₦airaland Forum

sjeezy8:
I think the south south def PH is a good investment, but the SE? If there is anything in the SE why are people leaving it to go to the SS and West? The whole country thinks theres nothing there, until you guys can prove the WHOLE country wrong, i see no reason in why a PRIVATE investor would want to build railway in that region.

Its not a thing of marginalization if most elite SEs dont invest in their home region, you cant expect a FOREIGNER to invest in its development. duh

I think that you're being a bit of a bigot here, I must say. The South East is full of business minded folk who are willing to work to make a mint. Thousands if not hundreds of thousands, leave their homes every year to go to other parts of the country. It'll make travel to and fro easier, it'll encourage more people to invest in their home states and it'll allow for the easy transportation of goods. It'll be a wonderful investment also for individuals who have the foresight to put their money down.

bawomolo:
well if the shoe fits. Don't make assumptions next time.

I am not tryna be obtuse but I do not understand what you are talking about!

tpia.:
The Nigerian Railway Corporation has been down for the past few decades.


They're trying to revitalize it now but its not easy.

However, you may have noticed the occasional news reports of NRC pensioners being owed money.

Yes, I have, my Grandpa worked for the NRC, I was just curious because a Lagos to any part of the SE would a huge money spinner, I dunno. I am always on guard about these things. We all slept and we got the abhorrent document that is '99 constitution. So I asked the question. Thank Tpia!

bawomolo:
Oh jeez, why are you guy obsessed with marginalization

is this a victimization complex or something

Which guys do you speak of?

Tpia, I asked a question because I am truly curious, I really do believe that the biggest cross movement of people occurs in Southern Nigeria, so when I read the article, I was some what surprised that the South East (especially) seemed to have been left out. Thank you for mention that Enugu already has a rail line. Is it commercial? By that I mean do commuter us it daily or is it for the transportation of coal and other commodities?

The plans for the modernisation of old railway lines seem to suggest that it'll take place primarily in the SW and the the North. I see no mention of any South Eastern or South Southern routes, is there a reason for this? May someone please shed some light on this?


Nigeria, China sign rail modernisation contract
From Nkechi Onyedika, Abuja

THE Federal Government has signed a $875 million contract with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for modernisation of 186 kilometres Phase 1, Segment 1 of rail lines transversing Abuja (Idu) to Kaduna.




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The project, which is to be completed within three years, has Messrs TEAM Nig. Ltd. as consultants and would be financed with a $500 million concessionary loan from the Chinese government.

Speaking at the ceremony yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Isa Bio, stated that due to the total neglect of the rail sector, the services deteriorated abysmally.

He noted that to revamp the sector, the immediate past administration adopted a holistic approach by commissioning a team of reputable international and local consultants to produce a 25-year development plan for the modernisation of the Nigerian Railways.

He stressed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration embarked on the implementation of the plan by awarding a contract for the modernisation of the Nigerian Railways Project, Phase 1: Lagos-Kano to Messrs CCECC at a cost of $8.3 billion.

Bio, however, observed that due to the huge cost of the project and the absence of a funding plan, the present administration decided to review the project while President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee to re-negotiate and re-scope the project.

This, according to him, culminated in the re-scoping of the project into five segments on "Stand-Alone Basis," with its separate project and the segments that include: Lagos - Ibadan; Ibadan - Ilorin; Ilorin - Minna; Abuja - Kaduna (Link Line); and Minna - Kano.

In his remarks, China's Ambassador to Nigeria, Xu Jianguo, described the railway modernisation project as an important vehicle for the actualisation of the Federal Government's Seven Point Agenda.

He assured that the Chinese government would ensure that it was of international standard and delivered on schedule.

Speaking on behalf of CCECC, Zhou Tianxian, said the project was very critical and would bring economic and social benefits to Nigeria.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/oct/27/35.html

Mehn, this one no be joke o, Certain guys are determined that Soludo will not run. I really do hope that they do  not harm the poor old man.

The thing I hate about this intelligent quotient test is that it is inevitably skewed to favour those who design the test.

IMHO, there are three or more factor that affect one's intelligence

1. Culture

2. Opportunity(ies)

3. Nurture

These are the ones I can think of right but I was very disappointed in the show, Rageh seemed rather confused to me and he seemed to be groping around desperately for black children to hold up as examples,

Mehn, this guy no get liver at all. I wonder how many years he'll be sentenced to, considering it's two years for stealing over 80 billion Nairas. This guy should get like 2 two weeks in jail.

Instead of taxing these so called luxury vehicles, why don't they just levy a road tax on everyone? I think that is something desperately needed. The raised revenue will go a long toward raising revenue to fix the roads and other things. The idea of taxing just luxury vehicles is somewhat discriminatory. I think the road tax can be levied the same way it is here. Cars of a certain litre pay more the others. Also the tax might reduce the number of cars on the road.

Mehn, I would really like to see PDP try it in Lagos. That day na de day wey dem go find out what makes pepper hot! Anyway sha, suicide no worry dem, na ordinary shakara dem dey do. Lagos is a definite no go area for them and they know this,

Lol, I found this documentary very amusing, especially Dora Akunyilu, The woman lives on her own planet, she talks such rubbish. I think these Hausas have given her some sort of 'ontoo' to drink,

The BBC hates Nigeria, this is well known but I am still grateful for any chance to hear anything about my country.

Yes I hold a red kpali but I am proud Nigerian. It is not my fault my folks decided to move to Jand. I love Naija and I am going to go back as soon as I can. Just because someone holds a red passport does not mean that they do not love the country.  I have never denied my country and I never will.

Kobojunkie, I am still awaiting a response to my earlier post,

nex:
In the 2003 elections in Lagos, Bola Tinubu of the AD defeated the PDP's Funsho Williams with just about 100,000 votes.

Prior to the 2007 elections, it was clear that there was not another candidate from any party in Lagos that could defeat Funsho Williams and at that time Lagos state was the only state in the hands of Afenifere. If Funsho Williams had been allowed to run for Lagos on the platform of the PDP, where would Afenifere have run to? So they had the man killed and named an avenue in his memory.

Without the murder of Funsho Williams, AC would never have won Lagos. Who knew Fashola when the entire Lagos was screaming Funsho? Even Tinubu was not bold enough to speak negative about Funsho.

So it is very upsetting for anyone to come here and say the PDP could never win Lagos.

All this is history but today, you name me one man or woman that can unseat Fashola, just one! Lagos is terra ferma for AC, there is no hope for PDP in Lagos, everything else is just pipe dreams,

beknown:
The youths of Nigeria can reclaim Nigeria if they say 'NO' to corruption.

The election season is near and many politicians employ youths as thugs. Are Nigerian youths only good for thuggery and gang formation?

Let Nigerian youths wake up from their sleep and face reality:

* Avoid all forms of inducement to engage in political thuggery to help corrupt politicians.
* Avoid politically motivated gangs and hired killers.
* Use your vote wisely.
* Encourage your parents and family members to use their vote wisely.
* Do not vote because you have been given a bag of rice, beans, salt, etc. Vote for your choice of candidate.
* Be ready to expose all forms of election malpractices - use digital cameras and videos to gather evidence. Let the youths use technology to the full to rescue Nigeria from decay.

All these things, also be ready to defend your vote, There is no point voting if you cannot stand up and be counted if that vote is stolen.

Allta:
So in practical terms, what can we do to save our degenerating fatherland? Some sort of unification-of-ideology-and-vision exercise where the Northern youths get aligned or re-aligned with their Southern counterparts?

You know, I am not convinced that Northern youth only want Sharia. You have to know that their so called leaders have witheld formal education from them as a way to stop them from asking the right kinds of questions. No one wants to have his life mapped out for him but a stranger, even the Quran advocates the constant quest for knowledge,

Southern youth are not much better, name one politician that we have held to account? How effective have we been in bring about change?

Kobojunkie:
Bold random words? Now I see you are also into NITPICKING for brownie points!

Ignore your answer? I responded to your answers by making sure to address your post PIECE by PIECE. What did I accuse you of? If you really believe I accused you falsely, speak up about what is it I got wrong rather than continuing this rambling for BROWNIE POINTS.

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with different comprehension levels but the fact that even in this call to rise up, you are willing to deflect blame to others after almost 50 years of evidence to the fact that we have come to DEPEND on the rest of the world for our survival. Most every country, even cuba now puts money aside in each years budget for AFRICA -- yes, they are the babysitters of our dear continent and you sit here BLAMING them for what??

By the way, Your AGREEING with @ROSE actually is reason why I am of the mind that you BLAME THE WEST as well. Posting that you do and then BACKING OFF of it does not change things.

You know, we can dead this back and forth right now, if you can kindly show me where it is I stated that the West was or is to blame for our current afflictions!

mrperfect:
God has solution to this.

So, do we just sit down and do nothing, while we wait for 'God' to descend from heaven and sort the mess out 'Himself'?

Kobojunkie:
And I am sure now that you feel THREATENED when your ideas are QUESTIONED. I posed QUESTIONS and this is what I get in response? lol

The fact that you have to bold random words in your posts say a lot about you! Dude, I answered your question, you chose to ignore my answer and post a rant. You accused me of saying something you inferred from thin air, what is the point of the back and forth? I can see that we are on different comprehension levels, You dig?

mike oscar:
Really, I still wonder why almost every post on NL degenerates into un-healthy debates and worse of all the way a topic  so quickly takes a detour and re-evolves as an ego flexing, finger pointing and  name calling thread beats me. Can't we simple disagree and state why we disagree with others without being cynical or abusive. I see people just shooting down other people's opinion and not bringing anything to the table. There are many of us just reading and thinking how we can also contribute to a good suggestion but when it degenerates into "gang fights" on NL it waters down the who thing. If we don't stay on track we get lost.

Now Please if there is anybody out there who understansds our culture and the mentality of our government and can advise on a strategy/strategies then let's hear them and we can start building up, prayerfully, Tactically, Wisely(we need to engage key stakeholders who can galvanise the populace based on a common platform), we can use the local and international media, the NGOs, Activist etc but it's got to be pretty well organised, articulated and well orchestrated. oh  and non -violent too. Now, I believe there even better ideas on this forum that what I have suggested but we can get opinions together as  A TEAM  agree on the best way to present our case.
I believe there are lot's of people on ground who are also fed-up with the way our succesive regimes have run our country.

Thank you jare, That is what I was hoping for too. I am thinking since the elections are pretty close, there needs to be a political wing on any youth movement. One that will not be allied with any political party, so that as well civil disobedience and marches, we can present our demands to the government and the media in a cohesive manner, We would also need to seek out some honest religious leaders,

Kobojunkie:
THEY prefer the disorder or YOU do? Considering that the same multinationals have had to fork over almost 2 TRILLION Dollars to Africa in the last 40 years or so. Are you sure one cannot put forth the same[b] BLIND ARGUMENT[/b] that you have so far, to support the claim that YOU prefer the disorder because YOU have through the disorder been able to get away with that much money without even lifting a finger to take responsibility for your own destiny in all that time?


Oh!!! Isn't it a shame in itself to state the above? that 140 million people with arms and legs complete on the most part and brains to go with it can continue to live as cowards while your microscopic few continues to enrich themselves. What you come on here to post instead is that the STRANGERS are to blame for it. Have you no shame??

I am satisfied now that you have a problem comprehending ideas and statements that are not spelt out to you like a kindergarten pickin, so I rest my case where you're concerned.

Aloy~Emeka:
How is it their problem that your malaria made them sell more malaria drugs and become richer?. It is your responsibility to take care of your business. You guys should stop looking for who to blame for our problems. We shit and jumped into the shit by our ourselves.

Stop inferring things that are not there, I do not blame the multinational or their countries for our woes. After all our leader created an enabling environment where they are allowed to do as they are wont to do, But, this does not obfuscate the fact they prefer the disorder.

Nigeria is not set up to benefit its everyday citizens, the scales are tipped heavily in favour of the 'microscopic few' who have 'piloted the affairs of the nation' since independence, okay? Until we decide 'enough is enough' the status quo will remain. I am tired of talking about, I need some action now,

blacksta:
No wonder Africa is messed up

No jealous us jor, I am tired of other Africans hating on Nigerians, you no like us, we no like you. Nne, no be by force,

Mehn, see de bile una dey spew, Does all this take away from the fact that the Chisco is doing a good thing or that Fashola is right to commend his good works?

Rosabelle:
Ou forefathers sold our right to our oil and our land to the white man ages ago for mirrors and powder and fine wrappers. Today, people cannot fish in their waters or plant crops in their backyards liek they used to. Or plant herbs that heal their ailments.
Their land is GONE. Sold to white men, whom our government has refused to call to book.
So WHO tell me, Mr Kobojunkie is our government working for? WHO?
Its our country and an interested government would have long since revoked those rights of land, or demanded a clear-up of the spillage going on.
Dont laugh.
I know what Im talking about and Ive see people suffer in a country full of wealth!

I think Kobojunkie has been well and truly spanked! Did you like it dude? Nigeria might not be working for these nation per se but the disfunction and near collapse of the country is beneficial to the multi nationals as well as the ruling class, you cannot deny this,

Rosabelle:


Corporations here or there. Stakeholders here or there. IF . . . .and I say IF in capital letters. IF nigerians decide today that our government work for us and no longer for Americans, it will happen.
Maybe not overnight. ANd maybe not to 90%. But a good 50% will do.
Its OUR country and OUR government.
And we have it in our hands and with our mouths to make that change.
I de go!

I agree 100%. The present Nigerian government has no credibility with its people. It is afraid of confrontation and it is desperate to be seen a regional power, if the youth march, the government will be powerless to act, the cannot turn the army on the people, especially with the world looking on,

Lol, Lagos will never ever vote PDP, I do not know about Kano but AC is assured a fuss free victory in Lagos.

POSAKOSA1:
Maybe if you tell me what you don't understand, I can explain further.

Nah do not worry, it seem that you are hell bent on using business as an example and I am finding it rather tedious,

Moving on,

POSAKOSA1:
@ Afrocynic:

A Nonprofit's end result is different from the end goal of a corporation.

Nonprofits are dependent and accountable to their funders
Corporations simply want to make a profit.


As long as that goverment/society is conducive to their particular business climate corruption does not have to be related unless the "powers in play" expect it.

Dude, I am not going to bother with you, This explanation does not gel with your earlier point. I did not want you to give me a class in 'business practices' I wanted you to flesh out your point about different stake holders and the stake they hold, vis-a-vis Nigeria and its politics, Why is that hard to do?

[/quote][quote author=POSAKOSA1 link=topic=340591.msg4773612#msg4773612 date=1256134411]When discussing change the wrong approach is to parallel children vs. parent.

Precisely! Everybody has a role to play. Let's use the Freedom Rides in South as an example. The young people went to on marches and sit ins, whilst the 'adults' had meeting and fleshed out their points of grievances and worked out how to proceed with the powers that be.

Nigerian youth have been rendered powerless, they have been corrupted and used and abused. It is time we say enough! From Awka to Abeokuta, From Kano to Kafanchan,  It is all the same, no one is better off because he belongs to one ethnic group is better off, if you are not a member of the political elite, you know what I mean!