Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has kicked against the idea of engaging the Chinese people in the infrastructural development of Nigeria.

Duke stated this on Saturday at a 60th Independence Day Celebration Symposium co-organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Nehemiah Leadership Institute.

The Federal Government is currently engaging the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation to develop various infrastructural projects across the country.


Reacting to the development, Duke said, “As long as we continue to outsource our development, we will never gain the confidence to develop our nation. It has to be developed by ourselves. We can talk of rail lines, we are bringing the Chinese to develop the world for us, well, you are outsourcing.

“We need to take it head-on, be prepared to make the mistakes, build those rail lines, build the things that you required.”

“We talk more of investment in infrastructure than skills and that ought not to be and the skills also should involve technology.”


Duke, who was governor between 1999 and 2007, stress the need to restructure Nigeria so that the failure at the centre does not affect the development of the sub-nationals.

[
At the symposium with the theme, ‘Where will Nigeria be in 2060?’, Duke said, “We had a faulty start from 1950. We started with sectional leadership.”

“Restructure the country so that even if poor leadership is at the centre, it does not frustrate the constituent parts of the country. Each part will grow at its own rate.


“As a nation, all the resources and ingredients to make Nigeria one of the greatest nations on earth are there but the chef is missing,” he noted.

https://punchng.com/nigerians-not-chinese-should-build-our-railways-duke/

The Chinese are getting these construction deals cos our govt has exalted them as our 'big brother' based on how we have obtained so many loans from them. Duke's suggestion makes sense but I don't know if those who take these decisions in govt will be sensible enough to understand.

Arrrrrrrh


I nod in affirmation to these. We have potential and smart Nigerians who can do up to the standard of this Chinese folks. Naija got raw talent the problem is we ain't given the platform to showcase it.


So they mean another Nation will build our Nation, I don't get this to be Frank. Then where is our pride. Who build China? Another creature? we need to wake up and use the raw talent people in Nigeria to take us to the brighter world .

We actually have Nigerian civil engineers that are good enough to construct state of the art railways for us.

The Chinese have really benefited from Nigeria even more than Nigerians.. or how else do you explain govt. taking loans from China, on Chinese terms, projects awarded and executed by Chinese contractors (zero local content or technology transfer) and loans repayed in full with interest by Nigerians.

Do we even think atal? do we have leaders ruling us??

gaius01:
Arrrrrrrh


I nod in affirmation to these. We have potential and smart Nigerians who can do up to the standard of this Chinese folks. Naija got raw talent the problem is we ain't given the platform to showcase it.


So they mean another Nation will build our Nation, I don't get this to be Frank. Then where is our pride. Who build China? Another creature? we need to wake up and use the raw talent people in Nigeria to take us to the brighter world .

Nigerian government will prefer Chinese than Nigerian civil engineers

Iceyjayz:
Nigerian government will prefer Chinese than Nigerian civil engineers

So pathetic, no wounder we can't grow.

This is what it should be.
It was in my 300l that I appreciated the ingenuity of Nigerians. As part of our SWEP, we were asked to produce a very complex shelf. We were divided into groups of five. After giving us the detailed components and drawing of the shelf, we were asked to produce each components ourselves and to proceed with the shelf production.


All materials were provided without excess, meaning if you make any mistake in cutting, ur mark is at stake. You could see brain at work, and at last every group came out with a descent shelf no one could believe could be produced by students.

Our leaders like underating us maybe because they don't trust the system they destroyed. What is rail line that we can't construct with drawings and dimensions?

Left for me, at this trying moment of Nigeria, an engineer should be our president. Someone like Dave Umahi would turn this country around or any inovative person.

Imagine building science parks across each states and organizing science and engineering shows like BBN, provide those who'll participate with every materials they need with resource officer, internet and food, then the best after 1 month camping wins 80 million with the federal government building an industry of what he produced for him and even sending him for further studies to improve on what he produced...

The Chinese are building our railways because that is one clause they always insert in their loan agreements. It is even preferable that way, you can be sure the project will be done.

Ignoramus.
China does not dole out cash like IMF, they lend infrastructure.
This means that there is little to no money to embezzle by government agents.

Moreover, it is unwise to give huge contracts to inexperience engineers.

This guy Na fool abeg.... Let them give a task never been done to Nigerian contractor?!

Let's also build nuclear power plant at his family house in cross River and use only Nigerian scientists and engineers and force him to live there




.

Dear Donald Duke, criticism is cheap. I have one question: Did Chinese built TINAPA Project in Cross River State when you were the Governor?

Buried billions of dollars on a non-functional white elephant project and dude is talking like he has the answers.

It is always funny how useless leaders of yesterday all of a sudden turn smart and intelligent and start dishing our theories and ideas that they refused to put in place under their own leadership when Nigeria was swimming in oil wealth. What a load of moronic talk and hypocrisy.

The only way to increase local content and participation is by training our own workers and localizing skills and production.

Today as we speak, Nigerian engineers are in China undergoing rail management training.

We've established a rail coach and wagon manufacturing plant in Nigeria.

Lagos Ibadan railway was abandoned and left for dead on the drawing board since 2006 by you and your PDP crew but started and almost completed by PMB in less than 4 years.

Mr, you are part of the problem and the white elephant you bankrupt your state with is still rotting away so kindly STFU.

The roads given to Nigerians to work on are in a terrible state....

flokii:
The Chinese have really benefited from Nigeria even more than Nigerians.. or how else do you explain govt. taking loans from China, on Chinese terms, projects awarded and executed by Chinese contractors (zero local content or technology transfer) and loans repayed in full with interest by Nigerians.

Do we even think atal? do we have leaders ruling us??

No be dem they give loan?

Plenty talk

No be from China they always get the loan from?

Xisnin:
Ignoramus.
China does not dole out cash like IMF, they lend infrastructure.

This means that there is little to no money to embezzle by government agents.

Moreover, it is unwise to give huge contracts to inexperience engineers.

The bolded is the cause of his anger. Omo Ole Ifo

Look at who is talking? next pls

“Restructure the country so that even if poor leadership is at the centre, it does not frustrate the constituent parts of the country. Each part will grow at its own rate"

This is the nucleus of restructuring.

ogododo:
Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has kicked against the idea of engaging the Chinese people in the infrastructural development of Nigeria.

Duke stated this on Saturday at a 60th Independence Day Celebration Symposium co-organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Nehemiah Leadership Institute.

The Federal Government is currently engaging the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation to develop various infrastructural projects across the country.


Reacting to the development, Duke said, “As long as we continue to outsource our development, we will never gain the confidence to develop our nation. It has to be developed by ourselves. We can talk of rail lines, we are bringing the Chinese to develop the world for us, well, you are outsourcing.

“We need to take it head-on, be prepared to make the mistakes, build those rail lines, build the things that you required.”

“We talk more of investment in infrastructure than skills and that ought not to be and the skills also should involve technology.”


Duke, who was governor between 1999 and 2007, stress the need to restructure Nigeria so that the failure at the centre does not affect the development of the sub-nationals.

[
At the symposium with the theme, ‘Where will Nigeria be in 2060?’, Duke said, “We had a faulty start from 1950. We started with sectional leadership.”

“Restructure the country so that even if poor leadership is at the centre, it does not frustrate the constituent parts of the country. Each part will grow at its own rate.


“As a nation, all the resources and ingredients to make Nigeria one of the greatest nations on earth are there but the chef is missing,” he noted.

https://punchng.com/nigerians-not-chinese-should-build-our-railways-duke/

Interesting.

Uchek:

“Restructure the country so that even if poor leadership is at the centre, it does not frustrate the constituent parts of the country. Each part will grow at its own rate"

This is the nucleus of restructuring.

We had that once under regional administration so please what was achieved in your region when all the regions developed at their own rate?

Your local leaders today are fully in control of your own states as we speak, they collect taxes and allocations on your behalf so please explain to us all the magnificent things they've done to better your life.

Charity begins at home.

Nigeria is a Chinese colony.

NGpatriot:



We had that once under regional administration so please what was achieved in your region when all the regions developed at their own rate?

Your local leaders today are fully in control of your own states as we speak, they collect taxes and allocations on your behalf so please explain to us all the magnificent things they've done to better your life.

Charity begins at home.

Are you against True Federalism and restructuring?

Why?? Do you perhaps have a cogent reason why the different parts of Nigeria cannot grow on their own terms, compete and develop most where they have their comparative advantage Or are you against it cos you support this Govt?

By the way, in the 1st republic, the West got a headstart in public education cos that was what Awolowo and Co wanted. Ditto other regions then

Xisnin:
Ignoramus.
China does not dole out cash like IMF, they lend infrastructure.
This means that there is little to no money to embezzle by government agents.

Moreover, it is unwise to give huge contracts to inexperience engineers.

how many construction agencies do you have primarily owned by Nigerians with grear delivery experience

naija4life247:


The bolded is the cause of his anger. Omo Ole Ifo

you know right.

If Nigerian Construction body needs to engage in projects, they should work closely with the Chinese. Understudy them and build respectively. But no this won't happen, because an average Nigerians just wants to hate their cake right-away.

Nigerians not Chinese should borrow Nigeria money...





If I slap this puke abi na duke ehhh

BlackfireX:
Nigerians not Chinese should borrow Nigeria money...





If I slap this puke abi na duke ehhh

Na Nigeria society of Engineers supposed fight this battle!

nameo:


Are you against True Federalism and restructuring?

Why?? Do you perhaps have a cogent reason why the different parts of Nigeria cannot grow on their own terms, compete and develop most where they have their comparative advantage Or are you against it cos you support this Govt?

By the way, in the 1st republic, the West got a headstart in public education cos that was what Awolowo and Co wanted. Ditto other regions then

I'm not against anything, I Just gave you a brief history why what you are demanding means little or nothing when it comes to your own daily realities on the ground.

We had what you are demanding before so please explain to us how developed your state or region was.

Your own state governors are in control of your states, you speak the same language, they collect allocations on your behalf so how great are they when it comes to your progress and development.

It's all about leadership regardless of what kind of government you like or desire.

thesicilian:
We actually have Nigerian civil engineers that are good enough to construct state of the art railways for us.

True.

I know this sounds crazy, but the Nigerian govt won't do this because It is more expensive than getting the Chinese. A Nigerian firm will charge more than CCNC to build those rail projects. It's like buying a handbag. You know you can buy Nigerian, but the ones from China will be cheaper, because of their mass production and consequent economies of scale.