₦airaland Forum

mehn i just had to click on this thread for a laugh

blaqoracle: i can't tell any of the accusation that the igbos are not guilty of.is robbery, rituals, or greed. the Igbo remain culpable in the present state of nigeria. they Were The Ones That Truncated the first republic.

thankgod you made this statement as you have fallen in to a trap.the igbos truncated the first republic abi?you said there are no igbos in delta abi?pray tell where did chukwuma nzeogwu come from?

blaqoracle: mind you there is nothing like igbo in neither delta nor edo. go back and read your history very well. the Igbo said they are from jerusalem, these group of persons never claimed so. i Honestly pity the igbos; the civil war seems to have detached them from their true history. the Most Convenient Way To Refer To there same people(bendel) ibo is for then to be called igbo speaking deltan. for Example, we, nigerians, cannot be called english simply because we speak english, that is why we are called english speaking countries.

'yawn'

Torch1: nwanne! Dalu oo! They only want a region like South-East.

actually in the real sense of it they are wrong to use south east as an example because of the igala found in anambra.they did not mention southwest because they believe ijaws are in ondo state.

N5,000 note: Northern chamber of commerce backs CBN
On September 9, 2012 · In News
9:45 pm
0

BY HENRY UMORU
ABUJA— DESPITE criticisms that have been trailing the proposed introduction of a new N5,000 note by the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Conference of Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture CONSCCIMA, weekend threw its weight behind it.

Speaking with newsmen, Chairman of the Conference, Alhaji Ahmad Rabiu said rather than N5,000 note, it should be N10,000 or N20,000, just as he stressed that cashless society has nothing to do with currency.

Rabiu who noted that the economy of the north has suffered greatly with high level of underdevelopment and the rising wave of organised violence which continues to cripple its economy, said CONSCCIMA was putting in place the second edition of the Northern Nigeria Economic and Investment Summit, NEIS.

Chairman, Conference Of Northern States Chamber Of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture (CONSCCIMA), Malam Ahmad Rabiu

According to him, if any meaningful development must take place in the north, there was the need for a partnership between the public and private sector, lamenting the absence of strong partnership of the Governors of the northern states with the private sector in the 2008 summit which he said created a great challenge in implementing recommendations of the summit.

Rabiu also expressed regret that the region which is inhabited by over 60 per cent of the population and occupies 65 per cent of the country’s landmass is also the region with the poverty ratio of over 70 per cent of the population.

According to him, “statistics that has been released by various experts has it that as at 2008, Northern Nigeria had ownership and control of only three per cent of banking assets in Nigeria, two per cent of insurance assets and 10 per cent of industrial assets.

Out of a total of 602 microfinance bank licences (provisional and final) issued by CBN, northern Nigeria including FCT had 149 or 24.75 per cent.

“In the 2006 UME applications statistics from JAMB, Abia state with a population of 2, 833, 990 had 42, 693 applications to Nigerian universities, while Sokoto state with a population of 3, 696, 999 had only 2, 944 applicants or less than seven per cent of applicants from Abia with a lower population.

“In the agricultural sector which is northern Nigeria’s strongest economic department, experts believe the Sahara Desert is moving southwards at a rate of 0.6 km yearly. This has resulted in a situation where about 35 per cent of land that was cultivatable 50 years ago is now desert in 11 states of northern Nigeria.”

He said that the cumulative effect of such statistics is that the region was no longer in a position to compete economically with other parts of Nigeria, adding, ‘’In fact, the double jeopardy that we currently face is that while our agricultural and solid minerals sectors are not receiving the required investments thereby compromising our future sources of revenue, we are also not modernizing and upgrading our infrastructure including investments in education.”

The Council Chairman disclosed that the conference which comprises of the Chambers of Commerce in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, also expressed dismay at the inability of the private and public sectors in the region to implement the major recommendations reached at the maiden edition of the summit in 2008.

‘’As part of our efforts to promote the private sector-led economic development in northern Nigeria, the Council and members of CONSCCIMA have agreed to organise the second edition of the Northern Nigeria Economic and Investment Summit NEIS to build on the obvious success of and close the observed gaps identified at the first edition.”

He said that the summit is conceptualized to provide a platform for a robust discourse on peace as a recipe for economic growth and development, adding that aside defining the strategic role of the region as a stakeholder in the National Transformation Agenda, the summit will also review the economy of northern Nigeria in the light of current national and global economic trends.

He noted that ‘’the NEIS 2012 is about rebirth, revival and reinvention of the north as a region and how it fits into the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

‘’For any meaningful sustainable development to take place in the region, there must be a strong partnership between the public sector as represented, in this case by the governors of the northern states and the private sector as represented by CONSCCIMA”, he stated, adding that the lack of strong partnership in the 2008 summit created a great challenge in implementing recommendations of the summit.

The summit which will hold in Minna, Niger state between October 15 and 16 would be used to diagnose the socio-economic challenges of the region against existing global realities and consequently develop a blueprint that would lead to the accelerated development of the region

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/n5000-note-northern-chamber-of-commerce-backs-cbn/

ldpele: i had to read over n over,couldnt see any provokin statement,they only gave instance,,except am not seeing or reading wat my ndigbo bros n sisters are readn or seeing.

look at the quote

Benamaisia said the Igbo nation were entirely within the South-East geopolitical zone,

he implies all igbos are within se.i guess then that nzeogwu,achuzia,ralph uwaechue are not igbos and asaba is not an igbo town.

Katsumoto: It will help just like the US right to Self-defense but will noy protect everyone because there will be those who are bound by moral and religious convictions. The Fulani will simply test the waters and target those who are not bearing arms. Similar to what they are doing now. How many Fulani have strayed onto Obasanjo farms?

maybe there is no pathway to there

Acidosis: One of the reasons why I MUST VOTE FOR DAVID MARK come 2015. YES I will vote for him because he is from the north central part of Nigeria.

Ijaw rejects six zonal structure
September 9, 2012 by Allwell Okpi 131 Comments

The Ijaw nation has proposed the restructuring of Nigeria along ethnic lines, rather than the current six geopolitical zonal structure.

The Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress, Joshua Benamaisia, told SUNDAY PUNCH that Ijaw people were spread across six states — Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta, and Ondo — in two geopolitical zones — South-South and South-West.

Benamaisia said the Igbo nation were entirely within the South-East geopolitical zone, there was need for the Ijaw nation to have its own separate territory.

Benamaisia said the prime aspiration of the Ijaw nation was the establishment of true federalism, where every ethnic group would control the resources in its area.

He said the Ijaw nation had suffered injustice under the current structure and would not drop its demand for the abrogation of the Land Use Act, and other laws that removed the rights of the people over their land and natural resources.

He said, “If not that our constitution does not recognise referendum, there would have been a referendum on how the country should be structured. Since that is not possible, a national conference should be convened so that people can decide how they can continue within sovereignty of Nigeria. But the issue is after the national conference, the resolution will still have to be ratified by the National Assembly; that is what the law says.

“If it is in places where the will of the people is respected, then we can be sure that the National Assembly will pass the resolution of the people. But here we cannot be sure of that.”

Benamaisia said the Ijaw nation would keep pushing the right to control their resource until they get it.

He said, ‘We are not interested in all these talk about revenue sharing formula. Our position is total resource control. It is only when people are allowed to control their resources that they would decide what to do with it.

“For instance, if you are driving on the East-West Road, the roads are so bad and we have resources here and it is used to develop other places. We don’t have infrastructure in our place; neither do we have federal presence in our area. So, we need to control our resource. It is our right.”

Supporting Benamaisia, the spokesperson of the Ijaw Republican Assembly, Ankio Briggs, said Nigeria’s federalism was faulty in not recognising the different ethnic nationalities as units.

“It is not that we do not accommodate other ethnic groups. The Ijaw people have suffered much injustice in this country that we are now looking at the country’s structure based on ethnic grouping. The Ijaw people in Ondo State, which is in the South-West, are not strangers. So there is need for them to be associated with Ijaw people in the other states in the South-South,” she said

http://www.punchng.com/news/ijaw-rejects-six-zonal-structure/

ubandire: I doubt if E K Clark is behind these comments credited to him . He should know better. The People of Niger Delta are happy with Jonathan . They are slowly taking over the federal ministries, departments and agencies.

how does this address infrastructure issues in the south south?

FSU: Apparently he is not a good business man. He should go talk to small Igbo boys in Alaba on how to grow a business.

hehe na trouble you dey look for.

are you sure jimoh is a real businessman though?i mean
he bought NICON and the enterprise died; he bought Air Nigeria and it died; he also bought Dele Giwa's Newswatch news magazine and it is also dying.

remembering this thread and seeing what is going on with nigerian airways just cracks me up

afam4eva: For not knowing the difference between Afam and Afang soup, it's obvious your brain if ull of Afang soup and Akpu. I guess you're another ACN apologist. If you can provide facts about the employment you keep ranting about then shove your azz down your azz.

donedy: I think their right of having a land for their cattle to graze upon should be granted. We should stop being myopic and should try focusing on the real issue. All of us here are talking about they should accept modernity by sending their kids to school or stop rearing. Let me ask, most Nigerians are now complaining on the price increase for a loaf of bread in Lagos. If the Fulani herdsmen should accept modernity, how much do you think a pound of meat will cost at the market: There will be high increase in Kwashiokor due to inability for a common man to afford meat.

It's high time we started thinking like educated people, like we claimed to be , instead of having ethnic sentiments overshadow our rational thoughts.

what is wrong in grazing lands in the north?

adaifeoma: nna aa were ya nwayoo.you are defending dis fulanis,do you hav interest in there catles

he is a northerner.

ndu_chucks: Not really, I think areas which could be designated "Fulani Reservations" which carves out the natural paths of the Fulani herdsmen from North to South, East to West, would be beneficial to all if done properly. This could actually prevent you people from provoking the nomads to dagger you, since they have no other means to convince you to be respectful of their way of life.

rubbish talk as usual.

ndu_chucks: Make your case for the trading zone and lets see if it would benefit Nigeria. In the meantime lets focus on the topic at hand, but if you open a thread on this trading zone of yours, I'll read the thread.

@asha 80, many of the Fulani vs locals conflicts are triggered by urban sprawling. Please read up some of the conflicts in say, Jos area.

only god knows what an indigenous plateau man would make of your statement.i guess the territories are only the north.

ndu_chucks: Your view of the problem at hand is quite simplistic. A lasting solution would probably need to contain the designation of certain federal land which would cut across several state, as "Herding Zone". This kind of zoning will go a long way in addressing the Fulani/Local conflicts which have increased nation-wide lately. It would keep you people away from encroaching on Fulani historical territories and check your sprawling.

what do you mean by this?

karl max: [b]When they where in position of power why didnt they search for oil then in the North.[/b]I thought they struck oil in sokoto?.bunch of greedy losers

mehn i tire o.

i do not understand why acf is accusing this fg for being 'slow'in searching for oil in the north.for a long time presidents of northern extraction ruled this country and they did not deem it fit search for oil in the north so why blame the present fg?

FG slow in search for oil -ACF
Our Reporter September 8, 2012 12 Comments »
FG slow in search for oil -ACF

From NOAH EBIJE, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has accused the Federal Government of nonchalant attitude towards oil exploration in the North.

Rising from its National Executive Council and Board of Trustees meeting at the weekend, ACF said if the Federal Government should show commitment to exploring the oil found in the region, every part of the country would boast of enough oil, particularly, for domestic purposes.

In a communiqué issued and signed at the end of the meeting by the Publicity Secretary of the forum, Anthony Sani, the group also asked the Federal Government to allow public debate on constitution review to accommodate all shades of opinion.

The communiqué reads in part: “The meetings regretted that oil exploration proceeds at snail speed in northern Nigeria. In view of recent discoveries of crude oil in areas of similar geological character with northern Nigeria, the meeting reiterates its call on Federal Government to expedite action on oil exploration and let the oil flow from all corners of the federation.

“The meetings went over the debates brought about by the efforts to review the constitution, to amend some Acts of the National Assembly and the revenue sharing formula.

“The meetings also noted the concern expressed by the presidency that further discussions of certain issues should stop. It was the considered view of the meetings that, given the fact that progress comes from change through robust debates, and the fact that democracy is a contest of ideas and reasons, the debates should continue, provided it is conducted with decorum and sense of patriotism.

“The meetings considered the festering security challenges posed by the untoward activities of Boko Haram and ethno-religious crises in some states of the North. It also discussed the insecurity caused by the spate of kidnappings and communal clashes across the South-East, those posed by widespread armed robberies in South-West as well as militant activism and oil bunkering in South-South.

“The meetings also considered the efforts of the federal and state governments that are directed at addressing the security challenges. The meetings agreed that the endorsement of dialogues by the Federal Government was praiseworthy. Also appreciated were the efforts of northern state governors in setting up the panel to help find lasting solution to the prevailing security challenges and enjoined the people to support the government’s action. The meetings urged members of the Boko Haram to embrace the offer of dialogue by laying down their arms. Enough is enough.

“However, the meetings deplored the tendency of some Nigerians to call into question the settled issue of our co-existence as one united country. The meetings considered expressions of ethnic nationalism as manifested by recent declaration of autonomy and hoisting of flags and anthems by some groups as unhelpful.

“This is because actions, which promote cleavages along ethnic and religious lines, are unlikely to inspire national solidarity that must go with our relative pluralism.

“It is against such backdrop that the meetings praised the actions of some religious leaders who took it upon themselves to promote tolerance and accommodation between faiths through interdenominational breaking of fast, as hosted by Archbishop John Onaiyekan at Abuja, Archbishop Kaigama in Jos and many others, who stood guard at places of worship while members of opposite religion prayed.

“The meetings, therefore, called on all religious, political as well as community leaders to follow suit for collective good.

“The meetings expressed concern with the current state of affairs in the New Nigerian Development Company, NNDC, and urged Northern state governments to look into it.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/acf-slams-fg-for-slow-search-for-oil-in-north/

Olodostein: Mahn, Kano international and local airport are going through thorough rehabilitation daily. When it is completed, it will be the best in the country. Roads and dam projects are being built steadily.

SE comes last in GEJ's mind, he knows how to massage our ego's and walk freely without doing anything concrete; like closing whole markets to honor ojukwu and co and we are happy.

How many Gigantic projects are going on in SE ? Yet, our people are already endorsing him.

But he is trying to win Northerners minds by all means. Learn to play politics Okoro's. Hahahaha.

have you been to enugu airport lately?which roads are being built in kano?moreover the minister of aviation is from south east so your point is mute.

[quote author=the sherriff][/quote]odili better candidate?u must be high on expired cocaine.

Kobojunkie: I am guessing and you weren't?

What did Mbakwe really do? I lived in that state during that period and it was about the very same things. . . touch the roads, touch some schools . . . move things around a bit . . and once he was gone . . decay showed up almost immediately. Some people in that state are sick and tired of the leaders who come in to paint buildings different colors, re-tar roads, do one or two other things and expect praises galore.

Don't ever tell me of roads in Imo state. Don't you dare . . . . it is the same problem across all of Nigeria. Roads, yet millions of dollars are spent each year on the same road projects. Abeg please, put a sock in it if you have nothing substantial to add to this. I expected you to counter the part where I stated that many of these leaders come in to paint things new colors without really putting in place policies and development that last longer than their own term.

Jonathan complains of Nigerians. Okorocha complains, even Orji complains. They should all shut up and do the job they are hired to do. Let their work speak for them. They all need to shut up a bit more and do their freaking jobs.

alright tell me the tangible things you mean.also are you telling me that is mbakwe's fault that people that came after him could not maintain what he did?

as the fg wants to upgrade the enugu airport they also have fully repair enugu onisha and enugu ph highways as most people landing in this airport are likely to use the aformentioned roads

afam4eva: Ojukwu also complained of the same thing when he was in charge of eastern Nigeria. I think it's about Igbos and not just Imolites. The individualistic nature of Igbo makes it possible for almost everyone to have different views on an issue and thereby making it very difficult to come to a consensus. It's different from what is obtained in the North and to a lesser extent in the south-west where Pseudo-Authoritarianism is a virtue. The problem that comes with governing Ndi-Igbo is just a typical problem that exists in any over-democratic and egalitarian society.

what you just said reminds me of what peter obi faced when he first governor.

how is the terrain of the area?is the place marshy?

Kobojunkie: um . . balderdash . . . it could simply be that people are no longer impressed with road projects and painting of streets and the lot which they have come to be used to. What they want now is tangible changes that, even after he is gone, they can state will remain.

you are just guessing.i know that state well.mbakwe also witnessed similar stuff although reduced.only if you know the mentality of the average civil servant and politician there.which roads?you are talking as if imo state really has roads.if you do not know roads are one the things lacking in the state.if the people like let them not get really enterpreneurial(excluding orlu and ideato folks)

Terrorism: Telecoms firms threaten to cut off North
September 7, 2012 by Dayo Oketola 15 Comments
Terrorism, telecoms firms threaten to cut off North

Major providers of mobile telephony in the country have threatened to withdraw their services from the North.

They hinged their threat on the spate of attacks on base stations which has made them to lose a whopping N1.03bn.

The umbrella body of the telecoms operators, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, on Thursday said its members were losing too much to the development and may close shop if it became too dangerous to operate in the region.

The major GSM providers – MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat – are all members of ALTON.

Gunmen, also on Thursday reportedly bombed a base station belonging to an indigenous telecoms infrastructure company, IHS Nigeria, in Kano, barely 24 hours after the attack on several base stations in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.

The Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, IHS, Mr. Gbenga Onakomaiya, who confirmed the development to our correspondent on Thursday, said one of the company’s base stations was bombed in Borno on Wednesday while another one was bombed in Kano on Thursday morning.

Officials of ALTON put the number of base stations that had been attacked in the north at 26.

President of ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, who decried the situation, said “If it becomes impossible to continue to do business in the face of rising attacks on telecoms sites, operators will naturally suspend operations in the area.

“This is because beyond base stations, these elements may begin to target telecoms operators‘ offices and data centres among other key infrastructure. That is why it is important that the situation is curtailed before it gets to that point.

“During military coups, dissidents attack newspaper and television houses as well as telecommunications centres and infrastructure to destabilise the government. This is not different from what we are experiencing now as people’s phones can’t be reached in the affected areas.”

The ALTON president said an emergency meeting of the association’s executives had been called for today (Friday) to decide on what next to do.

A Chief Executive Officer of one of the GSM companies, who asked not to be named, said though the company was not contemplating suspending its operations as of now, it could be forced to do so if the situation persisted.

“We are not contemplating the withdrawal of services as of today but if the situation continues like this in the next four to five days, we may have to withdraw service. But we are not contemplating that now,” he said.

Telecoms infrastructure analysts in the country have put the average cost of a base station at $250,000, which amounts to N39.47m at an exchange rate of N157.91 to a dollar as at Thursday.

With 26 base stations already destroyed, an investment of N1.03bn might have gone down the drain.

Contrary to the belief that only MTN, Airtel and Glo were affected, the Executive Secretary, ALTON, Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga, said the attack affected all telecoms operators, including Multilinks and Helios Tower.

When contacted, an official of Helios Tower, said that about three of the company’s base stations were also affected.

He confirmed the report that services had been disrupted in the affected areas as engineers had been finding it difficult to give adequate reports of the situation because they couldn’t be reached.

Onokomaiya, who attested to the seriousness of the situation, said, “One of our base stations was bombed in Borno on Wednesday and another was bombed in Kano this morning (Thursday). The base station was completely burnt out. The generators, shelter and equipment are gone. The only things remaining now are the towers and we have to assess them to ascertain their integrity.”

A formal report sent by Multilinks to ALTON, which was made available to our correspondent, confimed that Multilinks base stations located at Mainok Village, Borno and another one at Abari Village in Damaturu, were damaged.

The report said, “Reports obtained from our personnel indicate that extremists numbering about 40 stormed the area at about 22:20 Hrs on 05/09/2012 and immediately launched an attack on the MTN cell site. After the attack on MTN cell site, the extremists proceeded to our site which is close to the MTN site to launch a similar attack.

“As at this (Thursday) morning, the extent of damage done to the site is yet to be ascertained as contact with the security men is yet to be established after the attack.

“ Also our Abari site in Damaturu which is not on air was reportedly attacked also. Details remain sketchy as those resident in the area were all indoors.”

Stakeholders urged the Federal Government to wade into the issue to ensure that the safety of lives of operators’ personnel and agents was assured.

Key stakeholders had called on the Federal Government to bestow on ICT infrastructure a Critical National Security Infrastructure pending the time appropriate laws would be enacted to strengthen it.

“The time has come for the passing into law of the National Security Bill pending in the National Assembly which must be made all-embracing by giving telecoms industry a critical mention in the bill,” a former Executive Vice- Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, said.

http://www.punchng.com/news/terrorism-telecoms-firms-threaten-to-cut-off-north/

ekt_bear: Isn't that what every oil-producing community does?

Makes ridiculous demands, asking that the oil company employs indigenes regardless of their qualifications?

From Delta State, to Bayelsa, to Rivers. That is how oil-producing communities behave.

You all have mocked Shell and other oil companies when they were on the other end.

But now that it is Orient oil, then suddenly the demand becomes unreasonable.

Let us try to be consistent.

the difference is the area the orient refinery is located in in anambra and not kogi.some oil wells are from kogi but the refinery itself in anambra.have you heard the community in which the refinery is located making such demands?

this is the reason i say if this situation begins to get out of hand the orient should simply stop drilling crude from disputed areas and focus on the oil wells in anambra so that others can drill their own.