292px;" src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/621462.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">World News and Int´l Headlines!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "> Nigerian Jet <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8437046.stm">bomb suspect's journey 'began in Ghana'</a>. Religious <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/12/30/Nigeria.violence/index.html">hatred simmers</a> in Nigeria. Nigeria gets <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8434600.stm">'illegal' new chief justice</a>. Nigeria doctor 'impregnated girls and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8436658.stm">sold the babies</a>'. President Umaru Yar'Adua has been seriously ill <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8429184.stm">in hospital in Saudi Arabia</a>. Mr Yar'Adua has not formally handed over power and as a result Nigeria is locked in a political impasse. Is this a sign of what the year holds for Nigeria in 2010 and beyond?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hans Christian Andersen´s "The Ugly Duckling” is a literary fairy tale which tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his neighbors until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a graceful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The <a href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/621462">Abuja golf club</a> picture above does look peaceful.</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-60311742866540999792009-12-28T10:46:00.006+00:002009-12-30T18:04:20.155+00:00Sick Nigeria Produces Bomber<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01550/Umar-custody-460_1550153c.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 144px;" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01550/Umar-custody-460_1550153c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><blockquote>Dora Akunyili, Nigeria's information minister, defended the airport security in Lagos. "If you say Lagos is corrupt, so is Amsterdam," she said Sunday in an interview with <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126185654066205941.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_news">The Wall Street Journal</a>. "Our airport is not corrupt."</blockquote></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It took 23 year old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, son of one of Nigeria's most prominent businessmen, well connected in <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1549443/Nigerian-election-condemned-as-a-farce.html">Nigeria's political world</a> who had access to international travel and a world-class education to bring Nigeria back on par with <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/06/22/the_2009_failed_states_index">Somalia and Pakistan</a>. The world spotlight is back on a country that is not ready for the future. Here is a flavor of the <a href="http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com/2009/10/electricity-problems-at-nigerian.html">airport in Lagos</a>. Is anyone asking questions "<i>about intelligence community's central repository of information on known and suspected international terrorists"?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Umar´s father is a former minister and chairman of First Bank in Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab recently retired from the bank's board. Muttalab is a regular visitor to the US where he visits for medical check up and holidays. Where else? What is the real story here despite all the knowns about this case? It is hopeful this will highlight the real issues as Nigeria´s President Umaru Yar'Adua remains <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8429184.stm">seriously ill in hospital</a> in Saudi Arabia.</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-55021340629874218422009-12-13T11:30:00.011+00:002010-01-09T18:20:51.590+00:00Africans, just say no to USA charity and aid.<div style="text-align: justify;">No, thank you. And you too, Bono. <i>"Americans lead the world in charitable contributions, giving $300 billion a year to charities. Sounds like a lot right? But this is just a drop in the bucket compared to the <a href="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/CharityWhoCares-3.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">over One Trillion Dollars needed to keep US charities in operation</span></a>, more than the US government collects in taxes.</i></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-37188664996111122622009-10-12T09:15:00.006+01:002009-10-12T10:47:23.226+01:00Obama, Norwegians, Nigerians & Nobel Prize<div style="text-align: justify;">Norway and Nigeria are two very different places, but have one very important thing in common, both are major petroleum producers. <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.newsvine.com/_news/2009/05/14/2818106-thriving-norway-provides-an-economics-lesson">Norway is the best place</a> in the world to live while Nigeria is not, according to an annual report by the United Nations. They have achieved the good life, one of balance and void of excesses. Unlike Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oslo retains a feeling of modesty reminiscent of a fishing village rather than a Western capital. What is stopping the so called <a href="http://gpolya.newsvine.com/_news/2009/10/10/3368644-uk-new-statesman-mehdi-hasan-on-obama-nobel-peace-prize-is-this-a-joke">bloody Norwegians</a> using their leisure time to climb out of the cave of ignorance like philosopher kings and the guardians in Socrates' Republic to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8299824.stm">award Obama the Nobel Peace Prize</a>, less than 10 months into his presidency?</div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The problems of our times <i>(is directly/indirectly linked to the movement of the dollar)</i> will take decades to solve, that is, if they can be solved at all. Obama is a refresing change in everything USA and fostering that is perhaps a first step in stopping the status quo. People like some liberal ideas, but are fearful and many mistrust Obama, he is so new, untried, and arbitrates with <i>"new" </i>language. Shouldn't that be the best reason for the award? <a href="http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/president/africa/09.html">GBW & OBJ</a> in their respective countries were a great act to follow in terms of legacy (of destruction) but Obama´s whole approach to conflict resolution through diplomacy, bilateral talks and not through <i>'you v/s us' 'with us or against us' and 'shock and awe'</i> tactics.</div></div></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-16239403351195732312009-10-04T07:40:00.008+01:002009-10-04T09:58:58.715+01:00The money makers - Sony & the real 419<p><div align="justify">America´s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which punishes companies for <a href="http://www.newser.com/story/49070/halliburton-will-pay-559m-in-nigerian-bribery-fines.html">using bribes </a>to win foreign business caught out Halliburton, once helmed by former US Vice President Dick Cheney resulted in $559 million in fines, the largest federal penalty ever paid by a US company for bribery. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BWdK4wqX0k">Sony used its creativity </a>to include this open secret in its ad but <em>"While Nigeria accepts or concedes that there are few criminal minded people within her population just like any other country including Japan, Nigeria therefore does not see the basis to single out the country as an example in that infamous advertisement"</em>. Now who is talking nonsense?</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><p></p><p><div align="justify"><em>"The Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, has, as a matter of policy, put in place institutions and mechanisms to rid the country of any form of fraudulent practices"</em> is perhaps a reason watch again, PBS´s <a href="http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bribe/2009/05/lowell-bergman.html">The Business of Bribes</a>, where Nigeria's former anti-corruption csar Nuhu Ribadu cited the case of a south state governor that simply stole everything. Nobody accepts that we are all evil but are some among us totally corrupt and selfish enough to <a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.blogspot.com/2009/02/god-will-not-provide.html">ensalve 70% of 140 million Nigerians?</a> Yes! Who are those people? Just look at the list of who is who in Nigeria over the past four decades including some of our so called heros today.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><p></p><p><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">It is easier to <a href="http://www.streetsofcalabar.com/">kill a country </a>than to create a great one but should Nigeria continue to slide into a pariah state drunk on corruption? Going after soft targets like Sony is failing to see the big picture. Corruption exists everywhere but how we deal with our dirty laundry is no longer a PR issue today. Education, health and the rule of law matter more to the people than winning <a href="http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=12226">a few brownie points</a>. A new scandal, <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-money-makers-20090524-bjin.html"><em>The money makers</em> </a>is brewing, but as the Reserve Bank of Australia referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police, what did media enquiry get from our FGN? <em>"Put it in writing and send it to my office. I will then decide whether I will respond" Mr. Edevbie said to NEXT</em> is a reason to go figure on Sony.</div><p></p>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-30810941492051219742009-09-29T07:36:00.006+01:002009-09-29T09:10:55.539+01:00Nigeria´s Bad Cash Politics - Ribadu & Ibori saga<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPy7J1pG0lNuC24vP_k-yAmjNqG9Lj6gWAfx8HILi0NmNo56X2GOimCHNTVw2NxBLeZ8dn0PQYi47W1-zIdQa7mOOtSpWf5pffu2IPk1sYfg1W6RtVpcU_nzjggRJVk3_CfB2hA/s1600-h/nigeriatrash.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPy7J1pG0lNuC24vP_k-yAmjNqG9Lj6gWAfx8HILi0NmNo56X2GOimCHNTVw2NxBLeZ8dn0PQYi47W1-zIdQa7mOOtSpWf5pffu2IPk1sYfg1W6RtVpcU_nzjggRJVk3_CfB2hA/s200/nigeriatrash.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386797483752075714" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1576527.stm">In 2001</a>, The Financial Times revealed that 23 London banks handled $1.3bn belonging to family and friends of General Abacha including the city branches of Germany's Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, France's BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole as well as Switzerland's leading banks, Credit Suisse and UBS. American banks, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Citibank. Britain's leading high street banks HSBC, Barclays and NatWest also featured in the list. How the cash got to London is a question nobody is yet to dare look into. The Financial Services Authority at the time told fifteen banks their money-laundering controls were too lax. Nice one, mate!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.dawodu.com/aluko16.htm">Revenue allocation</a> by the FGN to the states is controlled by the state Governor and there is the additional cash from <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7519302.stm">illegal oil bunkering</a> that nets around $5bn per year. The dizzing sums simply showed cash is awash in Nigeria even though a huge chunk of it ends up everywhere else but Nigeria. The Governors simply carte some or all the cash to Britain is the song of <a href="http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bribe/2009/05/lowell-bergman.html">Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria's former anti-corruption csar</a>. In 2007, The London High Court ordered the refreezing of former Nigerian governor, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7035427.stm">James Ibori's $35m assets</a> that police think are the proceeds of crime. He is one of several former Nigerian state governors who remain wanted for questioning in London on money-laundering charges. What did the current Nigerian administration do about it?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, James Ibori has gone on the offensive in <a href="http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/sept/29/national-29-09-2009-001.htm">Nigeria´s trash media</a> <i>“If you, Nuhu Ribadu, a Nigerian in London, think you have the right to invite me to London to face some trumped up charges, I, a Nigerian with all the rights as a Nigerian, invite you to Nigeria your home country, where you are a pitiable fugitive from justice”</i> as the London Metropolitan Police investigats him, Bola Tinubu and others. Ibori does have a point though as a BBC documentary recently claimed that <i><a href="http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/aug2007/nige-a09.shtml">"Britain rigged election before Nigerian independence"</a>.</i> What is really going on now? Is London trying to force the outcome of the forth coming Nigerian elections in 2011 as per 1960? Is the failure of money-laundering controls in Britain going to destabilize Nigeria? Is the Nigerian government aware of <a href="http://abujathievescrooksandliarsnetwork.blogspot.com/">the damage in progress</a>?</div><div></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>...But now, most Nigerians are hypocrites, they see somebody doing something wrong, they laugh with him, they celebrate him, he doesn’t know that he is doing something wrong.</i> - Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayool</div><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-36088856725721550332009-09-13T11:26:00.008+01:002009-09-13T17:33:28.294+01:00Dora Akunyili and the Sahara reporters story<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amadeo.blog.com/repository/766123/4016884.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200x; height: 212px;" src="http://amadeo.blog.com/repository/766123/4016884.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><i>What is happening today is very dangerous; a situation where anybody can write anything and it will be posted to the internet unverified.</i></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">FGN ministers commmenting on blogs is a good way to address the communication challenge we see in Nigeria today, but a bating average of 2/100 is poor. <i>"<a href="http://nigeriawhatisnew.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/10/1558815-who-is-ms-amina-ibrahim">Amina J Ibrahim</a> is good old me!"</i> has become one of the most popular hits on this blog and <a href="http://abujathievescrooksandliarsnetwork.blogspot.com/2009/09/re-nta-n82-billion-scam-carrying-out-my.html"> debunking the trash on Sahara reporters</a> will no doubt become popular. However, how did the relationship between publishers and politicians get so bad? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nigeria is so vast, so multi-layered and varied, so utterly complex and so totally eventful, that there is never enough time to tackle more than a fraction of stories. Never mind the media manipulation and an inadequate infrastructure, the problem is, no one person ever seems to be in overall control, or to have the whole picture. The news ends up fracturing, trickling down byways and getting lost in tiny tributaries and as such information in Chinese whisper form created the huge number of noise on the Internet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Again, why is it so hard to get information in Nigeria? Press officers, especially the official ones seemed to believe that Nigerians do not have a right to information or do not even know about the issues. Why is it that when there is someone willing to give an account of events, it is often to push their own agenda? That is the root cause of online noise but it does not give trash publishers the right to headline Professor Akunyili a scammer. A test case in the courts might soon help educate those that do not get it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How do we support those ministers wishing to engage in communicating and informing Nigerians everywhere is perhaps the next chapter. However, just like former <a href="http://akin.blog-city.com/nigeria_obasanjos_hard_talk.htm">President Obasanjo stated on BBC</a>, <i>"I am not corrupt"</i> but people in his government were corrupt. It is unfair for Mrs Akunyili to claim <i>"People have done a lot of damage to the image of this country. Must we destroy the image of our country and the future of our children by painting our country and every Nigerian Public Servant “bad’’ in the eyes of the world?"</i>. The open secret that <a href="http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bribe/2009/05/lowell-bergman.html">$600 Billion dollars was lost corruption in Nigeria</a> is not new but whoever is without sin should cast the first stone.</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-9920527522974855022009-09-03T12:40:00.006+01:002009-09-03T14:18:36.649+01:00The problem with District 9<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/District_nine_ver2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 436px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/District_nine_ver2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I strongly disagree with the position that <a title="Where is the good arguement?" href="http://www.racialicious.com/2009/08/18/district-9-is-racist-alternate-perspective/">D-9 is racist</a>. This is Sci-Fi at its best, following in an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. Sweeping <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgb1BdPBZo">generalizations of xenophobia</a> is unfounded since the weakness in that argument stems from the assumption that it is not fiction. The noise coming out of the bottom rung of society in the movie <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWHoX7ZZWx4">is perhaps a reason</a> for its overwhelmingly positive reviews from the critics. Please note, </div><div><blockquote><i>Our true nationality is humankind. HG Wells</i></blockquote></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-11816917944445027142009-08-07T09:32:00.007+01:002009-08-31T18:00:11.334+01:00Mrs Clinton, how did your visit benefit Nigeria?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/ap/nws/189ba7bb-b96e-4662-a06e-f28a9bab40a8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 150px;" src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/ap/nws/189ba7bb-b96e-4662-a06e-f28a9bab40a8.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>"no person, not even a congressman, is above the law. Ninety thousand dollars in a freezer is not a gray area. It's a violation." <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090805/ap_on_re_us/us_jefferson_trial">U.S. Attorney Dana Boente</a></blockquote><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090805/ap_on_re_us/us_jefferson_trial"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are a Good People, Great Nation, but with corrupt successive governments, we have become an oil-rich Cinderella state that never quite made it to the ball. A huge chunk of our/your problem seemed to revolve around our oil that your country needs. <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=ac7YAtStWmfo">Extrinsic rewards for selfish interests</a> in spades but if obtaining outcomes in an area than can generate a win for all. It is not either or, but a combination of every effort. What measurable benefits will come out of this Nigerian visit at this time? Need any hints?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://nigerianstalk.org/?p=207">President Obama´s speech in Ghana</a> was just that but action of the type that convicted former US Congressman William J. Jefferson of using his office to try to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/us/06jefferson.html">enrich himself and relatives</a> through a web of bribes and payoffs involving business ventures in Africa is short on the ground. These are dangerous times for Nigeria and the US should seek to reinforce and strengthen indigenous efforts as well as impose externally-originated solutions. For example exposing the <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/200907211074.html">former Nigerian Presidents</a> that were involved in the Haliburton bribery scandal. updated 31/08/2009<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-2468892866869536372009-07-30T13:21:00.019+01:002009-12-29T08:49:31.711+00:00Dearth of Information - Nigeria, Nigerian<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.niger1.com/p.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 165px; height: 155px;" src="http://www.niger1.com/p.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">So why is it so hard to get information in Nigeria? No one person ever seems to be in overall control, or to have the whole picture. Press officers, especially the official ones seemed to believe that Nigerians do not have a right to information or do not even know about the issues. Why is it that when there is someone willing to give an account of events, <a href="http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/tra782009.html">it is often to push their own agenda</a>? Ask any Nigerian about the picture here and the opinions would fill a volume is my point.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In April 2009, <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/04/05/2643184-us-warns-of-potential-attack-on-nigeria-missions">The US warned</a> of a possible attack against diplomatic missions in Lagos in a message to US citizens living in Nigeria. What agenda? A few months later, <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/200907230155.html">MEND</a> attacked a key jetty in Lagos State. Up until now, no official government information exists on its before or after. <i>Virtually all government information is classified as top secret</i> by <a href="http://ipsnews.net/Africa/interna.asp?idnews=24297">Sam Olukoya</a> is an excellent insight to how business is done in Nigeria. But as the violence in Bauchi State spread to Borno, Kano and Yobe states, it is hoped that the importance of information might be taken more seriously. Any comments on the picture above would be good.</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-17480875751044889502009-07-18T09:10:00.004+01:002009-07-18T09:17:18.935+01:00Home - a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8IozVfph7I"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlS87F1jRUlffFtBUitgkHVAJNXvgbEUSfo0AXy4dQ8rFE9CSDIx1L3O1UnWU5jGlnXwnGOl1g2PdroezaklYr_9V8Ic1kqfcndOluXWxfAjHhL2wPfBAGzPnXu8zQIVSOtx1qmg/s400/lagos.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359710614375491474" border="0" /></a>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-84350239302102929462009-07-11T04:17:00.005+01:002009-10-12T11:02:22.524+01:00Obama in Ghana<div style="text-align: justify;">Why Ghana? <i><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-ghana-progress10-2009jul10,0,6086894.story">Politically stable</a>, Ghana stands out in a chaotic neighborhood. Nigeria, the regional oil power, has been hit by frequent militant attacks, pipeline explosions and kidnappings. Kenya, the homeland of Obama's late father, was rocked by violence after a disputed presidential election in 2007; more than 1,000 people were killed.</i> But, Ghana ranks No. 135 among 177 countries on the United Nations human development index. So? <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-obama-africa11-2009jul11,0,6654920.story"><i>Ghana was selected</i></a><i> as the first trip to showcase an example of a well-governed democracy that will highlight a part of Africa rarely seen by Americans and other Westerners. </i>Now we know.</div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22060006.post-43918998552024378732009-07-09T12:28:00.007+01:002009-07-09T13:30:05.809+01:00Nigerian Newspapers - Online rot<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/images/2007101660431201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 188px;" src="http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/images/2007101660431201.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Naija Newsmedia just do not understand and they do not appear to be trying as punchng announced <span style="font-style: italic;">"effective from May 29th 2009, access to read news stories on our website will be by subscription. The subscription amount of N1,500 per month gives access to your authoritative news"</span>. Stupid or what? SWOT analysis on trash news simply indicated alternative funding or revenue streams but as always, the Nigerian scene has its eyes wide shut. </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://carloz.newsvine.com/_news/2009/06/19/2949386-newsvine-poll-do-you-still-read-print-newspapers-do-you-or-would-you-pay-to-read-on-line-news-media">Would you pay to read on-line news media</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">? </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/new-news/">Why in the world would people go to cnn.com for foreign news when experts in country are a click away?</a></blockquote><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is no longer good enough to have a web 2.0 presence when you are not watching the new tools nor connecting with nerds to get it done! Bad quality products for example Punchng.com, Thisdayonline.com, NgrGuardiannews.com and others will simply become irrelevant as <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/">Vanguard Newspaper</a> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >(shame about the semi-illiterate views in its comments section though) </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and those that take on the challenge of displaying a huge amount of content <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/11/11/newspaper-website-design-trends-and-examples/">become the destination</a> for local news. Those comments will help build the desired momentum and economies of scales necessary for international market share.</span></div>Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13767962513563359016noreply@blogger.com4