nigeria, what's new?

Nigeria and its Fuel Subsidy Crisis

2012-01-11T15:22:00.002Z

Want to help Africa? Do business here was the TED rallying cry by former World Bank MD now Nigeria Finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. 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. President Goodluck Jonathan has gone on national TV to defend the fuel cuts. But words like "I have no intention to inflict pains on Nigerians" and "We must act in the public interest, no matter how tough, for the pains of today cannot be compared to the benefits of tomorrow" missed the point.

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 planned it better. The town hall meeting was a disaster of jargon and platitudes. 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.

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 Islamist Boko Haram group are in government and security agencies. “Downside scenarios included: Nigeria as a failed state, dragging down a large part of the West African region.” 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?

I do not think so. All is not lost in Nigeria, those incompetent lot in the Nigerian government has 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?

Nigerian Elections - Who to vote

2011-03-22T18:26:00.002Z

In The News For The Wrong Reasons

2010-09-30T15:52:00.005+01:00

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 kidnapped children in Abia, our sex slaves 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 in the midst of plenty.

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 “Nigeria@50 What celebrations?”. But look who is doing the talking. The independence deception has created a corruption that killed our society. Why else would those who could leave?

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 the movie D-9, go figure.

Next News Nigeria - What a joy!

2010-06-20T07:45:00.005+01:00

"Bankole shuns official residence" could easily have been dissmissed as a none starter but the end of the story revealed "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". So we should care that the current Speaker lives out of his official residence but wait, "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". Again, one of those inflated contracts that is keeping 90 million Nigerians in poverty while the UN speaks about MDGs. A highly recommended story as more hundreds of millions of cash are bandied about in a story that give a general picture of home.

It gets worse, “In July 2006, 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.

This Banking, Healthcare and The Pastor story is about thinking, asking and acting 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? "...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" - Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola.

“Why should parents/guardians allow their children/wards take to the streets? 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.

Nigeria Oil & China News and Corrupt Politics

2010-05-15T11:14:00.010+01:00

"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". Chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - Mrs. Farida Waziri

Clueless or what? In 2007, a UK court froze assets worth $35m allegedly belonging to Chief James Ibori (annual salary less $25,000), 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 Nigerian power house and Tory MP Tony Baldry whose involvement in this matter has not been as a Member of Parliament, but as a barrister. More on two faced Tony Baldry MP, Conservative member for Banbury here.

Mrs Waziri and others appear hapless chasing cockroaches and rats 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. General Obasanjo came and went but his corrupt practices legacy remained as General Babangida seeks to return. So, our houseboy returns fire with the Nigeria, China Sign $23 Billion Oil-Refinery Big Deal. Who is fooling who as China National Petroleum Corp., China's largest oil company by assets, said it had no information on Nigeria's announcement?

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 70% of Nigerians who live below poverty level 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 eating skins and bones while the fillet steak goes elsewhere. And that is the problem.

Why do you think Ibrahim Babangida must never rule Nigeria again?

2010-04-17T13:16:00.003+01:00

Excellent answer below, just watch the video

Nigeria, What´s Wrong With This Picture?

2010-04-06T11:19:00.007+01:00

Nigeria And A Silent Danger

2010-03-31T19:09:00.009+01:00

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 attributed to Muslims and Christians. 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 corruption coming back full circle as huge sums of cash allocated to land rehabilitation simply disappeared.

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 land unusable for farming. 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.

A very dangerous game in Abuja, Nigeria

2010-02-24T10:17:00.005Z

"The Senate resolution was very clear. It says the acting presidency lapses once the president sets foot on the shores of Nigeria,"

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 "because the independence of the country is threatened". A few months later, he was ousted in a coup and taken into custody and the government was dissolved. Former President Obasanjo's 'Third Term Agenda' was not too far back, but isn´t education a good thing? However, Nigeria´s elite are yet to learn about History.

How can Good People make a Nation Great? Genius! The evidence on the ground supports 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? Nigeria as a failed state, dragging down a large part of the West African region?

How many sewage treatment plants are there in Nigeria?

2010-02-14T21:42:00.009Z

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. Lagos, Nigeria 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 sewage treatment plants in Lagos, or in Nigeria as a whole?

We are aware of Nestlé’s Agbara factory in Nigeria as its concerned marketing informs; "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". Good for Nestlé’s, they get my vote. The question remain. How many sewage treatment plants are there in Nigeria? The world bank 93-99 project in Lagos?

Great Pacific Ocean Garbage

2010-02-12T21:31:00.002Z

A real issue that requires real action.

UK Parliament Sleaze, Nigerian Politics, Tony Baldry MP & Sarosh Zaiwalla

2010-01-09T18:05:00.003Z

Last year, a Telegraph's investigation called The Expenses Files, 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? Lack of accountability continue to undermine the legitimacy of the British Parliamentary system by Hannah Fisher 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.

In February 2002, Yemen born, Keith Vaz MP, the former Europe Minister was rebuked by a powerful committee of MPs for "recklessly" 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 found guilty of "contempt" of the Commons by "wrongfully interfering with the House's investigative process." 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 the Chairman of the Committee charged with the task of examining the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Home Office and public bodies. So you see, Parliament isn't corrupt, just mediocre by Steve Richards is an excellent reference and insight into British politics today.

In April 2005, Tony Baldry MP, 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.

Mr Baldry gave a "heartfelt and unconditional apology" even though the same Tony Baldry MP, 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 dirty politics of Oil rich Niger-Delta of Nigeria.

In 2007, a UK court froze assets belonging to James Ibori, former governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Delta State worth $35m (£21m) whose annual salary was less than $25,000. He had already left the UK when his assets were seized. 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 the interests of Her Majesty’s Government 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".

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.”

Yes, same old Sarosh Zaiwalla 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 'systemic sleaze' a couple of years before the expenses scandal broke, but Martin Bell, former war reporter and MP puts it another way, "I’ve long been arguing that corruption in the House of Commons is not peculiar but widespread and endemic". This supports Hannah Fisher´s statement that "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."

Nigeria 2010 and beyond

2010-01-01T15:41:00.010Z

World News and Int´l Headlines! Nigerian Jet bomb suspect's journey 'began in Ghana'. Religious hatred simmers in Nigeria. Nigeria gets 'illegal' new chief justice. Nigeria doctor 'impregnated girls and sold the babies'. President Umaru Yar'Adua has been seriously ill in hospital in Saudi Arabia. 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?

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 Abuja golf club picture above does look peaceful.

Sick Nigeria Produces Bomber

2009-12-28T10:46:00.006Z

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 The Wall Street Journal. "Our airport is not corrupt."

It took 23 year old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, son of one of Nigeria's most prominent businessmen, well connected in Nigeria's political world who had access to international travel and a world-class education to bring Nigeria back on par with Somalia and Pakistan. The world spotlight is back on a country that is not ready for the future. Here is a flavor of the airport in Lagos. Is anyone asking questions "about intelligence community's central repository of information on known and suspected international terrorists"?

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 seriously ill in hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Africans, just say no to USA charity and aid.

2009-12-13T11:30:00.011Z

No, thank you. And you too, Bono. "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 over One Trillion Dollars needed to keep US charities in operation, more than the US government collects in taxes.

Obama, Norwegians, Nigerians & Nobel Prize

2009-10-12T09:15:00.006+01:00

Norway and Nigeria are two very different places, but have one very important thing in common, both are major petroleum producers. Norway is the best place 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 bloody Norwegians using their leisure time to climb out of the cave of ignorance like philosopher kings and the guardians in Socrates' Republic to award Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, less than 10 months into his presidency?

The problems of our times (is directly/indirectly linked to the movement of the dollar) 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 "new" language. Shouldn't that be the best reason for the award? GBW & OBJ 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 'you v/s us' 'with us or against us' and 'shock and awe' tactics.

The money makers - Sony & the real 419

2009-10-04T07:40:00.008+01:00

America´s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which punishes companies for using bribes 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. Sony used its creativity to include this open secret in its ad but "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". Now who is talking nonsense?

"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" is perhaps a reason watch again, PBS´s The Business of Bribes, 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 ensalve 70% of 140 million Nigerians? 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.

It is easier to kill a country 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 few brownie points. A new scandal, The money makers 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? "Put it in writing and send it to my office. I will then decide whether I will respond" Mr. Edevbie said to NEXT is a reason to go figure on Sony.

Nigeria´s Bad Cash Politics - Ribadu & Ibori saga

2009-09-29T07:36:00.006+01:00

In 2001, 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!

Revenue allocation by the FGN to the states is controlled by the state Governor and there is the additional cash from illegal oil bunkering 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 Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria's former anti-corruption csar. In 2007, The London High Court ordered the refreezing of former Nigerian governor, James Ibori's $35m assets 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?

Today, James Ibori has gone on the offensive in Nigeria´s trash media “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” as the London Metropolitan Police investigats him, Bola Tinubu and others. Ibori does have a point though as a BBC documentary recently claimed that "Britain rigged election before Nigerian independence". 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 the damage in progress?

...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. - Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayool

Dora Akunyili and the Sahara reporters story

2009-09-13T11:26:00.008+01:00

What is happening today is very dangerous; a situation where anybody can write anything and it will be posted to the internet unverified.

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. "Amina J Ibrahim is good old me!" has become one of the most popular hits on this blog and debunking the trash on Sahara reporters will no doubt become popular. However, how did the relationship between publishers and politicians get so bad?

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.

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.

How do we support those ministers wishing to engage in communicating and informing Nigerians everywhere is perhaps the next chapter. However, just like former President Obasanjo stated on BBC, "I am not corrupt" but people in his government were corrupt. It is unfair for Mrs Akunyili to claim "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?". The open secret that $600 Billion dollars was lost corruption in Nigeria is not new but whoever is without sin should cast the first stone.

The problem with District 9

2009-09-03T12:40:00.006+01:00

I strongly disagree with the position that D-9 is racist. 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 generalizations of xenophobia 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 is perhaps a reason for its overwhelmingly positive reviews from the critics. Please note,

Our true nationality is humankind. HG Wells

Mrs Clinton, how did your visit benefit Nigeria?

2009-08-07T09:32:00.007+01:00

"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." U.S. Attorney Dana Boente

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. Extrinsic rewards for selfish interests 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?

President Obama´s speech in Ghana was just that but action of the type that convicted former US Congressman William J. Jefferson of using his office to try to enrich himself and relatives 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 former Nigerian Presidents that were involved in the Haliburton bribery scandal. updated 31/08/2009

Dearth of Information - Nigeria, Nigerian

2009-07-30T13:21:00.019+01:00

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, it is often to push their own agenda? Ask any Nigerian about the picture here and the opinions would fill a volume is my point.

In April 2009, The US warned of a possible attack against diplomatic missions in Lagos in a message to US citizens living in Nigeria. What agenda? A few months later, MEND attacked a key jetty in Lagos State. Up until now, no official government information exists on its before or after. Virtually all government information is classified as top secret by Sam Olukoya 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.

Home - a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

2009-07-18T09:10:00.004+01:00

Obama in Ghana

2009-07-11T04:17:00.005+01:00

Why Ghana? Politically stable, 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. But, Ghana ranks No. 135 among 177 countries on the United Nations human development index. So? Ghana was selected 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. Now we know.

Nigerian Newspapers - Online rot

2009-07-09T12:28:00.007+01:00

Naija Newsmedia just do not understand and they do not appear to be trying as punchng announced "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". 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. Would you pay to read on-line news media?

Why in the world would people go to cnn.com for foreign news when experts in country are a click away?

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 Vanguard Newspaper (shame about the semi-illiterate views in its comments section though) and those that take on the challenge of displaying a huge amount of content become the destination for local news. Those comments will help build the desired momentum and economies of scales necessary for international market share.

G8 - Nigeria

2009-06-21T08:36:00.013+01:00

There is no good to come out of a conference that allows the major cause of the worlds problems to supposedly suggest realistic solutions. It's like giving the fox the key to the henhouse and suggesting he knows what's best.

L’Aquila, the city symbolising the earthquake that hit Abruzzo on 6 April is the venue for an austere G8 increasingly alive to the issues of natural calamity-related risk prevention, aversion and management. Wouldn't it be history's fate if an Equake were to occur between 8 & 10 July as Heads of State and Government of the member countries hold talks with a view to finding solutions to the main world issues? There are no solutions but education like this one would help us all.

Nigeria has been invited. Yar'Adua was being invited because President Silvio Berlusconi was personally committed to renewing ties between the G-8 and Africa, especially with Nigeria. Italy and the rest of the G8 only care about the benefits of the relationships to their respective countries. The past few decades holds that statement true. The G8 members are not concerned about stripping Africa bare but using it as a launch pad for their ailing economies. G8 2005 attended by OBJ was a memorable one. The outcome?

Human rights & democracy

2009-06-04T21:39:00.005+01:00

48 years of independent bad management as the war in the Niger-Delta rages on. Another celebration of mediocre in a country where prisoners can be jailed for years without court sentences. In Enugu prison, 724 prisoners out of the total prison population of 987 have not been convicted, a contributory factor in the recent mass break out. 10 years of democracy in Nigeria, a milestone no doubt but what are the benefits to the people and at what cost?

How do we measure democracy and socio-economic progress anyway? The concern has always been the difficulty in measuring progress in Human Rights in the form of comparable numerical statistics. There are certain immeasurables that cloud the decisions to help countries that do not grasp the concept of democracy and human rights but look to US dollars as a way of abusing their own people.

Oil War in the Niger Delta

2009-05-24T10:15:00.016+01:00

In February 2009 the government of President Umaru Yar’Adua assured the UN Human Rights Council it would refrain from military offensives in the Delta region because of the risk of loss of innocent lives. Civilians are now bearing the brunt of this violence as thousands of villagers displaced and thousands more trapped in the cross fire. Scenes of the unthinkable, Biafra?

Former President Obasanjo wrote the militants off as thugs and criminals but now, a war has broken out against the so-called freedom fighters who insist that the region should control its resources totally. The Federal Government is blaming among many the collaboration of foreign business. There are many questions about this war.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, has said the military operation in the Niger Delta region is aimed at restoring peace in the region. Mr. Bankole described the operation as merely a peace-keeping one. "As far as I am concerned, it is a peace-keeping option, which is going on in the Niger Delta,"

Looking dishevelled, they scrambled for mattresses, food and other relief materials, distributed by officials of the council and staff of the National Emergency Management Authority. They have, literally, become “refugees” in their own country.

Is this how an elected government restores peace with its people? What shocking arrogance and ignorance? War is ugly but those benefiting from it will not just walk away and it is only via the rule of law that this fire must go out. The offensive in the Niger-Delta must stop now before the whole country is lost!

100 Days, Africa & Obama

2009-05-01T07:56:00.013+01:00

President Obama has shown in 100 days that the key to leadership is the effective communication of a story. Africa did not feature in "the typical president has two or three big problems. We've got seven or eight big problems. And so we've had to move very quickly" speech. Those Baba Go Slow in Africa had better take heed as he described the Pakistani regime as blind and extremely fragile. US officials have been critical of the Pakistani government but Obama's criticism was sharper, pointing up failures that he said extended throughout the country. Foolish governments everywhere, your re-education start here:-

The Pakistani government's hold on power was weak, he said, because it could not provide basic services to its people -- including education, healthcare and a widely accepted system of law and judicial administration. "And so as a consequence, it is very difficult for them to gain the support and the loyalty of their people."

No doubt that part of President Obama´s speech had the potential to cause a diplomatic issue but with most of the planet in his defence, what idiot dared showed his claw. Transpose the above to Africa today and wonder why a whole continent was never mentioned. The H1N1 virus mutated from pig, bird and human viruses and now it is everywhere but is Africa prepared for chaos? Nigeria has the potential to become the power house of Africa as Zuma gets his machete ready to slaughter and rape South Africa. Will Africa see a better day?

Kids Photograph Nigeria's Slums

2009-04-18T15:03:00.000+01:00

Underprivileged children from a slum in Lagos take part in a photo exhibition to show their day-to-day experience of poverty.

$1 trillion stimulus to boost world economy!

2009-04-02T16:09:00.005+01:00

the IMF is almost out of money. Now, you may not like the IMF and maybe we can come up with ideas to change the IMF and other global structures, but right now, for helping emerging markets that get into trouble, that's all we've got and they're down to their last $100 billion. $100 billion in this world right now is not a lot of money.

Where does Nigeria and other emerging cess pits stand in this huge pile of cash? History has shown that regardless of the amount of money pumped into developing countries, the infrastructre remains challenging. Getting the cash is easy but the plans and strategy of using it to develop the so called 3rd world seemed stunned. G20 my left foot. They have allocated $500bn for the IMF to lend to struggling economies but only $100bn to poor corruption ridden ones.

Nigeria does not need daft loans which will end up in Ghana-must-go bags. We can raise the same amount without effort. How about a $100bn levy on multi-nationals on site for bribes, corruption, fake everything and pollution? Evidence suggests it is those multi-nationals we worship that are killing us. While Abuja thinks of re-branding and confirms low talent count, it is those outside the box that might yet help save a country sliding into the abyss.

Abuja National Oil

2009-03-19T22:16:00.009Z

And if anybody will ask me of the right price of crude oil that will encourage investment, I think $140 per barrel will be appropriate. - The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman

How bad is $140 oil for consumers? In the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, Lukman served as minister of mines, power and steel from 1984 to 1985. In 1986, he was made petroleum minister until February 1990. As top energy advisor to President Obasanjo in 1999, the government on July 6 cancelled 47 offshore E&P licences awarded controversially to local companies since 1995.

In 2009 under President Yar'Adua, the Federal Government now wants to reform the sector by developing local content in the oil and gas industry. The Nigerian oil industry has been marred by political and economic strife largely due to a long history of corrupt military regimes and complicity of multinational corporations but who controls our national oil? Anyone else concerned?

Good People, Great Nation, Corrupt Government

2009-03-14T06:53:00.012Z

The good news -- and it is largely good news -- is that everyone has a chance to stand out. Everyone has a chance to learn, improve, and build up their skills. Everyone has a chance to be a brand worthy of remark. - The Brand Called You - Tom Peters

According to the Minister for Information and Communication, Dora Akunyili, the 'Heart of Africa' brand failed because it was driven from abroad and did not meet with the aspirations of Nigerians and the best way forward is with GG and C. So, here we have a Made-in-Nigeria brand but how do we market it? Might a colossal top to bottom effort be required looking at where we are now?

Are we getting the National Assembly we paid for? Have we killed enough militants in the Niger Delta? Electoral reforms in progress? Who you dey call village idiot? Nigeria will not be able to generate enough electricity for its population until at least 2020? Human Rights, who be dat? Health & Education status? If you want people to see you as a powerful brand, act and deliver measurable benefits.

Wanted: Omar al-Bashir - 4 March 09 - Part 1

2009-03-05T16:04:00.004Z

South African Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu said African leaders are behaving shamefully and dismissed concerns that the court's action would impede promoting peace.

Wanted: Omar al-Bashir - 4 March 09 - Part 2

2009-03-05T16:02:00.002Z

Now that we have done the murderers lets go after the thieves.

Obama's Hopeful Economic Speech

2009-02-25T09:27:00.005Z

listen out for the We have a problem! We fix it! Fellow Nigerians, are you still living THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY?

How NOT to face the press!

2009-02-16T10:43:00.006Z

"Do you have the capabilities to help your people? No, the FGN will do it". Do you have difficulty communicating leadership? Everyday effective public speaking, motivation, influence, persuasion, informing, translation, or simply entertaining. Learn more.

God will not provide?

2009-02-14T09:27:00.017Z

"Heirs of sorrow, hear me and lend me your ears" might sound like an elegant beginning to an all too familiar warning from abroad but in times of stability, we need to do things better. In changing times, however, we need to do things differently. Sadly, Nigerians do not appear to have woken up to the issues of our times. A look at the local media trash publications inc and the mountain of rubbish attributed to the FGN on the web must concern those educated enough to see the signs of a failed state. No, God will not provide, "religion is only an opium of the extremely poor".

Leaving aside the statements attributed to Senator Russ Feingold, (a 16-year member and the current Chairman of the Subcommittee on African Affairs) that classified Nigeria as a failed state. Feingold, AFRICOM and the CIA are looking for benefits to the USA. Who is looking out for benefits to Nigeria? High-ranking Nigerian officials between 1994 & 2004 and beyond? The failed state analysis was done with the degree of effort not available in Nigeria, and it is not a Windows X simulation either. Should we take up those issues or await the tsunami and its inundation?

Either way, over 70% of Nigerians live below poverty level by Special Assist to the President on MDGs, Hajia Amina Ibrahim isn't good news but those MGDs will not break the vicious circle of poverty. The root causes of poverty is corruption with its many heads example, but "Corruption breeds poverty, poverty breeds corruption" by Justice Ayoola is the type of joined up thinking that might help Ibrahim in her crusade. "We cannot deal with poverty without removing corruption. If you start a social welfare scheme today without dealing with lack of integrity, you are wasting your money".

Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the UN

2009-01-27T12:16:00.005Z

We have all bought the Tshirt, it is time to see its quality after a few washes. Did you know, Rice served in the Clinton administration in various capacities: at the National Security Council from 1993 to 1997; as Director for International Organizations and Peacekeeping from 1993 to 1995; and as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs from 1995 to 1997. The Rwandan Genocide makes great reading, also, bye bye oil.

Again, Is Obama serious enough?

2009-01-15T11:53:00.004Z

"We took our eye off the ball when we invaded Iraq." He added: "We have to put as much pressure on them as possible. I've already spoken to my National Security team about how we're going to do that."

Did the US invade or liberate Iraq? War on terror is a blank cheque that the US can ill afford and to continue this will ruin it. How will Obama keep America safe from those that want to go back to the Dark Ages? Talking tough should be left to Sarah Palin who reportedly said on anonymous bloggers; 'It gets very frustrating - I would love to have their names!'

Putting too much emphasis on military force will only benefit the industrial military complex. People are angry at reckless American foreign politcy that supported their corrupt leaders. Remember Saddam Hussein in the past was seen by U.S. intelligence services as a bulwark of anti-communism in the 1960s and 1970s? Obama has a unique chance to wipe the slate clean and engage everyone in order to enable World security.

My Aunt Bimpe has passed on

2009-01-06T11:25:00.004Z

My beautiful Aunt Bimpe died
She was a bouquet of beautiful memories
Sprayed with a million tears
Wishing you could have stayed
If just for a few more years

Aunt Bimpe was beauty and belle
We cannot bring the old days back
When we were all together
Our family chain is broken now
But memories live forever

Forget Oil - think Cocoa

2008-12-28T17:46:00.004Z

London cocoa futures have hit a 23-year-high as cocoa turned out to be the most lucrative commodity in 2008. Cocoa for delivery in May peaked at £1,820 per tonne in London, which was its highest price since October 1985.

"Cocoa is on fire," said Sterling Smith from FuturesOne in Chicago. "We have supply concerns continuing. The market is plenty bullish and we have plenty of room to go on the upside," he added.

There are concerns about falling cocoa production in Africa, while demand for cocoa is holding up much better than other commodities in the downturn.

In Ghana alone, 3.2 million people work in cocoa! Is it time to move on from the corruption lot and get people working? 75% of the world’s cocoa is grown in West Africa. The world’s largest cocoa producer is Ivory Coast and its neighbour Ghana is the second largest producer. Guess Nigeria's position. Scroll down!

Côte d’Ivoire: 38.00%
Ghana: 21.00%
Indonesia: 13.00%
Cameroon: 5.00%
Nigeria: 5.00%
Brazil: 4.00%
Ecuador: 3.00%
Malaysia: 1.00%
Other: 10.00%

Combating Corruption - Is Yardy serious enough?

2008-12-11T09:01:00.006Z

...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. - Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola

Professor Jeffrey Sachs got it wrong, corruption equals poverty and extreme poverty will not be defeated until we get rid of corruption. Yardy seemed to have been sold on the Gov. Rod Blagojevich and "Candidate 5" (Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr) story. President Yar'Adua cited the US Governor of Illinois that was arrested for political corruption a few days ago while trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, said "nobody in Nigeria deserved to be protected by law when looting public funds".

Why has it taken this long for those special advisers to notice this? Corruption flourished because of the buy in from the very top of any society and this top down relationship has cascaded into every aspect of life in our country. Yardy's "So, I want all Nigerians to join me today to make this call. Let us expunge this provision of immunity from the 1999 Constitution" is a way in but it will not stop corruption! It may slow it down. People must remember that we are Nigerians and we are good at adapting.

Here is how to stop the rot in Nigeria. Change the corruption game with forgiveness. A national corruption amnesty should be set up to allow people to hand in stolen monies without fear of prosecution. This should be allowed to run for a period. We let all the people that have stolen from us and used our national treasury as their personal piggy bank keep their loot after that period. Why? We are a oil rich nation with incredible people resources and can afford it. Here is a quick guide to oil futures, in 1972 the price of crude oil was about $3 per barrel, 1981=$35, 2007=$100. Do the maths, we can afford to wipe the slate clean and stop labeling our people criminals.

Nigeria is a land flowing with "milk and honey" and not just oil, ask China. It is time to stop the anti corruption crusade and in order to begin a the huge task of auditing everything! Let us wake up to a culture of transparency by publishing all our accounts. Whatever we had in the past will be divisive and in order for progress to flourish, we must stop being a beggar nation and take life to the rest of the world. Doing this from the top may lead to better education and understanding of life.

Africa's aid addiction

2008-11-28T12:40:00.003Z

As the Mumbai seige and the Thai protests take away the focus from Congo and Africa, here is one must see news of the year. Sorious Samura, what an inspiration!

Nollywood - against all odds

2008-11-23T09:49:00.006Z

Are the FGN & State governments bold enough to copy the success of Nollywood? Movies turned around within 9days including action, production, distribution & success. All made in the so called 419 country? Hello? Is anyone awake in Abuja?

Irrelevant Ministers

2008-11-16T09:29:00.008Z

Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, is undertaking some reforms under a new reform-minded administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and the country, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. - CIA

And that was the story but how do we aim to write the future? How do we change and develop Nigeria? Has command and control managing of the cabinet called Federal Executive Council produced our desired outcome? The president as both the chief of state and head of government is fine but what do those 42 Ministers do? Those titles are repeated at state level but are they talking a lot about what should be done? Do those commissioners and ministers agree on what should be done? Which of those out there is actually doing the work? How do we get away from those labels and titles? Leadership after all is about questions but who are those special advisers living off the fat of the Soile?

Mediocre Nigerian Media

2008-11-13T08:20:00.009Z

The news that Nigerian satellite launched by China loses power is one of those news headlines whose humour seemed lost in the joke. Our joke is no longer funny as Nigerian media seemed to be picking up the news after the rest of the world has gone on to the next worse one. As our President goes to court over trash publication, the supposedly most vibrant media scene in Africa has been shown to be mediocre, an example is the Guardian editorial & opinion on Naval ratings and the assault on Ms Okere. I urge people to read it, it is evidence of incredible ignorance and bad education.

Uche Nworah´s Nigerian Media As Scapegoats (2005) is also a bad reference as former newspaper editors became press officers across the nation. They have moved into public service and changed from being the watchdogs to the dogs to be watched. Their mediocre output has now become the template for our future. New media probably has a chance and thanks to blog campaigns but if you are unable to power the computers, what chance do you have of controlling a satellite?

Immediate change in Nigeria

2008-11-05T10:42:00.010Z

America embraced change while Nigeria and the rest of the world looks on in awe. Even before the celebrations began, Barak Obama was already on version x of his Change project as people around him continue to ask real questions. How did America get to its present situation? What can America do to reform it? Can Nigerians ask the same questions of their leaders? The difference between a good result and failure is the doing. Nigeria has barely moved over several decades as the former so called leaders and others spin zero sum development. Not one of them seemed to be working on the change, they are still too busy with their gods. The bad news is simply, you must take those steps in order to get it done.

The starting point for renewal is not just reflection. Profound contempt is necessary, a nausea with what we have become — esp. by comparison with what we were and should be. Only from there will effective collective action and political programs become possible. - Obama

Peace, democracy, freedom, liberty, opportunity are just words, but whoever turns them into action plans, wins. Education is important and if the flavour of our country remains like this, we have a bad future in store. Heirs of sorrow makes horrible reading but we can change all of that by looking out and copying the best. Congratulations to the one that spoke about hope and change.

Nigerians, climate of fear?

2008-11-01T10:22:00.006Z

This much I have learnt. The servant leader has adorned the robes of a wicked Emperor. Ill-fitting as the clothes may be, he appears comfortable in the role. - Jonathan Elendu

Freedom to blog is not license to slander by Li Xing (China Daily) is a good reason the world should wake up to the new danger in Nigeria as bad education is creating a new environment of fear as described by Wole Soyinka in 2004. "Viciousness, slander, and disrespect for people's individual choices and private lives are not criticism. They are poisons that harm the freedom of individuals and social harmony, whether they appear on the Internet or in society." described by Li Xing is not a reason for the state to arrest a blogger. Indeed, criticism is like doses of bitter medicine to help treat the ills and wrongs in society or offer advice for better creative arts and other works. But using the State Security Service to intimidate the writer has created other problems as we are about to witness in Nigeria.

Elendu was detained for over 12 days with no contact in Nigeria simply for blogging about Nigerian political corruption and government human rights abuses. This JE saga has been adopted to highlight the dangers of writing about Nigeria. Channels news employee Bashir Adigun, who also works for The Associated Press in the Nigerian capital, Abuja was released with others in September 2008 following his arrest by security agents. Freedom from oppression and freedom to develop one's potential are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but Nigeria's inept and clueless leaders do not appear understand this.

Jonathan Elendu - Is he free?

2008-10-31T05:53:00.003Z

Freedom from oppression and freedom to develop one's potential are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but it comes with responsibilities that includes virture, what it is to act well in relation to others. This JE saga was adopted to highlight the dangers of writing about Nigeria. Channels news employee Bashir Adigun, who also works for The Associated Press in the Nigerian capital, Abuja was released with others in September 2008 following his arrest by security agents. Jonathan Elendu was released yesterday after 11 days of in a jail. Is this the pattern of future Nigeria?

Future oil conflict - Nigeria

2008-10-25T14:02:00.007+01:00

In July 2008, President Yar'Adua coughed out the following with noddy at a press conference. Here is the video but a summary from The Guardian best comments our thoughts.

Unless there is a determined effort to address the root problem of political and financial corruption, the violence in the Niger Delta will continue to have a disastrous impact on energy security – and on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

Is arresting visiting bloggers part of the mentioned 15 year program? Brother Britain do you remember Biafra?

Arrested for blogging - Jonathan Elendu

2008-10-23T10:59:00.004+01:00

The news that Jonathan Elendu, a US based Nigerian blogger whose reports have became popular reading both in Nigeria and Abroad is currently doing the rounds. I have left messages for JE to publish his experience or deny the reports. Why would the Nigerian State Security Service, (SSS?) invite a blogger for questioning?

A distorted Chinese whisper form of information is how Nigeria runs in the age of Facebook, no wonder it has regressed but acting tough and arresting citizen journalists will give credence to gossip. And that will further erode the path to progress (if any). "Nigerian Blogger Arrested!!!!" debate below is very informative.

Nigeria's State Security Service or SSS, the same intelligence agency that shut down Channels TV for legally broadcasting incorrect information about President Yar'Adua, is at it again.

Why go to London in a recession?

2008-10-20T10:51:00.004+01:00

The Tory mayor of London has visions of Crossrail, the North London Line, Thames Tideway Tunnel or the East London line, being London's Hoover Dam. When completed in 1935, the Hoover Dam was both the world's largest electric-power generating station and the world's largest concrete structure. Boris Johnson's lets spend our way out of the downturn is the point. A recession or a depression or a slump has set in but people are awake to grand plans of doing things!

if we make sure we put people to work in projects that boost the long-term competitiveness of the country.

When are the powerless powerful people in government (the biggest employer) going to wake up? Investing in the things that can radically improve the transport, attractiveness and general liveability of the country. Why would a bunch of hot heads buy guns in the Niger Delta or area boys collude with former soldiers to rob banks? The North of our Nation is a disgrace, when will the so-called millionaires dig deep?

Chieftancy titles - largely inept and thoroughly crooked

2008-10-17T06:25:00.007+01:00

In search of true Republicans by Chippla Vandu questioned the existence of systems that tend to elevate a certain section of society above others due to hereditary rights. This is in support of that excellent article. Re-examining the roles of those titled individuals is not extremely complicated as those die hard traditionalists will have us believe. While our society remain tainted with endemic corruption, it would be useful to explore areas that appear to add value to every corner of the Nigerian society. Or does it?

Nigerian monarchs, who are meant to serve as the conscience of the nation, have shown all-too-well in the past that they are unable to question evil.

Their creation, the Chiefs are growing rich on bribes, while the rest of the subjects look on and copy those actions. "Now you even have armed robbers, corrupt politicians and all sorts of people being chiefs". A patronage that enables corruption is a reason Nigeria has regressed, it should be talked about in order to examine its true value to society. History, culture and tradition lives in Nigeria but it must adapt to changing times and formally question its significance and importance in the wider world, else, there will be nothing left to leave to future generations.

House of Representatives - Innovate or Die!

2008-10-15T08:19:00.007+01:00

“I am a ranking member in this House, this is the first time a presiding officer will come to the chamber to accuse his colleagues of non performances. In fact, this is the first time I am seeing this kind of things in this House, where a Speaker will rubbish his colleagues in the open"

It is encouraging to see some noise from the irrelevant lower house as the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole castigates them for under performance. It is a small change but those 360 people had better embrace the opportunity to serve. Their legacy will be the result of their dismal batting 10/72 bill average which is totally unacceptable.

What does an Honourable member do? Do they understand simple concepts of collaborative benchmarking? "Funding of committees to be tied to the submission of quarterly reports" may sound like a way forward but do these people understand the psychology of variations? Is the House itself giving them some education on why their work is special?

What Nigeria is to me, by Achebe

2008-10-14T16:17:00.003+01:00

Clipped from from The Nigerian Guardian

On October 9, The Guardian marked its Silver Jubilee with a lecture and keynote speech at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos by two illustrious sons of Africa. Nigeria's literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe delivered the keynote address. He was not 'physically present,' to deliver his address, but for over 30 minutes, the NIIA auditorium resonated with Achebe's voice. The dignitaries on the high table made way for Achebe, as his image, projected on the screen behind the table spoke of "What Nigeria is to me." On the wall behind the screen and Achebe was draped the Kenyan flag. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya Rt. Hon Raila Amolo Odinga, soon took the stage with his lecture "Democracy and the challenge of Good Governance in Africa." The two submissions are reproduced here again.
NIGERIAN nationality was for me and my generation an acquired taste like cheese or better still like ballroom dance. Not dancing per se for that came naturally, but this titillating version of slow, slow, quick, quick, slow performed in close body contact with a female in rivalry with an elusive beat. I found however, that once I had overcome my initial awkwardness, I could do it pretty well. Perhaps, these irreverent analogies would only occur to someone like me born into a strongly multi-ethnic, multi-lingual multi-religious somewhat chaotic colonial situation.
The first passport I ever carried described me as a British protected person. An unexciting identity embodied in a phrase that no one was likely to die for. I don't mean it was entirely devoid of emotional meaning. After all, British meant we were located somewhere in the vast flaming red portion of the world map that covered a quarter of the entire globe in those days and was called the British Empire where the sun never set. It had a ring to it in my childhood ears, a magical fraternity, vague but vicariously glorious. But I am jumping ahead of myself. My earliest awareness in the town of Ogidi did not include any of the British stuff, nor indeed the Nigerian stuff. That came with progress in school.
Ogidi is an Igbo town, one of a thousand or more towns that made up the Igbo nation, one of Nigeria's and indeed Africa's largest ethnic groups. But the Igbo numbering over 10 million are a curious nation. They have been called names like stateless, acephalous and such terms by anthropologists, argumentative by others, especially those who were sent to administer them. But what the Igbo are, is not the negative suggested by such descriptions, but strongly positive in favour of small-scale political organisation, so that as they say, every man's eye would reach where things are happening; so every one of the thousand towns was a mini state, with complete jurisdiction over its affairs.
A sense of civic attachment to their numerous towns was more real for pre-colonial Igbo people than any unitary pan-Igbo feeling. This made them, the Igbo people notoriously difficult to govern centrally as the British discovered but never appreciated nor quite forgave. The British dislike was demonstrated during the Biafra tragedy when they accused the Igbo of threatening to break up a nation state they had carefully and laboriously put together.
The paradox of Biafra was that the Igbo themselves had originally championed the Nigerian nation more spiritedly than other Nigerians, perhaps. One proof of this - the British had thrown more of them into jail for sedition than any others during the two decades or so of pre-independence agitation and trouble making. So the Igbo were second to none in the nationalist front when Britain finally conceded independence to Nigeria in 1960; a move that in introspect seems like a masterstroke of tactical withdrawal to achieve a supreme strategic advantage.
At the time we were proud of what we had achieved as Nigerians. True Ghana had beaten us to it by three years. But then Ghana was a tiny affair, easy to manage compared to the huge lumbering giant that is Nigeria. We Nigerians did not have to be vociferous like Ghana, just our presence was enough. Indeed the elephant was our national emblem; our airline was a flying elephant. Nigerian troops soon distinguished themselves in a big way in the United Nations Peace keeping operations in the Congo. Our elephant was defying aerodynamics and flying. Traveling as a Nigerian was exciting. People listened to us; our money was worth more than the dollar. When the driver of a bus in the British colony of Northern Rhodesia in 1961 asked me what I was doing sitting in the front of the bus. I told him nonchalantly that I was going to Victoria Falls. In amazement he stooped lower and asked me where I came from. I replied, even more casually, Nigeria, if you must know. And by the way, in Nigeria, we sit where we like in the bus.
Back home, I took up the rather important position of Director of External broadcasting, an entirely new radio service aimed primarily at our African neighbours. I could do it in those days because our politicians were yet to learn the uses of information control and did not immediately attempt to regiment our output. They were learning fast though. But before I could get enmeshed in that, something much nastier had seized hold of all of us. The six-year old Nigerian federation was falling apart under severe strain of regional animosity and ineffectual central authority. The transparent failure of the electoral process to translate the will of the electorate into recognisable results at the polls led to mass frustration and violence.
While Western Nigeria, one of the four regions, was going up literarily in flames, the quiet and dignified Nigerian Prime Minister was hosting the Commonwealth Conference to extricate Harold Wilson from the mess he got himself into in far away Rhodesia. But so tense was the local situation in Nigeria that the visiting heads of government had to be airlifted by helicopter from the Lagos airport to a secluded suburb to avoid the rampaging crowds.
Nigeria's first military coup took place even as those dignitaries were flying out of Lagos at the end of their conference. One of them, Archbishop Macarios of Cyprus was in fact still in the country when the coup happened. The Prime Minister and two regional Premiers were killed by the coup makers. In the bitter suspicious atmosphere of the time, a naively idealistic coup proved a terrible disaster. It was interpreted with plausibility as a plot by the ambitious Igbo of the East to take control of Nigeria from the Hausa Fulani North.
Six months later, northern officers carried out what was perhaps a revenge coup in which they killed Igbo officers and men in large numbers. If it had ended there, the matter might have been seen as a very tragic, very sad interlude in nation building, a horrendous tit for tat. But the northerners turned on Igbo civilians living in the North and unleashed waves of brutal massacres, which Colin Legum of the Observer first described as a pogrom, the first time many people in Nigeria, heard that word. It was estimated that 30,000 civilians, men, women children died in those massacres. Igbos were fleeing in hundreds of thousands from all parts of Nigeria to their homeland in the East.
I was one of the last to flee from Lagos. I simply could not bring myself at first to accept that I could no longer live in my nation's capital although the facts clearly said so. One Sunday morning, I was telephoned from Broadcasting House and informed that armed soldiers who appeared drunk had come looking for me to test, which was stronger - their gun or my pen. The offence of my pen was that it had written a novel called "A Man of the People" a bitter satire on political corruption in an African country that resembled Nigeria. I wanted the novel to be a denunciation of the kind of independence we were experiencing in post-colonial Nigeria and many other countries in the 1960s. And I intended it to scare my countrymen into good behavior with a freightening cautionary tale. The best monster I could come up with was a military coup d'Ztat, which every sane Nigerian at the time knew was rather farfetched, could never happen in Nigeria. But life and art had got so entangled that the publication of the novel and Nigeria's first military coup happened within two days of each other. Critics abroad called me a prophet. But some of my countrymen saw it differently. They saw my novel as proof of my complicity in the first coup. I was very lucky that Sunday morning. The drunken soldiers, after leaving Broadcasting House, went to a residence I had recently vacated. Meanwhile, I was able to take my wife and my two little children into hiding, from where I finally sent them to my home in Eastern Nigeria. A week or two later, unknown callers asked for me on the telephone in my hideout. My host denied my presence. I knew then it was time for me to leave.
My feeling towards Nigeria was of profound disappointment. Not because mobs were hunting down and killing in the most savage manner innocent civilians in many parts of Nigeria, but because the Federal Government sat back and let it happen. The final consequence of this failure of the state to fulfill its primary obligation to its citizens was the secession of Eastern Nigeria as a Republic of Biafra. The demise of Nigeria at that point was only averted by Britain's spirited diplomatic and military support of its model colony. It was Britain and the Soviet Union, which together crushed the upstart Biafran State. At the end of the 30-month war, Biafra was a vast smoldering rubble; the cost in human lives was a staggering two million souls, making it one of the bloodiest civil wars in human history.
I find it difficult to forgive Nigeria and my country men and women for the political nonchalance and cruelty that unleashed upon us these terrible events, which set us back a whole generation and robbed us of the chance clearly within our grasps to become a medium range developing nation in the 21st Century. My immediate response was to leave Nigeria at the end of the war having honourably, I hope, stayed around long enough to receive any retribution due to me for renouncing Nigeria for 30 months. Fortunately, the Federal Government proclaimed general amnesty and the only punishment I received was the general financial and emotional indemnity that war losers pay and some relatively minor harassment like the denial of passport.
I went abroad to New England, no irony intended, I went to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and stayed four years, and then another year at the University of Connecticut. It was by far my longest exile ever from Nigeria and it gave me to reflect and to heal somewhat. Without setting out consciously to do so, I was redefining my relationship to Nigeria. I realised that I could not reject her but neither could it be business as usual. What was Nigeria to me?
Our 1960 national anthem, given to us as a parting gift was a British housewife in England, had called Nigeria 'our sovereign motherland' the Mother image. The current anthem, which changed that first one, was put together by a committee of Nigerian intellectuals, and in my view is actually worse than the first anthem. This second one invoked the Father image. So Mother image in the first one, Father image in the second one.
But it has occurred to me that Nigeria is neither my mother nor my father. Nigeria is a child, gifted enormously talented, prodigiously endowed and incredibly wayward. Being a Nigerian is abysmally frustrating and unbelievably exciting. I have said somewhere that in my next reincarnation, I want to come back as a Nigerian again. But I have also in a rather testy mood in a book called 'A Trouble with Nigeria' I dismissed Nigerian travel advertisements with the suggestion that only a tourist with an addiction to self flagellation pick Nigeria for a holiday. And I mean both. Nigeria needs help; Nigerians have their work cut out for them, to coax this unruly child along the path of useful creative development. We are the parents of Nigeria, not vice versa. A generation will come if we do our work patiently and well and given luck; a generation will come that will call Nigeria Father or Mother, but not yet.
Meanwhile, our present work is not entirely without its blessing and reward. This wayward child can show now and again great intimations of affection. I have seen this affection flow towards me at certain critical times. When I was in America after the Biafran war, an army officer who sat on the council of my university in Nigeria as representative of the Federal Military Government pressured, questioned why I was not back home. And finally, the university had to invite me to return. Now this army officer who campaigned for my return was not known to me in person. In fact he fought against people like me in the Biafran war and he was wounded in the fighting. He had every right to be bitter against me and people like me. I had never met him as I said, but he knew my work and was himself a poet.
More recently after a very serious motor accident that left me with serious injuries, I have witnessed another outflow of affection from Nigerians from every level. I am still totally dumbfounded by it. The hard words Nigeria and I have said to each other begin to look like words of anxious love not hate. Nigeria is a country where nobody can wake up in the morning and ask 'what can I do now?' Nigeria has work for everybody. Thank you.

Lagos State - What a mess

2008-10-12T10:26:00.004+01:00

“Allowing the people to have a final say on how they would be governed is very important and it is only when this happens that development can take place because then the elected officers can stand on the platform on the legitimacy of the ballot of the people.”- Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The horrors of the battles between former-President Obasanjo and ex-Governor Tinubu may have stunted the growth of Lagos in near history but following in the footsteps of those dinosaurs will eventually ruin the commercial and economic capital of Nigeria. Why does the state have to suffer the ideologies of short term thinking among its inept and clueless governors? The wasted egocentric efforts has not and will not get the job done as the “low turn out” local government elections demonstrates. It is folly to think that people see these democratically elected Lg Chair people as saviors.

In the center of excellence yurk, people deserve a clean and sane environment, but planting flowers and other aesthetically measures like bulldozing people out of their homes without providing alternatives will not help Lagos State. The people are not the problem. The problem is at Alausa, the Lagos State Secretariat. Is the Governor setting an example at Alausa or copying the disasters of the past? How is he helping people to pull away from their current practices and beliefs and moving into a new philosophy of transformation without a feeling of guilt about the past? Those questions might yet help change the direction in Nigeria.

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's Nightmare

2008-10-05T08:14:00.004+01:00

The headlines Niger Delta Crisis A Nightmare, Says Yar'Adua is a prediction of his legacy. A lot of the messages coming out of Abuja seemed ill conceived and are released as if the job of the chief is a dress rehearsal. A key – perhaps the key – to leadership is the effective communication of a story. There has never been power in any of the stories from Aso Rock, how else would one describe the past few months of this government.

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has expressed disappointment in the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta, describing it as a nightmare to his administration. He said the situation in the oil-rich region has not only become a major concern to the administration, but also posed a serious threat to the economy of the country and scaring away investors in the region.

Leaders don’t just whine, duck, dive and make decisions. Leaders make meaning. People care about the solution and what the administration is doing about the win-win but not the talking tough without coherent action. As the Senate attempts to look into the OBJ OPLS & OMLS, dismissing the activities of a few criminal minds is folly. Yar'Adua must start thinking about his presidency’s last day. My life is my message. - Gandhi.

37 pictures the world must see

2008-10-04T11:25:00.001+01:00

Take me to your leader - I am 48

2008-10-01T11:39:00.008+01:00

I could forgive the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole for blaming former leaders for the ills of the nation but Muhammadu Buhari, former dictator does not seem to know when to quit. When General Obasanjo was the military ruler in the 1970s, General Buhari held the key post of minister of petroleum affairs. His coup ousted Nigeria's last civilian government, led by Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who won elections organized by General Obasanjo. He restricted press freedom and created a nation of fear. This is the same man that has expressed regret "Nigeria was still ranked as a low income country after many years of independence" on its 48th celebration.

Nigeria has pumped circa $500 billion worth of oil since the 1970s, and has seen much of it siphoned off by a series of dictators. Today, Baba Go Slow aka Yardy informed the nation that “Our economy is on a strong footing with an average growth rate of about 6.9 per cent, a single digit inflation rate, external reserves of about 63 billion dollars, and the naira appreciating steadily against the major currencies". What planet does he live on? How much are those figures worth in the current world financial crisis?

Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer yet more than half of its people live in poverty. The so called VIPs scramble for roles in government in order to enrich themselves is not new, but berate bloggers for spreading negative news about Nigeria while the National Assembly is full of people that do not understand its purpose. State Governors display incredible ignorance and have outsourced their problems to god, the rising storm of Polio in the North is an eye opener. The tragedy of millions of poor people will remain until we find a little bit of ethics, morality and deep concern about order and relationships in a more productive and constructive way of life.

Jeffrey Sachs - Poverty's Friend or Foe

2008-10-01T09:28:00.006+01:00

Professor Jeffrey Sachs is widely considered to be the leading international economic advisor of his generation. For more than 20 years he has been at the forefront of the challenges of economic development, poverty alleviation, and enlightened globalization, promoting policies to help all parts of the world to benefit from expanding economic opportunities and wellbeing.

Corruption consumes more than a quarter of Africa's gross domestic product every year, about $148 billion, yet Jeffrey Sachs says that the thieving-tyrants-with-fly-swatters stereotype of African leaders is passé and continue on his crusade to End Poverty, "Extreme poverty can be ended, not in the time of our grandchildren, but our time" (note the new brand ). He went on to say, "Africa's governance is poor, because Africa is poor" yet his celebrated plan is the favored one by the UN and others trying to help feed Africa.

Why is Africa still poor? The answer to this is often lost in endless facts and statistics until Andrew Rice's article in the Nation. We know the problem but while the elusive answer is still being glossed over by Jeffrey Sachs, "We must recognize history, and understand the continent as it is, not as we wish it to be" (corrected Andrew Rice), it is not either or, it is a combination of all the problems and solutions. Only Africans can save Africa, by building competitive economies for African people.

Peter Hitchens Mail UK and Richard Behar Fast Company USA reported truly disturbing events of our time yet people continue in the feed Africa programs without addressing the reasons they are poor. The Jeffrey, Bill, Bob & Bono Show will only be glitter until we begin to join up the dots that can resolve the poverty issue. How can one continent be so out of step with humankind's march of progress? Please read Andrew Rice's article.

Waiting to die - Education

2008-09-30T08:31:00.004+01:00

One day loss on Wall Street knocked out approximately $1.2 trillion in market value after the House rejected the GWB $700 billion bank bailout plan. As world wide stock markets see bank blood on its carpets, it is sad to say that the dramatic has only just began. Why wait to die? I knew someone that lost £1 million in one day, it was devastating to say the very least and nothing else mattered ever since but learning.

In changing times we need to do things differently, why not just kill off the rest of the dying banks? More world wide banks will fail as markets fall and in Russia all trading has been suspended on the country's two main stock markets. It is time for a different type of education and that enabler was written about eons ago by Peter F. Drucker, whose many write ups included "The Global Economy and the Nation-State. Perharps a new beginning has dawned.

“The real challenge ahead is not the technology itself. It is what we use it for. So far; no country has the educational system which the knowledge society needs. No coutnry has tackled the major demands…We can definine - albeit in rough outline - the specification for schooling and for schools which might answer to the realities of the post-capitalist society; the knowledge society.

How China has created a new slave empire in Africa

2008-09-29T11:51:00.002+01:00

We have come a long way from Cecil Rhodes to Bob Geldof, but we still have not brought much happiness with us, and even Nelson Mandela's vaunted 'Rainbow Nation' in South Africa is careering rapidly towards banana republic status.
Now a new great power, China, is scrambling for wealth, power and influence in this sad continent, without a single illusion or pretence. - PETER HITCHENS
China invades Africa

US Presidential debate and dirty laundry

2008-09-26T12:27:00.002+01:00

The $700Bn GWB is asking for dwafs £16Bn in loans from Bank of England and could be the reason John McCain is seeking to postpone the debate with Barak Obama. There is no cleaning that laundry as news of Goldmine Sachs employees average pay including secretaries tops $521K. Greed is good, the archetypal portrayal of 1980s excess on Wall Street has come home to roost.

The debate is a difficult one for all but it would be easier to cancel than to reschedule. But isn't the function of leadership taking on the difficult tasks in order to create an easier and manageable future? The soft option would be to cancel but the future would be bleak as the US looses the real war to China.

Even China that suppressed "bad news", including health scares, during the Olympic Games, has began to wash its dirty laundry in public as the world continue to calculate the spreading impact of its tainted-milk scandal. Being deliberately vague about public information will not help anyone. China is comfortable in Africa since difficult questions are not allowed.

The housing boom and bank burst was fueled by a band wagon of the filthy rich that were earning a million dollars a year. 700 billion dollars will buy a lot of schools, roads and bridges, mains, levies etc. which in turn would create new jobs. But a lot of it is going back to the rich in bonuses and that is a compelling reason for this debate.

Is the Excess Crude Cash safe?

2008-09-18T07:23:00.008+01:00

Amidst on-going World panic in the financial markets where greed was yesterday's story and fear is today's. AIG, Lehman, HBOS were giants reduced to ruin as traditional investment banking fails its mission statement. Moscow suspended trading as Russia’s biggest investment banks had nearly $800bn wiped out in 1 day!

Fear stalking Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs must concern every Nigerian since the CBN gave away $7 Billion of the external reserves to be managed by the top teams. Now that the floodgates have opened and the capitalists are on the run - with our money, is anyone awake in Abuja?

Obama, are his ideas crazy enough?

2008-09-16T08:25:00.003+01:00

The shooting of King’s College old boys

2008-09-10T08:26:00.010+01:00

"We are clearly in far more trouble than we ever imagined. Dr. Omololu (ex-Igbobi College, Yaba) trained as a surgeon before joining the Nigerian Navy where he rose to the rand of Rear-Admiral before retiring to join the clergy. I imagine he learnt to shoot in the navy but I have no idea where he learnt to use the guillotine"

A nation of beggars was a chapter title in my not-forthcoming book as I read this write up by Bashorun J.K Randle. "I am warming up to do my pitch – King’s College, his alma mater needs money from him. I had left several years before he entered the school so I cannot claim to know him intimately." In a truly disturbing sign of our times, the once great schools of dreams has been reduced to begging for handouts. But, is the money going to make any difference to a totally rotten core? It is about people who care and no amount of Wall Street cash is going to save the dead. UPIC.

President Yar'Adua is back

2008-09-09T08:47:00.004+01:00

BBC Newsflash: Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has appeared in public for the first time in two weeks, marked by speculation and rumour about his health.

He presided over the swearing-in of new military chiefs in the capital Abuja.

The president, who suffers from a chronic condition which affects his kidneys, was receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia.

President Yar'Adua also sacked a high-ranking government official who had been linked with the rumours.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation Baba Gana Kingibe was removed and replaced by former Defence Minister Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, it was announced by e-mail.

Post Holiday Headlines from Ngn

2008-09-01T19:20:00.003+01:00

Oceanic, Bangladeshi bank partner on micro finance.
- Are we that poor???

Militants, military trade words on casualties.
-Will these two sit & resolve issues???

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, 57, is not dead.
-The truth is out where???

We need a whistle blowing Act for Accounting profession.
-Dr. Richard Uche, President and Chairman ICAN, .. you what???

Lagos State and N55Bn Housing Project??? Now N275Bn from CBN???
- Again, .. you what???

The EFCC has taken custody of funds from Africa for Obama dinner/concert.
- Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange involved!????

Minister explores new US farming tech and met equipment manufacturers.
- Your 10% is in whose freezer???

Oyo first lady stresses need for women empowerment.
- She floats CLAP???

Jolly ride in Lagos’ stately cabs - Only N20 per minute.
- Corporate Cab Services of Japan on Lagos roads???

African ministers move to check environmental health hazards.
- Poor leadership and poor policies are killing people???

Crowd renters and riggers of history

2008-08-12T20:37:00.003+01:00

By okey ndibe (E-mail: okeyndibe@gmail.com) Tuesday, August 12, 2008

If those who “rule” Nigeria persist in marshalling the instruments of state to protect suspected big-time criminals, then nobody should be surprised when the edifice of governance collapses in a heap. Tragically, the Nigerian state has long been a criminal enterprise.

It is run, it is now clear, by a mindless cabal whose twin goals are to amass illicit wealth and then use this ill-gotten lucre to shield themselves, and their ilk, from prosecution.

Nothing better illustrates this tragic devotion of state apparatuses to protect suspects than the case of Mr. Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State, former Minister of Power, and former chairman of a technical committee on the power sector.

Since an appellate court panel removed Imoke as governor, the machinery of the Nigerian state has been mobilized to shield the ex-governor from possible prosecution for his role in squandering billions of dollars allegedly invested in the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).
The House of Representatives, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Aso Rock as well as Imoke himself have choreographed a dance to enable Imoke to evade what he richly deserves: political fall and legal trouble.

First, the leadership of the House of Representatives made the bizarre decision not to release and discuss the report of a legislative panel that probed the scandalous wastage of funds in the power sector. Shocking revelations had dominated the probe panel's public hearings. Enrapt Nigerians heard about how the Obasanjo government disdained due process in the award of power sector contracts. They heard about that administration's irresponsible bestowal of billions of naira in mobilization fees on inexperienced and often unregistered companies. They heard about companies that collected billions in payment but didn't even bother to move a grain of sand much less execute their projects.

Witness after witness had named Obasanjo and Imoke as the major players in the shameful fleecing of Nigeria. A week and a half ago, Mr. Godwin Ndudi Elumelu, who chaired the House of Representatives' probe panel, told Nigerians that the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) never existed. It was, he insisted, a scam to defraud the public. If anybody should know, Mr. Elumelu is that person.

In any serious country, both Obasanjo and Imoke should long have been put in the dock. Instead, some members of the National Assembly protested when the panel asked Obasanjo to appear before it. They were more outraged about the alleged disrespect to an ex-president than the allegations that the man criminally oversaw the siphoning of billions of dollars in public funds. On his part, Imoke waltzed into the hearing with rented cheerleaders in tow. He spent more time lecturing the panel on how much more South Africa was spending on its power needs than explaining why he authorized payment to companies that did little or no jobs.

Yet, now that Imoke has been stripped of immunity, the machinery of the Nigerian state has gone berserk in a depraved effort to protect a man whose claim to notoriety is that he played a disastrous role in the power sector throughout the life of the Obasanjo regime. His profile in government demonstrates the strangeness of political careerism in Nigeria.

First, Imoke failed in his assignment as chairman of a technical committee charged with ensuring that Nigerians had regular, uninterrupted power supply by the end of 2001. Despite this proven ineptitude, Imoke was elevated to a cabinet position where his disastrous streak continued. As a friend of mine quipped recently, he established himself as a minister of candle, lamp and standby generators. Worse, he got himself mired in the scandal of NIPP.

Those disturbed by the ghastly state of affairs in Nigeria ought to wonder how a man of such visible non-achievement could have managed to become a governor. In a country where accountability matters, he would have been permanently banished from the public arena. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a space where certified failures are allowed to “repeat.” Hence Imoke's curious emergence as governor of Cross River State.

Luckily for Nigerians, whose resources are mindlessly wasted by the contemptible bunch that parades as leaders, the power probe report has been leaked to saharareporters.com as well as a few newspapers. That website and several Nigerian newspapers have reported that the probe panel indicted Imoke and other highly placed Nigerians. It also reportedly recommends that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be investigated for his role in the scam.

Don't expect the leadership of the House of Representatives to easily abandon its policy of maximum delay before releasing the report. Many suspect, in fact, that some of the indicted elements are working feverishly to doctor the report, turning it into a wishy-washy document.

Some in the press have suggested that the ongoing political trickery is designed to shield Imoke and others implicated in the report from political embarrassment and legal jeopardy. That speculation makes sense. Imoke has the most to lose should the damning report be officially released. That's why he and his cohorts are desperately working to re-install him as governor, since Nigeria has the shameful tradition of offering immunity even to governors who commit crimes.

Rather than do the patriotic thing by putting the report before Nigerians, Speaker Dimeji Bankole dissolved all committees of the house, and sent the members on a long break. Bankole's political pronouncements have been sounding weird lately. Here's the man who told Nigerians that Obasanjo frittered away $16 billion, not $10 billion, in the power sector. Here's the man who catalyzed the probe. These days, however, Speaker Bankole has taken to speaking about the potential of probe reports to overheat the system. He forgets that, in the final reckoning, the system is most overheated when criminals are let go without prosecution.

Bankole has opened himself to suspicion of seeking to protect Imoke's political dreams. Perhaps the speaker is playing faithful party man, for it is clear that the hierarchy of the ruling PDP doesn't want Imoke's political ambitions torpedoed. But the nation's legislative process discredits itself when it's rigged to protect a political who has grave questions he must answer, and likely in a criminal court.
Imoke has continued to boast that he has no fear of the EFCC. It's an easy assertion to make when one knows that the occupant of Aso Rock and other powerful forces are restraining the EFCC from carrying out its job.

At any rate, the EFCC's statement that it's investigating the ex-governor is seen for what it is: a ploy to enable Imoke to re-run, and possibly reoccupy, the governor's seat in Calabar.
A beneficiary of concerted protection by the state, Imoke has also apparently resorted to self-help. Last week, Nigerian newspapers were filled with full-page adverts extolling Imoke's alleged virtues. One of the propaganda pieces lauded his introduction of accountability and transparency in his state. Another attacked individuals and organizations that had asked the EFCC to arrest Imoke.

The orchestrated pro-Imoke ads reminded me of the temporary thrills, but ultimate peril, of any effort to rig the verdict of history. When the public record is straightforward, as it is in Imoke's case, the attempt to manipulate is bound to fail. The matter is quite simple. Nigerians know they didn't see even the slightest improvement in power supply during the years Imoke reigned as minister of power. Instead, the nation witnessed a worsening of its power situation.

At any rate, whether Imoke was an extraordinary governor is beside the point.

The point is that Obasanjo, Imoke, Olusegun Agagu and others owe Nigerians an explanation about how they could have spent billions of dollars on power projects and ended up with an outcome of less power. Sooner rather than later, Imoke must explain whether the billions grew wings, and how they disappeared. Rented crowds of praise singers won't make the questions go away. Nor can a coalition of legislative leaders, EFCC, and Aso Rock wish away the day of reckoning.

Since he's close to Obasanjo, Imoke had better learn from the ex-president about the futility of trying to rig the verdict of history. Did Obasanjo, in the waning days of his presidency, not nudge the PDP to crown him father of modern Nigeria? And what's happening today? The same party that flattered his bloated ego is in a haste to shoo him off from his perch as chairman of its board of trustees. Those who today sign Imoke's manufactured version of history may soon cover their noses in disgust.

Corruption breeds poverty, poverty breeds corruption

2008-08-09T11:14:00.007+01:00

Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in quotes. source, tribune.com

we cannot deal with poverty without removing corruption. If you start a social welfare scheme today without dealing with lack of integrity, you are wasting your money and that is why every Nigerian must resolve that corruption must be brought to a stand-still but Nigerians are not looking at it from that angle, majority of Nigerians want you to go and fight corruption while they sit comfortably in their homes enjoying the wealth that comes to them from the corrupt, celebrating the corrupt. When a person they do not like is alleged to have indulged in corruption, they want you to pursue him, when a person they like, whom they benefit from, is alleged to have committed an act or corruption they form a shield round him. That is lack of integrity. Nigerians must resolve to fight corruption if they are to have a better life.

...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. That is why I said that lack of integrity is deeper than we think.

...it has nothing to do with me personally, my main purpose is to serve Nigeria and see that Nigeria is restored.

Very Big News

2008-08-02T13:23:00.004+01:00

Inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants, Nocera and Matthew Kanan, a postdoctoral fellow in Nocera's lab, have developed an unprecedented process that will allow the sun's energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Later, the oxygen and hydrogen may be recombined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power your house or your electric car, day or night.

Why is this a big deal? Could it be because while Nigeria is still fumbling in the dark and pissing away all its oil resources, a silent revolution is taking place? Imagine the price of oil suddenly drops to $50.

Nocera hopes that within 10 years, homeowners will be able to power their homes in daylight through photovoltaic cells, while using excess solar energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen to power their own household fuel cell. Electricity-by-wire from a central source could be a thing of the past.

Cheetahs vs. Hippos for Africa's future

2008-07-20T11:05:00.001+01:00

The Nigerian President has now concluded that oil theft is behind the unrest in the Niger Delta, so the blind continues to lead the clueless.

Looking for good in Lagos

2008-07-19T13:16:00.003+01:00

It is fascinating to discover new things about your country through a stranger's eyes. It is called learning, stupid. Uncomplicated and simple weblog but it is in the doing, today, that can move you to tears. Excellent effort from a true hero and social historian. And who is the stranger?

Africa is giving nothing to anyone -- apart from AIDS

2008-07-15T07:59:00.006+01:00

The failure of African Leadership may have given birth to headlines that help to fester hate and loathing of a whole continent. While the rest of the world is looking for better ways to serve their people, the leaders in Africa are busy stealing from their people and planning white elephant projects that only benefit their pockets. Net result, brain drain and people dying to leave a rich continent.

African leaders tour the world with a begger bowls asking for aid disguised as investments but have forgotten to ask the Global 500 including Royal Dutch Shell, Procter & Gamble Co., Chevron Corporation, Anglo American Plc, etc about the world's leading producer of both gold and diamonds. Mis-information sets in and we end up defending the rights of ignorant and badly educated people that wrote the trash above.

A question of leadership - Abia State

2008-07-05T20:02:00.002+01:00

YAR’ADUA: 12 months in the saddle by By Orji Kalu (Kalu Leadership Series)

For those who know me too well I am not given to frivolities. I always call a spade a spade, no matter whose ox is gored. I have maintained this principle since I reached adulthood. I stand up for the truth at all times in the belief that only the truth can set us free.

For the eight years I was the governor of Abia State I waged relentless battles against injustice and oppressive tendencies. And for that I was castigated and disparaged and buffeted in all fronts – seen and unseen – in an effort to silence me. But the God I serve did not allow the plans of the enemies of progress to pull through.

Above is a flavor of mess that goes on in Nigeria. In his leadership series former Gov. Orji Kalu of Abia State is incoherently pointing the finger without substance. His legacy remained; ON Friday the 25th of May 2007, the Court of Appeal, Lagos granted bail to Theodore Ahamefule Orji who was standing trial for corruption and money laundering in the Federal High Court., five days later, Theodore Ahamefule Orji became the Governor of Abia State. These are the people a President has to sit with in order to plan and execute strategies of hope at the highest level. Why Black Man Dey Suffer by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was released in 1971 and is a good reference for these inept and totally clueless people.

Dr Rilwanu Lukman & Power in Nigeria

2008-06-26T22:28:00.004+01:00

Dr Lukman's key appointments have included: Secretary General of OPEC (6 years), President of OPEC (9 sessions), Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Special Adviser to the Nigerian President for Oil and Gas, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Minister of Mines, and Founder and Chairman of the African Petroleum Producers Association. Dr Lukman is currently the Honorary Advisor on Energy and Strategic Matters to the President of Nigeria.

Impressive CV from an independent oil and gas exploration and production company that was founded in 2004 by a management team including Dr Rilwanu Lukman. This is the same Federal Minister of Mines, Power and Steel from 1984-5 and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) from 1993-4.

He chaired a panel of experts appointed by President Umaru Yar'Adua after nine months research and that has reportedly concluded that Nigeria needs $85bn of investment in its power infrastructure in order to produce electricity 24 hours a day. The problem lies in the sums that do not seem to add up. It is 17 times the amount the government announced it would spend on the power sector, and four and a half times the country's oil savings. Is anyone awake yet?

Nigeria and the Critics

2008-06-21T10:42:00.006+01:00

A resounding refrain amongst Nigerians is that we are too quick to take down our own.

Question. How many Nigerian so called Universities have deemed it fit to bestow an honorary Phd on one of the most influential musicians of our time, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti? He began the type of critical assessment by results of Nigeria. It is now a national pastime, yet, there are no plaques anywhere in Nigeria to commemorate his awesome achievements. There are no national holidays to celebrate his birthday/death nor lifetime even though we have become adepts in telling people about our Shuffering and Shmiling.

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again” by Maya Angelou

We do not love our country any less but when we see a rat, we call it as it is. People can gloss it as best as possible but, the rest of us have seen it in the Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense and must be shown proof in benefits to all. The post colonial era governments blamed the British et all, the military blamed the tribalists, the scary democracy lot blamed everyone else. The OBJ years, well, we have barely moved and now that another push/pull government is in progress, things are falling apart again.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti began this in 1971 with Why Black Man Dey Suffer and he was right. He was a musician and not an MBA elite but due to the way he was forced to live in squalor compared to his trips abroad, he wanted change and tried to inform though his music. His music lives but blogs have taken up that cry and it is alive online, everyday. Scare the investors? The investors had better go learn about Fela. In its original Arabic form, risk means earning one's daily bread and Fela sang plenty about that. Authority Stealing is another education itself.

New rules for expelling EU illegals

2008-06-18T21:56:00.004+01:00

Willy Meyer Pleite, a Spanish member of the European Parliament, holds his hand up to vote against the 'return directive' and shows a poster in favor of a 'No' vote Wednesday June 18, 2008 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg eastern France. The European Parliament has rubber stamped a new set of common rules for expelling illegal immigrants from the 27-nation bloc.

"Europe has made it clear that it is not tolerating any form of illegal status," said German Christian Democrat Manfred Weber, who steered the bill through Parliament. The EU estimates there could be up to 8 million illegal immigrants in the 27-nation bloc, many of them living in squalid conditions and engaged in the black market economy.

The law took more than two years to draft due to differing positions among the EU's 27 members, and governments will have two years to implement it. The rules are part of efforts to create a common EU asylum and immigration policy by 2010.

The party is over and Amnesty International has condemned it as it does not guarantee the return of migrants in safety and dignity. Why comment on this unjust law? But it is the law and if it supposes so, the law is an ass is not new.

Who is Ms. Amina Ibrahim?

2008-06-10T09:49:00.003+01:00

People complain on so much bad press about Africa and especially with the people that help run Africa's 's most populous country, Nigeria. They forgot to inquire the reasons for a lack of positive feed back. Information is power and if a distorted Chinese whisper form is the only way in the age of social networks and iP2, Nigeria and the rest of Africa will regress further. Why is it so difficult to get get accurate information in Nigeria? A visit to any official websites is full of resumes and speeches of the people in charge and that is about all you would get. Who is that faceless person? What have that person contributed to that role? People looking for information care that the faceless official was born and went to school. All that may begin to change with one person that has decided to tell it as it is.

Amina J Ibrahim is good old me!

Born of a Nigerian father from Gombe and a British mother from Wales.I was educated in Nigeria from the age of 2 in Birnin Kebbi, Kaduna and Maiduguri before finishing in the Isle of Man. I came home in 1980 and have never left since....so am not a Nigerian in diaspora.

I started working for an Multi engineering practice in Kaduna for 11 years then set up a Firm called Afri-projects Consortium with 4 other male colleagues and among others designed and implemented the PTF. I resigned and actively engaged in the Education sector where we challenged Government as Civil Society to produce a National EFA Plan. They then asked us to do it and I took up the challenge. Today in Nigeria we have a National EFA Plan...not the best but it is in place to be improved upon.

I was then asked by President OBJ to come and design a mechanism to spend the Debt Relief we acquired in 2005 on poverty related programs. I did that and was reappointed by the YarAdua Administration in August 2007.

I sincerely believe that any opportunity given to serve to is to put your money where your mouth is...and that in our wonderful country is hard...but I am privileged and blessed to have a network in civil society, govt and the community from which I come to guide me. In addition to that my sisters and brothers I with many of my colleagues and nijas have been fighting to ensure that one day we will by the grace of God reach our potentials.....

I am relieved that you dont know about me because there are millions of Nigerian at home who are working day and night for a better future for our children that are nameless..that you dont know about us does not make them insignificant.

What I hope this response will do is to engage you further at home in our struggle to overcome the rhetoric, frustration, cynicism and disappointment in Nigeria and put into actions that will make a difference on the ground.

I serve in a public office and you will find my door open to constructive engagement in the reconstruction of our dear nation...I challenge you to come on board and be nation builders instead of speculators....o ya now!

May God to bless us all, ameen
Hajia Amina

China Invades Africa for resources

2008-06-09T08:14:00.008+01:00

Can this be a true statement since you no longer need a large army to inspect in order to validate that your shores are under siege? In the age of facebook and sms, you get immediate feed back from several sources but if a giant dragon comes knocking with $100Bn over a short period, you had better wake up! Africans are still fast asleep and that is the problem.

This Fast Company article by Richard Behar is an excellent first hand account in 6 parts of on ground issues that people are not taking on. Perhaps, the concern for personal attacks and the distraction of incivility here is a reason not to get involved. Africa needs tough love and you may put $1Tn in investments without any benefits to the people that needed it most. Yes, Africa needs the investment but it is not poor either.

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again”
Maya Angelou

53 Nigerians were arrested in Málaga, Spain

2008-05-30T12:16:00.001+01:00

The police say that the group of 53 people arrested in the so-called ‘Operacion Loto’ were part of an organisation which sent out an average 25,000 letters from Málaga every day, to addresses round the world, claiming the recipients had won the Spanish lottery. Victims were invited to send an administrative fee to release their ‘winnings’.

Police estimate that two out of every 1,000 people to receive such a letter acted on it and sent the money and the Málaga group are known to have made 27 million € in the scam, but police think that the real amount they have made could have reached 250 million.

Nigeria power shortage to persist

2008-05-30T10:15:00.004+01:00

Nigeria will not be able to generate enough electricity for its population until at least 2015, President Umaru Yar'Adua has said.

But three finished gas-fuelled power stations are unable to generate electricity because Nigeria has sold all its gas for export, the president said.

These deals with international oil companies would have to be renegotiated over seven years, he added.

"It is only now that the nation realises the critical importance of gas to the national economy," the president said.

Six power stations begun under the last administration have not been completed
$16bn (£8bn) has so far been spent on the power sector since 1999

Allocating contracts and paying a lot of cash to non-existent companies will not solve Nigeria's power crisis but this story run deeper than highlighted. Why would its president be flown to Germany for emergency medical treatment?

Race Rant - Obama & Clinton

2008-05-28T13:04:00.001+01:00

As an African that lives in Europe, I share America's pain about loosing your country to illegal immigration and everything else. May I inquire, whose country is it anyway? That is as far as my support will go. But know this, the rule of law is important and it is the US government, including the elected people in congress that must do their jobs.

Personal responsibility starts with education and ends in love of the stranger. Only a few days ago, ordinary South Africans went a rampage in order to throw out their illegal immigrants. They killed people indiscriminately protesting about lawlessness (can you believe it?). These are black Africans against Black Africans inside South Africa.

I am equally fed up with Obama rants, especially the part about his parents, that is just plain bad manners in the age of social networks. His mother is white and his father is from Klyon but he is a US Senator. Why does he need to justify anything to anyone? He is a member of the US Senate!

Senator Obama has also written three books as seeded by Aunk. The NY Times wrote glorious reviews of Obama and his books which confirm communicating a story will get you very far indeed. That is the leadership challenge.

He was elected as the first black president of The Harvard Law Review is my other rant. When is America going to stop using those silly words? 1st black this or 1st non-white that? It belittles the achievement. Stop it. How about voting for Hilary Clinton? I have always fancied her chances so that, we could say, the 1st female US president. What will she bring to the role I hear? How about just being a superwoman? Ask Alicia Keys.

The Greed Game? The smart game!

2008-05-24T07:24:00.001+01:00

Islamic Rampage in Bauchi State?

2008-05-22T09:01:00.006+01:00

Rescue Of Girls Ignites Islamic Rampage "Six churches gutted after recovery of Christian teenagers from Muslim kidnappers." NINGI, Nigeria, May 19 (Compass Direct News) – Islamists under the auspices of a paramilitary force last week destroyed six churches to protest a police rescue of two teenage Christian girls kidnapped by Muslims in this Bauchi state town.

This story was the top Nigerian news on the Vine since it broke on the 19th, today the 22nd, finding the sources has proved impossible. Can anyone shed more light? Is it credible? Who are the people featured here? Is there an Emir of Ningi? Who is Alhaji Muhammadu Yunusa Danyaya? The story:

“The teenage daughter of Mrs. Joseph was converted to Islam and married to a Muslim man,” he said. “Up to this moment I am speaking to you, we have not been able to rescue this girl from these Muslims.”

An indictment on law enforcement, no doubt, but Nigerian media that has gone online only to be covered with ads that nobody cares for is poor. Nigeria - where the truth is hard to find was a BBC news feature following a plane crash that nobody knew the truth about.

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 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?

Information is power and if a distorted Chinese whisper form is the norm in the age of facebook, Nigeria will regress further. Media manipulation and inadequate infrastructure are huge problems for a developing country but here is a question. Why do the Nigeria media and the governments pay each other coutersy visits?

Why is this story important? One of the most popular eco-destinations in West Africa, the Yankari National Park is in Bauchi State! And, of course its website is... What website?

Violence against immigrants - South Africa

2008-05-18T15:01:00.008+01:00

Immigrants from neighbouring African countries were set upon by men with guns and iron bars chanting kick the foreigners out. The South African Red Cross is now providing food and blankets to hundreds of frightened African immigrants forced from their homes by mobs is not the type of noise that should be coming out of Africa. What happened to my brother's keeper? May I also wonder why bloggers in the diaspora are not screaming about this horrible human rights issue since the story broke on May 1st.

Since the end of apartheid, millions of African immigrants have poured into South Africa seeking jobs and sanctuary. But they have become scapegoats for many of the country's social problems - its high rate of unemployment, a shortage of housing and one of the worst levels of crime in the world. But then again this is not new. In 1983, Alhaji Shehu Shagari's government expelled more than one million foreigners, mostly Ghanaians, saying they had overstayed their visas and were taking jobs from Nigerians. History repeating!

More reports: Refugees flee South Africa attacks & SA xenophobia in Pictures

Dimeji Bankole - HARDtalk interview

2008-05-16T13:42:00.001+01:00

Oil pipeline fire near Lagos

2008-05-16T11:09:00.007+01:00

Yesterday's report that a road-grader accidentally tore open a fuel pipeline in Lagos and sent an inferno raging over houses and a school; setting off a stampede of terrified children and killing about 100 people is a reason for taking an infrastructure audit in Nigeria. More than 400 people died in two similar pipeline explosions in Lagos in 2006 and more deaths in December. Nigeria is not good at plan B and at best the health & safety executive is an aspiring opportunist that is looking for the next big deal.

A country that seemed to have outsourced its problems to God, the infrastructure in Africa's largest oil producing nation is not built to support disasters. Prevention is great but plan B is especially important in the wake rapidly expanding disaster stories like Burma/Myanmar, China and elsewhere. Just ask Google.
We may not be interested in chaos but chaos is interested in us.
—Robert Cooper, The Breaking of Nations:
Order and Chaos in the Twenty-first Century

$200 barrel Oil

2008-05-13T10:11:00.004+01:00

David Linton at Updata demonstrated how oil prices are likely to continue rising using a variety of charting techniques. He suggested prices in the mid-$150s per barrel are likely with potential to go much further. Bloomberg went further with $200. What does all of these mean to governments sitting on a cash cow? The tax on oil should mean a good percentage of rich/wealthy citizens but due to poorly run governments, the reverse is true. Political promises are expensive and oil cash is there for the spending.

The oil price has been raising since the 1990 and has peaked at various times including the 2000 Gulf War but in 2003, it went over a ceiling. A new territory that goes way over the norm. 15 years of going side ways has shut straight up. It will go higher! But like a coiled spring, a big pull back is also likely. When? That is the big Q. We only know that when the bubble of anything bursts, things fall apart. And like the disasters happening worldwide in Chile, Myanmar and China. Is Nigeria prepared?

e-waste Nigeria & Africa

2008-05-10T10:52:00.004+01:00

This is a story that keeps coming back since there are no sustained nor on-going campaigns about the problem. Children are dying to clear up the developed world's discarded computers disguised as aid by charity organisations fronting the rubbish. Over 75% of donated computers are e-waste. Who is responsible?

NIGERIAN CURIOSITY: COULD COAL BE A POWER SOLUTION FOR NIGERIA?

2008-04-26T22:38:00.000+01:00

NIGERIAN CURIOSITY: COULD COAL BE A POWER SOLUTION FOR NIGERIA?

Africalab 1/2

2008-04-03T18:44:00.005+01:00

Hugh Levinson asks whether science and technology can provide the key to ending under-development in Africa. 1/2: He meets the researchers who believe that they can help.

Brain drain, TB, Aids, learn more. Listen to this program and hear how science and technology can bring change to Africa. But to suggest that Africa publishes less scientific papers than anywhere else is unfair. Just look at the people that published most of those papers and not where they are published from. Not far from the surface is the Nigerian power outage’s effect on sickle cell anaemia. It is about politics and people had better understand it.

Brain drain is about a lot of questions and hearing it in terms of a FIFArisation (new word for everyone) is work of genius itself. Brain circulation is a small and important step forward but to copy India is not innovation. Well worth your time.

Doomsday Bible

2008-03-22T15:32:00.007Z

Documentary about 'End Timers' believe we are living in the 'End Times' according to the book of Revelation. Tony, may I point out that your conclusions about magic mushrooms were not completed as you need to discover its uses in other cultures. The Mayans and their calendar are good reference points.

What does Ms. Amina Ibrahim do?

2008-02-24T10:43:00.006Z

Amina Ibrahim was appointed to the Board in March 2007 is about the only useful information that I have found on the web. Side track at bit on the Nigerian public webs which seemed to be full of meaningless CVs. It would be nice to see these bodies clean out their self-satisfying trash that does not inform the inquirer. Back to Ms. Amina J. Ibrahim who is the National Coordinator for Education for All (EFA) at the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria.

In this capacity Ms. Ibrahim coordinates the development of a fully participatory National Action Plan, which includes cross-cutting areas such as HIV/AIDS and macroeconomic strategies as proposed in the World Bank Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). A particular focus of her work lies on the development of strategies to empower community participation at government level.

enough already! Nigeria is still a third world country even though this talent, Ms. Ibrahim was a founding member and moderator of the facilitating committee at the Civil Society Action Coalition on EFA (CSACEFA), a national coalition of 124 Civil Society organizations working on education in Nigeria. At CSACEFA she was responsible for capacity building of member organization and engagement with the government, international development partners, and the private sector.

Bad Girl Amy Winehouse

2008-02-13T21:29:00.004Z

I 1st encountered Amy Winehouse as a 20-year-old who was talking about her style and her debt to the great voices of the past and present. She sang live and I fell in love. But this poor little girl needed to wake up to life. Please forgive her, for everyone is fighting a great battle.

Lagos Nigeria, Amazing effort

2008-02-02T12:52:00.002Z

A must see.

Davos is irrelevant?

2008-01-26T21:33:00.001Z

We live in a world where higher volatility is the norm and an Intense networking days out among the movers and shakers of our planet has become an oxy-moron. How can Davos address global issues, yet ask all the presidents, prime ministers, business leaders, and rock stars to get on a plane from all the corners of the planet and make the pilgrimage to Davos? What happened to peer to peer in 2008?

The same mix of rich, powerful, criminal, dictators, opportunists and irrelevant people speak about the same tired subjects they have been talking about for the past decade. Unkept promises of action and pledges of change for the next year? The forum's founder, Professor Klaus Schwab, said that so far the world had committed only 30% of the effort required to meet the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.

Where are the talents required to help run these goals? A rock star or a billionaire software developer? What have they done to date? The pattern of flawed elections which is encouraged has led to Kenya of today. But is this the real story at Davos 2008? No. The global economy is going through some unsettled times and the US economy that is set for a long recession seemed to be the only reason people have gathered here.

Cruel to be kind but business is about customers and until these people wake to the developing world as their customers, the short term $1M per year bonus is going to boomerang and bite the hand that fed it.

Tales of passion: Isabel Allende

2008-01-04T12:28:00.000Z

How to make olpc work.

2007-12-29T14:11:00.000Z

Nicholas Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child idea is not new but he has made possible a great marketing and philanthropy approach to selling. Yes, it is about market share which equals sales and translates to movable parts for a lot of cash. At laptopgiving.org you can give a kid in a developing country a laptop for $200 or, for $399, do "Give One. Get One." You give a developing country child one, and get one for your child. That is one way but in order to achieve the economies of scale and bring olpc back to its $100 laptop roots, we need to move millions asap.

“It's an education project, not a laptop project” by NN is like shooting yourself in the foot. olpc should be preparing for the coming (Intel, Microsoft, New Entrants) price wars in order to be in position to keep the dream. We may have forgotten about the social responsibilities and made the sales pitch but the associated costs of training the teachers (a huge number on strike over salary arrears) is still wanting. Asking people to do additional work without proper compensation is all part of the social system that must be brought to the forefront. These are olpc's partners. Who has a big cheque book in order to keep the teachers 100% focused? A win-win?

There are many more USPs that will help olpc eat Intel's lunch in Africa and the rest of the third world. The carriers: in a country where over 60% live below the poverty line, 256 kilobits per second (kbps)costs about $900 a month on top of $1500 for equipment equals qu'ils mangent de la brioche (let them eat cake). How do we partner with the carriers?

When is it a good idea to send kids to school on empty stomachs? OLPC as a business enterprise is an organ of society and it is not cynical to point out that as your customer,

I am hungry, feed me before you educate me! I am in chains, free me before you educate me!

How do we partner with Bob&Bono, Bill&Melinda, Bill&Hillary and everyone? Anyone for a piggy-back ride of partnerships in order to deliver this education programme? It is all about questions. Hi Tom, its time to love all and serve all.