Nigeria has no reason to be poor —EU

European Union on Tuesday identified corruption, impunity and poor resources management as causes of poverty in Nigeria.

At a media parley in Abuja, the EU Ambassador/Head of Delegation, Dr. David MacRae, said Nigeria had no reasons to be poor with all the available resources in the country and a fast growing economy.

He said, “It would have been far better if those resources had been used to deliver basics services like education, health and infrastructure to the people. These are the things needed to be put in place.

“What this country needs are jobs; jobs for the people especially young people. If young people had jobs they won’t be unnecessarily agitated and getting involved in misdeeds. But without work, without just income, and no social safety net in Nigeria, the people will continue to face poverty. Half of the population in this country are below poverty line.”

MacRae said no country with cases of human rights abuse could have a meaningful development.

According to him, the reported killings of innocent civilians in the recent clashes between security forces and Boko Haram and other reported violations by security forces call for concern.

He said, “The fight against terrorism must be conducted within the law rather than outside of it. Anything less is unacceptable. Those responsible for containing the crisis must act with utmost respect for the rule of law, with measures in place to ensure that the innocent and their property are protected.

“If there have been abuses of human rights or abuses of law, those who have done this should be brought to justice. This is obviously the way all civilized nations behave and we regard Nigeria as one of these.”

The EU boss lamented how poor power supply was affecting businesses in the country, adding that, government must tackle impunity for a healthy investment drive.

MacRae said the commission was ready to support Nigeria to strengthen democracy as “it is relatively new to the country.”

He added, “It is not something you can build overnight. The National Assembly has to do its job, it has to be equipped to do its job, it has to understand this role, it has to be trained to exercise its responsibilities.”

Citing the EU Independent observer which described the 2011 election as the best since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, MacRae noted that there was still room for improvement.

He said, “We have a situation in Nigeria. Nigeria is regarded as the leader of Africa, as the leading country in this continent, as the largest black population on earth, with the economy which is growing fast, relatively speaking, but regrettably, poverty is not diminishing in the country and jobs are not being created.”

Considering the population of Nigeria, MacRae said, there was little the union could do to help without Nigeria’s government playing its role.

Said he, “Whatever we do without development cooperation programme can’t possibly be adequate to meet the needs of the population of that size. It is Nigeria’s own resources which must be used to build on these. We will do what we can to help especially in area of governance including effective service delivery.”

MacRae bemoaned the high mortality rate in Nigeria describing it as worrisome, saying “more needs to be done”.

He stressed the “need for a radical shifting of resources of this country to address the basic issues for the interest of people.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/africa/nigeria-has-no-reason-to-be-poor-eu/

The EU should ask their member, Britain, what she did with all the monies earned from Nigerian exports from 1897 to 1960. If that money had been used to develop Nigeria rather than embezzled and used to develop England, Nigeria would have been as fully developed as South Africa at independence, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. So let them start with their own thievery. We are poor today because we are playing catch up, struggling to build things that should have been built 100 years ago.

Rossikk: The EU should ask their member, Britain, what she did with all the monies earned from Nigerian exports from 1897 to 1960. If that money had been used to develop Nigeria rather than embezzled and used to develop England, Nigeria would have been as fully developed as South Africa at independence, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. So let them start with their own thievery. We are poor today because we are playing catch up, struggling to build things that should have been built 100 years ago.

Why is it that your response to any critical appraisal is always bereft of objectivity?

Was Singapore not colonised from 1826 to 1963? Ditto Malaysia - colonised by the Portuguese from 1511 to 1641; by the Dutch - from 1641 to 1824; by the British - from 1824 to 1942; and by the Japanese between 1942 and 1945.

eGuerrilla:

Why is it that your response to any critical appraisal is always bereft of objectivity?

Was Singapore not colonised from 1826 to 1963? Ditto Malaysia - colonised by the Portuguese from 1511 to 1641; by the Dutch - from 1641 to 1824; by the British - from 1824 to 1942; and by the Japanese between 1942 and 1945.

It is not being colonised that is the issue. The issue is what did the colonialists DO in the respective nations they colonised? In SOME countries they built infrastructure, schools, and created functional institutions which went on to serve those nations after independence. In OTHERS, especially the BLACK nations, all they did was loot, loot, loot and loot. In Nigeria, despite exporting hundreds of billions in today's money worth of resources from 1897 to 1960 they only built ONE university college, not even a full fledged uni. In 63 years of rule. As for roads, power etc, they did virtually nothing. In 1960, after 63 years of British rule, we generated 270 megawatts of electricity. 95 percent of Nigerians had no access to electricity. There was no national grid. Rail. Oh they built a line from Kano to the southern ports for ONE reason, ie to evacuate our resources. At independence, we were just a bush. Today we have advanced a lot and are still advancing, thanks to African rule. The EU can take their 'concern' for our 'plight' and stick it up their round holes.

Copy and paste things. A poor one at that.

No editing whatsoever.

@Rossikk,

Thanks for the indulgence. I appreciate your response, but feel it ignores my question all the same.

Why bring the vagaries of colonialism to bear down every discussion, when it is clear that doing so only serves to excuse the failure of leadership in Nigeria?

What is it that you find so contentious in the following remark, once you set it against an operating environment where corruption is seemingly growing at alarming rate, for instance?

He said, "We have a situation in Nigeria. Nigeria is regarded as the leader of Africa, as the leading country in this continent, as the largest black population on earth, with the economy which is growing fast, relatively speaking, but regrettably, poverty is not diminishing in the country and jobs are not being created."

You must forgive me for failing to connect with the petite bourgeois argument which deflects any criticism of our National institutions - including failing ones - in furtherance of what is, unquestionably, a misplaced sense of loyalty.
It is either you understand the larger import of the following assessment and reject it, because you have aligned yourself with the thieving class in Nigeria, or that an inordinate amount of National pride is beclouding your judgement.

The EU boss lamented how poor power supply was affecting businesses in the country, adding that, government must
tackle impunity for a healthy investment drive. MacRae said the commission was ready to support Nigeria to strengthen democracy as "it is relatively new to the country." He added, "It is not something you can build overnight. The National Assembly has to do its job, it has to be equipped to do its job, it has to understand this role, it has to be trained to exercise its responsibilities."

@rossikk, are you for real. still blaming colonialism at this stage of our independence, a child that is still crawling at the age of 52 has something wrong with him. I know you know the solution to our problem you are just being economical with the truth

Hey EU,

YOu have said nothing but the truth but come-to-think-of-it, you guys created it. You enthroned IBB and made him start the SAP that killed this economy. Buhari that didnt allow your evil motives, you ousted him. Same with Muritala. If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

You have almost destroyed the foundation of this nation that its so difficult for this country to rise! You enthroned leaders that would only yield to your commands thats why GEJ cannot build refineries. GEJ knows that $600m export of goods to the UK is done yearly and 99% is oil - the oil Britain refines! Making our trade deficit so large! So until you leave our leaders alone and stop these propaganda, we wont grow as a nation. Until you allow Buhari, who spat on IMF policies or fearless leaders like Patrice Lumumba of Congo, Allende, Thomas Sankara and Steven Biko to serve their people and their people alone, Africa shall not be free! Libyans that were not poor because they had a fearless leader, what did you do to them? Or why did NATO kill Gadaffi? Where are libyans today, whats the pride they have?

Or do you want me to talk about how u have crippled our agro-economy? Or how France supported Ojukwu because of Niger delta oil? Oh! These things have a long-term effect on the black man, they have found their ways into our present crops of leaders, making them corrupt and power-drunk!

But Africa will definitely rise again! Africa will stand tall! We will get the leaders we deserve not puppets!


Frawzey

Dan_de_Numeruno: Copy and paste things. A poor one at that.

No editing whatsoever.

mtcheew so far the info was passed...and уσυ and order nairalanders where able to read...I'm ok..copy and paste or not

Rossikk: The EU should ask their member, Britain, what she did with all the monies earned from Nigerian exports from 1897 to 1960. If that money had been used to develop Nigeria rather than embezzled and used to develop England, Nigeria would have been as fully developed as South Africa at independence, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. So let them start with their own thievery. We are poor today because we are playing catch up, struggling to build things that should have been built 100 years ago.

Sure, the British are also forcing GEJ to request more money for his meals because he claims he eats only twice a day thus $30,000/day for meals is not enough. They also forced him to ask that his wife be given N4Billion to play with. Oh, yeah, they also forced him to pardon Alameseigha.....

Dude, abeg, go take your medication.

ayox2003: Hey EU,

YOu have said nothing but the truth but come-to-think-of-it, you guys created it. You enthroned IBB and made him start the SAP that killed this economy. Buhari that didnt allow your evil motives, you ousted him. Same with Muritala. If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

You have almost destroyed the foundation of this nation that its so difficult for this country to rise! You enthroned leaders that would only yield to your commands thats why GEJ cannot build refineries. GEJ knows that $600m export of goods to the UK is done yearly and 99% is oil - the oil Britain refines! Making our trade deficit so large! So until you leave our leaders alone and stop these propaganda, we wont grow as a nation. Until you allow Buhari, who spat on IMF policies or fearless leaders like Patrice Lumumba of Congo, Allende, Thomas Sankara and Steven Biko to serve their people and their people alone, Africa shall not be free! Libyans that were not poor because they had a fearless leader, what did you do to them? Or why did NATO kill Gadaffi? Where are libyans today, whats the pride they have?

Or do you want me to talk about how u have crippled our agro-economy? Or how France supported Ojukwu because of Niger delta oil? Oh! These things have a long-term effect on the black man, they have found their ways into our present crops of leaders, making them corrupt and power-drunk!

But Africa will definitely rise again! Africa will stand tall! We will get the leaders we deserve not puppets!


Frawzey

God bless you, bro!

eGuerrilla: @Rossikk,

Thanks for the indulgence. I appreciate your response, but feel it ignores my question all the same.

Why bring the vagaries of colonialism to bear down every discussion, when it is clear that doing so only serves to excuse the failure of leadership in Nigeria?

What is it that you find so contentious in the following remark, once you set it against an operating environment where corruption is seemingly growing at alarming rate, for instance?



You must forgive me for failing to connect with the petite bourgeois argument which deflects any criticism of our National institutions - including failing ones - in furtherance of what is, unquestionably, a misplaced sense of loyalty.
It is either you understand the larger import of the following assessment and reject it, because you have aligned yourself with the thieving class in Nigeria, or that an inordinate amount of National pride is beclouding your judgement.

You dey mind them? If you read the nonsense they put up every minute, you would think Nigeria was the only country colonized in history. They said Britain enthroned IBB et al but failed to inform us if IBB was and is still not a Nigerian. The simple truth these conspiracy theorists have continue to avoid is no matter the conspiracy EU, Britain or US might have against any country and Nigeria for that matter, they still have to use Nigerians. If we had patriotic leaders, their conspiracy would amount to nothing.

Our leaders have failed and still continue to fail us. These folks should just stop blaming foreigners for our woes.

Why's the EU talking from both sides of its mouth? All the countries where these kleptocrats who looted and have continued to loot the SNW of Nigeria hide their stolen wealth are member countries of the EU - and the EU is somewhat complicit in what they do as well...

I can't stand freaking hypocrites!!

Rossikk: The EU should ask their member, Britain, what she did with all the monies earned from Nigerian exports from 1897 to 1960. If that money had been used to develop Nigeria rather than embezzled and used to develop England, Nigeria would have been as fully developed as South Africa at independence, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. So let them start with their own thievery. We are poor today because we are playing catch up, struggling to build things that should have been built 100 years ago.

SHUT UP,COWARD,WHO ARE YOU.

WHEN NIGERIA WAS FOUND,THEY FOUND WHAT NOTHING,JUST THREE YEARS BEFORE INDEPENDENCE(MONEY)OIL WAS FOUND,SOUTH AFRICA HAS ALWAYS HAD GOLD.

WE ARE POOR BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE STILL BLAMING THE BRITISH FOR OUR PROBLEMS WITHOUT NOT ACTUALLY FACING YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT. COWARD.

EU should shut their pig mouths. Freaking agents. Let them wait till we nationalize all their companies in Africa.

eGuerrilla: @Rossikk,

Thanks for the indulgence. I appreciate your response, but feel it ignores my question all the same.

Why bring the vagaries of colonialism to bear down every discussion

Wrong. Not in every discussion. Just those where the west try to play hypocrite.

when it is clear that doing so only serves to excuse the failure of leadership in Nigeria?

It is not ''clear'' at all. It only serves to ''excuse'' anything if you have the IQ of an ant.

What is it that you find so contentious in the following remark, once you set it against an operating environment where corruption is seemingly growing at alarming rate, for instance?

What is it YOU find so contentious in my remark that the EU should ask their member state Britain, what she did with all Nigeria's export wealth between 1897 and 1960?

globalaid: @rossikk, are you for real. still blaming colonialism at this stage of our independence, a child that is still crawling at the age of 52 has something wrong with him. I know you know the solution to our problem you are just being economical with the truth

Typical dumbed down response. Is colonialism not blaming you? Why should you not blame them back? Are you afraid of them? Are you their slave? Any problems here, they contributed as much to it as anyone else, and still contribute, through the nefarious acts of their multinationals for instance. Do they get a pass because they are white? Not in MY book. Tell me something. Do you think corruption can thrive in Nigeria for one week without the active collaboration of western powers? Do you think those powers don't know where all the money is and how it got there? I mean, and then these people HOLDING YOUR TRILLIONS come to you and start preaching anti-corruption, and you actually listen to them.... ''yes massa, yes massa. We know you're holding our trillions of dollars, but you still love us and have our best interests at heart. We believe you hate our corruption because it is making you far too rich, and we know you hate too much riches, as shown by your history of invading countries only for the purposes of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and his kingdom. As for our trillions which you hold? It's all yours! Don't worry about it massa! Afterall stolen money that arrives in your soft white hands is automatically cleansed of all its history, by the special grace of Jesus and your white Pope''.

Gullible idiots.

anulaxad:


SHUT UP,COWARD,WHO ARE YOU.

WHEN NIGERIA WAS FOUND,THEY FOUND WHAT NOTHING,JUST THREE YEARS BEFORE INDEPENDENCE(MONEY)OIL WAS FOUND,SOUTH AFRICA HAS ALWAYS HAD GOLD.

Actually, peabrain, the British did not ''find'' Nigeria with ''nothing''. Nobody invests in colonial exploitation thousands of miles from their territory in order to reap 'nothing'. They came to Nigeria to seize the resources of the land, sell and enrich themselves. They exported natural resources worth hundreds of billions of dollars in today's currency between 1897 and 1960, and such products, which commanded a premium price on the international market, included coal (which was the 'oil' of its day and fetched a hefty sum), tin, iron ore, cocoa, groundnuts, palm oil, rubber, timber, and other items. These were shipped out in countless millions of tonnes PER DAY, throughout those 63 years. Obafemi Awolowo who ruled the western region always told the British that he'd built more in 5 years as Western Region Governor than the British had built in all of Nigeria since the start of colonialism 60 years prior, and he was right.

With the little money he made from exporting just cocoa, he achieved free education, built tv stations, built a world class stadium, built roads and bridges. Just think what the British could have done with all those riches over 63 years if they weren't so keen on robbing the nation blind. We'd have been like South Africa at independence. So the reason we are playing catch-up today is tied to THEIR actions just as much as it is to the actions of our current 'leaders', who it must be said, are doing a MUCH BETTER JOB than the colonialists ever did.

This is classic EU hypocrisy!

They (EU) should have talked about how IMF/World Bank and agents of Western commercial banks bribed some Nigerian leaders to accept ridiculous loans, that had ridiculous interest rates

shymexx: Why's the EU talking from both sides of its mouth? All the countries where these kleptocrats who looted and have continued to loot the SNW of Nigeria hide their stolen wealth are member countries of the EU - and the EU is somewhat complicit in what they do as well...

I can't stand freaking hypocrites!!

Another good point! They enthroned ruthless leaders like Mobutu, who kept the nations treasury in foreign accounts while the people suffered like orphans. We would solve our problems if they mind their business!


Frawzey

Like they care.. Mtcheww

.

they should tell that to our corrupt leaders

Yea that the truth we all know. and so as if they are well satisfied down there

[size=14pt]But we already are[/size]

EU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. EXACTLY MY THOUGHT.

THE PROBLEM IN NIGERIA IS THAT NIGERIANS HAVE ACCEPTED TO BE FOOLED BY CORRUPT LEADERS. SOMEONE SAID, GEJ JUST GIVE US LIGHT AND WE WILL BE HAPPY. AND I JUST SAY TO MYSELF, WHAT RUBBISH!

OUR COUNTRY WILL GROW WHEN THOSE IN LEADERSHIP ACCOUNT FOR EVERY CENT OF THE WEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.

100% ACCOUNTABILITY IS WHAT WE MUST ASK FOR.

Rossikk: It is not being colonised that is the issue. The issue is what did the colonialists DO in the respective nations they colonised? In SOME countries they built infrastructure, schools, and created functional institutions which went on to serve those nations after independence. In OTHERS, especially the BLACK nations, all they did was loot, loot, loot and loot. In Nigeria, despite exporting hundreds of billions in today's money worth of resources from 1897 to 1960 they only built ONE university college, not even a full fledged uni. In 63 years of rule. As for roads, power etc, they did virtually nothing. In 1960, after 63 years of

British rule, we generated 270 megawatts of electricity. 95 percent of Nigerians had no access to electricity. ..There was no national grid. Rail. Oh they built a line from Kano to the southern ports for ONE reason, ie to evacuate our resources. At independence, we were just a bush. Today we have advanced a lot and are still advancing, thanks to African rule. The EU can take their 'concern' for our 'plight' and stick it up their round holes.

My friend you are too timid; what development are you on about where, I still can't see any the EU delegation is absolutely right, he only failed to call names I find that frustrating you can hardly notice the affluence of Oyinbos, NIGERIANS will steal and start throwing parties and buying unnecessary Jets...shame on all the past and present stakeholders tjey practically killed a prosperous nation, I pray Nigeria will separate enough is enough, I can't wait to start seeing Malos rejecting visa to enter Oduduwa state.

you people should stop blabin abeg...is nigeria d only nation that was colonized..was india not colonized?...pls we re the cause of our problem and that EU personal is correct

So true...and of course we don't need to have it hammered unto us at the slightest provocation; debates like these would simply intensify the poverty. That's why I started www.notopoverty.com. What is your own contribution?

EU's hypocrisy really sucks!
For a fact, our leaders loot monies and the monies do not reside in Nigeria. these monies are smuggled to europe and they keep using it to develop their own land.
it will be almost impossible to loot without the collaboration of western powers.