₦airaland Forum

Nnamdd1:
Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) director of new media, Deji Adeyanju and other Nigerians today, January 13th stagged a peaceful protest at the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) office.

The peaceful rally tagged #OccupyCBN was targeted at the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele whose incompetency in some economic policies has seen Nigeria plugged into recession and of course dollar to naira nearing N500.

See more photos below.

http://www.naijahelm.com/2017/01/nigerians-protest-at-cbn-office-over.html?m=1

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

These people must be joking. Remove minister of finance and minister of planning. two of them are in charge of our economy. CBN is not the one to develop a blueprint that will end recession. We all know what caused this recession. Crashed oil price, JP Morgan and co that pulled their investment from our market, TSA, and wrong policy from minister of finance.

9jakohai:
The problem EFCC has with oga judge is not that he did not touch his salary account....but that he took money from people who had cases before him....which is wrong.

Go and read the article again please.

You should be the one to read the article again. He has another account not linked to BVN. That's the account they described. They only complained that he had not withdrawn from his salary account which lead to the discovery of the second account that is not linked to BVN.

solbil:
i don't so much patience for those who've got low self esteem. You only feel good about yourself if you can claim other people, what a shame!

I still repeat it that anyone who knows the Igbo village in Benue should point it out, failure to do that means you IPOB are just a bunch of deluded people, fact!

I am 100% sure you are neither from igala nor benue.
If u are from benue, have u not heard about etenyi people( community in venue state)?

This land grabber, so there are no indigenous igbos in ado, okpoku and others around there?
Like I said before u are neither from benue nor kogi state.
My friend go and read the history of state creation. Is just like saying there are no indigeneous igbos in kogi or there are no indigeneous igalas in anambra.

Just look at efcc. So not making withdrawal from his salary account Is an offence. For the past six years I have not withdrawn even ten kobo from my salary account.
Hmmmm, I have to withdraw all tomorrow if that's the case.

Finally, ohaneze don wake up. John Nwodo. Junior is the man. Hmmmmm. Pls, nnia don't fall our hands.

Johnnyessence:
and you that's defending them pls what has your generation benefit from them. Upon bombing the pipelines since has Nigerians not move on. Enough of their threatened messages ok. Even d people that's shielding them are tired of them ok. They caused environmental pollution which caused danger to their lives and the generation unborn. Instead of them to protest to their governors that's collecting fat fg allocation, they are here sending threatened messages to the government and the people in the year 2017. If they have been protesting for good and sound education system, it will have been good. If they have been protesting for more industries and factories to be sited in their states to create jobs. No they prove adamant to protest for good things. What they are protesting is peanut that will not last them for any good. They should renew their mind. We are in the new year 2017. No one has any fucking time to listen to them. They should blow pipelines as much as they can. And we will know who will suffer for it.

My friend stop This your sermon. What Nigeria should do stop this is very simple. Restructuring with full resource control will end all these stories. If If this NDA or whatever they call themselves stops militancy, another group will emerge in future.
Vandalising pipelines to me is not the best way to go about it but they don't have another way of drawing the attention of the government other than sabotaging the economy.
FG and NASS can solve this problem in two weeks by adopting and implementing the 2014 CONFAB.

psalmsjob:
And what were we surviving on before that oil was developed before being explored. Atleast you will agree that it wasn't oil money that developed agriculture and if that true then agriculture can be developed without necessarily waiting for oil money.

We are talking about Nigeria and her economy. Agriculture won't sustain naira because of low forex that comes with it. Agriculture will end hunger no doubt about that but this country needs to be industrialised and is not possible with agriculture.

psalmsjob:
You are still reading the old script that's why!

Don't pour water on me is not meant to be said in a public bathroom!

If what you want is not enough, you manage what you have.

Agriculture might not be enough right away but with more development of it and cutting down on cost for now it will eventually sustain the country after all it was the money from agriculture that the oil was developed!

Which oil sector was developed with agriculture? Go back to your history. First oil well, who developed it? Nigeria or shell?. All the oil wells,( except marginal fields) who developed it? Nigeria or multinationals?

psalmsjob:
Recession started during GEJ that's the plain truth! The fall in global oil price compounded the situation and of course the low volume of oil production caused by the militancy.

But that was as far as 2016 was concerned in terms of volume and expected revenue. Now the 2017 budget is not wholly dependent on oil revenue alone neither is the economy going forward will be dependent on it those
days are quickly being replaced by agriculture now you will see the effects soon.

They are living in a fools paradise if they think their self destructive actions will hurt the generality of Nigerians more than it will hurt themselves. The country is moving on and away from dependence on oil. Those were the days of lazy PDP politicians who only knows how to spend without savings or developing alternative revenue sources.

My friend stop deceiving yourself. Do you know how much tax Nigeria get from oil and gas companies?. Do you know how much DPR make from their licences? This country revenue, forex and IGR depend on oil and gas. How much do you think Agricultural produce will generate for the country?
Last year, NLNG paid billions of dollars as tax.
The IGR you are hoping to run the economy with depends on the tax paid by oil and gas companies. 80% of Firs IGR is from oil and gas companies.
So tell me how Nigeria economy is not dependent on oil.

ariesbull:
Countries and regions that have less oil and natural resources are always more development and more sustainable than ones with oil. A closer look at countries like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and many others will be examples hen you place the side by side with Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq and many others. The disparity in development differs. Though, there are few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions like Dubai, Russia and Qatar but most oil producing countries suffer from a malaise known as "Dutch Disease" .

Anambra state is a region that has no oil or little oil compared to a step like Delta, or Edo. Lets look at Anambra state and see why it is more sustainable than most oil producing states.

There are three major cities that drive the economic prosperity of Anambra state; Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka.
Nnewi is the industrial city of Anambra State. Nnewi is home to several indigenous industrial manufacturing companies. Nigeria’s first car manufacturing plant is located at Nnewi. Nigeria’s auto part manufacturing factories are located at Nnewi, the first Nigerian made motorcycle was and is still been produced at Nnewi. There are several number of indigenous industrial products been produced at Nnewi.

Technically, Nnewi is referred to as the ‘Japan of Africa’. One fascinating thing about Nnewi is that most (if not all) of the industrial estates and manufacturing factories located there were built by indigenous efforts and by Nneawi people. Ibeto Group of Companies, Cutix and ADswitch, Uru Industries Ltd, Omata Holdings Ltd, Cento Group of Companies, Coscharis of Companies Group, Innoson Group of Companies, Ebunso Nig. Ltd, John White Industries, Ejiamatu Group of Companies, Chicason Group, Louis Carter Group, etc are all manufacturing companies established by Nnewi people at Nnewi. These indigenous industrialists simply transformed Nnewi into what it has become. Nnewi alone accounts for over 70% of the auto parts manufacturing business in Nigeria. Nnewi has a private sector driven economy.



The indigenous industrial efforts at Nnewi means thousands of jobs for residents and millions in revenue for the state government.


Onitsha is the commercial city of Anambra State, it is gradually also becoming an industrial city too. A number of new manufacturing companies have recently sprang up within the city, making it not only a trade center but also a production center. The Onitsha main market is one of West Africa’s biggest markets and provides opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs and revenue for the state government. Onitsha is a private sector driven economy.
Awka is the state capital of Anambra state. As expected, it is a city mostly funded by state government activities. Awka hosts the government structures, universities, and a pocket of small commercial activities.


Anambra state govt seem to have an efficient civil service that has helped it survive through this period of low federal allocations. Anambra internally generates between N2-3billion Naira monthly. After Ogun State, Anambra recorded the highest improvement in IGR within the past two years.



Anambra has an impressive road network system that makes almost all of its rural communities connected by road. The same applies to electricity distribution. The state also has an impressive system of funding and managing of its basic schools. Secondary school education is subsidized, students pay between N2- 4,000 per term. Public basic education is therefore not free like it is in the Delta. This is a sustainable approach.



Every public secondary school has a made-in-Anambra-Innoson school bus. The waste disposal trucks in the state are made-in-Anambra- Innoson trucks. Some local security vehicles are made-in-Anambra-Innoson vehicles.
Anambra has a ‘community police’ system which it calls ‘vigilante’. This security system is decentralized in such a way that every community has its own team of indigenous security men, managing the security of the community. They are armed and have patrol vans. The vigilante system is more effective than the Nigerian Police system. These security officers are not paid by the communities but by the state government. These set of security officers are more visible than the Nigerian Police officers.



In the government school where I worked, we have a brand new sound proof generator which Peter Obi delivered to the school years back. I am sure the school has never used that generator since it was delivered. We also have two other generators, we only use one of them. The school has also replaced its black boards with white boards and have therefore replaced chalks with markers. The school is a beneficiary of an NCC initiative and therefore has internet access, tens of laptops and desktop computers which it uses to teach its students. Our library has good books and the overall management of the school is commendable. Supervisors show up from state ministry once in a while to assess teachers performance. Its a state owned school.



The youth corpers who passed out of service last month in Anambra state received between 80-140k backlog payment for their service to the state. Surprisingly, while oil rich states like Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom have either slashed state youth corpers allowances by half or even stopped payment, Anambra state early this year increased corpers allowances and paid them all sometime last month before their passing out.



Anambra has an impressive number of indigenous billionaires who are driving their local economy. It is rumored that Anambra state alone has the highest number of billionaires in Nigeria as at today. I do not mean resident billionaires, I mean billionaires by state of origin. You can research this yourself.



On agriculture; there is a group of people called Anam in Anambra state. These people are driving the agricultural revolution in the state. They are as hardworking as the Hausa/Fulani manual workers. Those who know the Hausa/Fulani manual workers in the South will attest to their productive ability to deliver on difficult projects at cheap rates. And they provide cheap labor. In Bayelsa for example, the local Ijaw unskilled workers are complaining about how the Hausa/Fulani manual workers are taking over their manual jobs. These set of people can deliver on any kind of labor work and their prices are unbelievable. Anambra has these kind of people too and they are from the Anam area. The Anam people of Anambra state are predominantly farmers. In terms of agriculture, they are as productive as Northern Nigeria. Farming is their religion and their location along the Niger River gives them an edge over other farming groups in the state. They grow yam, tomato, plantain, rice, cassava, melon, potatoe, and many others. It is rumored that Anambra is now getting close to been self-sufficient in tomato production; thanks to the Anam people. I also hear that Anambra now exports vegetable.


One interesting thing I like about Anambra people is their hustling spirit and the drive to develop their hometowns even without government support. You will be amazed at what individuals and diaspora town unions are doing to develop their communities in Anambra state. A man named Ichue Mike Ezenduka built a 4.2 kilometer road for his community from his personal pocket. Another man named Dr. Godwin Maduka is building a 15 storey specialist Orthopaedic hospital in his hometown, this is outside the number of other projects he has constructed there. An Anambra business man named Authur Eze pays every youth corper serving in his hometown an additional ten thousand Naira monthly from his personal pocket. There are several other interesting efforts by Anambra people that I do not want to mention here. The point is, the rich people of Anambra consider themselves as part of govt and also take social responsibilities, especially as it affects their immediate hometowns.


Anambra state is a sustainable state because, just like Lagos, the economy is not funded by politics of allocation alone which boils down to the civil service. The industrial and commercial activities are what drives the economy and even the politics.


In oil states like Delta and Bayelsa, the bulk of the economy is funded by politics. Asaba for example is a city sustained by government patronage. Yenegoa depends heavily on federal allocations. If civil servants are not paid, the economy (down to the market women) becomes grounded as it has recently become. After churches, the next biggest industry in Yenegoa is hotel.


These hotels are patronized by mostly oil contractors and govt officials, with the grounding of the oil sector which by extension also grounds the govt, the hotel industry has nearly collapsed due to low patronage. In the past, due to free oil money, the govt of Bayelsa employed 'everybody' to work in its civil service as a way of empowerment and wealth creation. Today, the action is no longer sustainable and the decision is difficult to reverse. Today, the civil servants cannot be paid nor sacked. The state is almost grounded. Despite the free oil money that has accrued to the Niger Delta states over the years, the region still suffers from been seen as a sustainable region. Its civil service is fraudulently bogus, its development contracts are ridiculously inflated, its businessmen are administrative based, they rise with an administration and fall when the administration leaves office. Their sources of wealth cannot be sustained because it is based on govt patronage. Akwa Ibom has fantastic public infrastructures but there are no serious internal economic activities to sustain the system. Port Harcourt city of Rivers State is gradually feeling the heat of the oil sector crisis. Port Harcourt industrial economy is oil servicing based. The other economy is funded by politics. With the oil sector in crisis, Port Harcourt is becoming a stagnant city in terms of economic prosperity. IOCs are unable to pay contractors. Contractors are forced to lay off staff to remain afloat. The Onne Port which would have created an alternative economic prosperity for the state is greatly and wrongly tied to the oil & gas sector and is badly affected by federal politics.


While Anambra state is producing and selling indigenous products to the rest of Nigeria and earning exchange to sustain its people and state, most Niger Delta states are still at the level of consumption. This is the big difference.
Recently, a development commission in the Niger Delta needed a client to purchase some plastic products worth over two hundred million Naira. I was directed to find a manufacturer that meets the specification. I could not find any in Port Harcourt or any other Niger Delta state. I ended up recommending Innoson factory at Enugu and another at Lagos. The deal has already been struck. Enugu and Lagos will be patronized for the contract. This is what we are talking about. Enugu, Anambra and Lagos have products to offer Nigeria just like the North is offering in agriculture. What are the Niger Delta states offering the rest of Nigeria to earn more money for its govt?


The future of Nigeria lies not even in agriculture but in manufacturing. This is why I am impressed at what indigenous people are doing at Nnewi and Lagos.
The Niger Delta might have lost its golden opportunity just like other regions of the country due to the resource curse syndrome which comes with free oil money. Anambra is successful because indigenous Anambra people have a natural inclination to succeed by whatever means necessary. A lot still has to be done by the state govt though.


Anambra could have been better if the federal politics was right. Anambra could have been better if the constitution made room for community based govt which they already do practice in some sense. I have seen community unions donate transformers, build public schools, manage hospitals and do many more things in that igbo land. It all shows that there is a sense of responsibility towards home. With a community based govt system in a place like Anambra, development will reach the grassroot. I see a place like Anambra becoming an ideal destination for economic opportunities.
I hope the Niger Delta people will learn a thing or two from the Anambra people soon. Its time to think home in a sustainable manner.


It is time for state govts to pick up the list of imported products into Nigeria and say to themselves, what and what on this list can we replace between now and three years time from our states? What is our comparative advantage?


The Igbos are already trying to overcome the Forex crisis by expanding their local manufacturing base by finding local substitutes. The Igbos are both traders and industrialists. They don't only sell, they also produce. Onitsha and Nnewi is a perfect example of this illustration and Anambra state is simply reaping the benefits from its peoples effort. Everyday you see trucks moving finished goods from Anambra to other parts of Nigeria just like it is done from Lagos state. You hardly see same from most Niger Delta states.


The unitary system that we practice has hampered competition among states for too long. It is becoming clearer now that there will likely be no more free oil money soon. Those like Anambra who have laid the foundation for industrial revolution have nothing to fear. The industrial companies will provide the taxes through which the govt will survive. That is how it should be.
I feel worried for Bayelsa state. I worry for Delta state too. And I pray that the oil sector collapse as soon as possible. That might be the only opportunity for us to start thinking. Not just here in the Delta but in the whole of Nigeria.



https://etimesafrica./2017/01/06/anambra-state-lessons-that-niger-delta-
states-must-learn/#more-3691

111jideofor " a nairalander" wrote this

ABAKALIKI—Ebonyi State government is to establish technology village in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area.

Governor David Umahi  announced this during Umunaga-Ikenegwu Union Day, held at his compound in Uburu.



Umahi, who thanked the people of the union for their strong support to his administration, said the technology village would provide Ebonyi youths, who are technically gifted, to hone their skills. It would give fillip to his administration’s desire to develop the state in all sectors through technology.

He added that with the technology village, the state would become one of the major hubs for inventive activities in the country.

The governor assured the people that the on-going reconstruction of the Amasiri-Okposi-Uburu road would be completed and asphalted this year while the construction of most of the internal roads in Uburu and adjoining communities would commence soon.

Umahi also announced that the construction of water project to serve the entire Uburu and beyond had already started.

He affirmed that his administration was poised to establish rice mill and other industries on the piece of land already acquired by the Ikenegwu union.

The governor     called on the people of Uburu to embark on large scale farming,which he said had become the policy thrust of his administration, adding that mechanized farming would be in vogue in the state.

Earlier,   the interim President of the Umunaga- Ikenegwu Union,Chief Mike Agwu Umahi, had explained that the     occasion was to thank God and celebrate their son, Governor Umahi, whom he said, God   used to enthrone

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/technology-village-underway-ebonyi/

size40:
The Igbo can only achieve Biafra on just one condition, which is to stop laying claim to States and territories that do not belong to them. Any day the Igbos looks at the 5 States in Igboland alone rather than looking at Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa etc. They will get Biafra the next day I mean it. If not, they will protest and cry till Christ comes they won't get it.

Foolish post. 5 states indeed. So igbo land ends in those 5 states of yesterday. This Is not 1967. U think the boundary adjustment your evil people did yesterday Will divide igbo land. Onye ara. Land grabbers.
So ndoki, egbema/ohaji, eche, omuma, anioma are not part of igbo land because they have oil that your people need to survive? Anu ofia.

ImperialYoruba:
Egwu! . Una still dey play cassette for Biafraland

Car cassette mumu

iaatmguy:
At least the country Should be restructured.
We can not continue to live off one part of the country. It doesn't giveway for development of other regions.
Am from the s/w and i pray we practice true federalism.
It will ease pressure of some region, and give way for other parts to harness their resources

True federalism That your hero rejected 50yrs go. No more. Biafra or nothing.

size40:
Also don't forget that Governor Wike is a Core Ikwerre man. It is also on record that the Ikwerres have never, I mean never accepted anything Igbo and their Biafra nonsense including me. We dont need Biafra. If Nigeria is to be divided, the Igbo's should only think about themselves and stop including us. The real Niger Delta and not the political Niger Delta which includes Abia, Imo and Ondo States is big enough to be a country. We rejected Biafra during d civil war and we will continue to do so

Nobody Will add ikwerre to Biafra pls. We are interested only in igboid group in rivers state. In delta, we are only interested in the igbo speaking part. Ibibio, anang, ogoja and efik Will be part of Biafra unless they say otherwise through referendum.
I dont even know why somebody Will add lazy ikwerres and izon into Biafra. Never Will it happen.
Once nnamdi kanu is out, his first broadcast Will shock You because he Will speak only for those group i mentioned earlier.
Finally, stop feeling important bc you have nothing ( human and natural resources)to contribute to This coming Biafra.

Emyogalanya:
izon/ijaws are a disgrace to humanity i:ll kill myself if ijaws become part of biafra

Not all of them but majority of them are That to humanity no doubt.
They wont be part of Biafra but i feel ogoni Will most likely join Biafra if u conduct a referendum there but we dont want

Emyogalanya:
your last question pls supply an answer to it. Why are ur people ijaws not pushing and protesting for a nigeria of ur dreams. Olotu abi na cowardice ? So now cos gej is gone now u want to restructure what happened since 2011 - 2015 as for we , we have always been pro-biafra from time immemorial

Pls tell them my Brother. Restructuring for who if i must ask. For the 3-6 milliions biafrans That died or those That joined hand and massacred them beacuse they wanted restructuring. They now want to go back to what they rejected fifty one years ago.

Let nnamdi kanu come out first and his first broadcast Will surprise the ikwerres, izon and others except the ever reliable ibibio, anang, ogoja, and efik.

vanunu:
If I tell u that I am not ashamed to come from Niger delta, call me a bastard , if this our oil is in the north, will the Fulani's allow us to have even a drop of it. Our people are simply silly. They want to go and eat their vomit.

No restructuring Will take place until we have Biafra. Biafrans at the NASS have taken That stand ok. 3million biafrans death Will not be in vain. We Will vote against it. All of You fighting for resource control must support Biafra first before any other thing. We are not against Nigeria, we want to be who we were before amalgamation. Niger Delta should fight for their own country and we Will support but no to resource control.

victorvezx:
It is only a foolish and stupid person that believes getting Biafra is far easier than getting simple restructuring.

You call it simple restructing after your people rejected aburri agreement. We are waiting at the NASS to vote against it ok. 3million biafrans died beacuse You people said no to resource control . God Will punish any NASS member from Biafra That Will support it.
After Biafra, You people should negotiate with Nigeria for resource control ok. Myopic set of people. As ojukwu told Wiwa' good morning to all of u fighting for resource control". Biafra or nothing. Biafra without ikwerre, izon, oron, urhobo, itsekeiri, Edo and others is my dream country. Biafra of igbo nation, ibibio, anang, efik, ogoja, igala and idoma if they all wish to join is my dream country.

I mentioned igala and idoma because of Wawa people. Ibibio, efik, ogoja and anang because we all suffered during and after Biafra war. Even the 20pounds policy from devilish Awolowo affected them.

Enice:
shwo!!! you also carved out some part of Delta state? come take your time oh. if na joke, stop am! stop am!!

Stop disgracing yourself. States That were created yesterday dont define people. What defines people are language, culture, dressing and food.

Enice:
woosai, you lie. there was no south east before Nigeria but Nigeria before south east. what we had in the south east were small clans with small chiefs called Ezes. even the Obi of Agbor is well know than any of your so called Ezes. check history and be convinced. you cannot give what you don't have. you never had a south east. south east came about because of Nigeria, so rethink that ban ki moon line again. google Catalunya and compare it with Biafra.

Pls who is talking about South East or South South That Alex ekwueme and co created. We are talking about Biafra ok. Pls compare catalunya and Biafra. You are very funny Guy. Nigeria That my grand mother is 2yrs older than.

TonyeBarcanista:
my brother, this issue is simple and clear.

Some of you want Biafra, but our people want restructuring. Why try to lump us into Biafra without our express will? is that cool? THINK BRO.

The will of the people should be supreme and not sentiment of another group!

As for the north resisting restructuring, how long can they resist? Has our people really pushed it? Think.bro...

Tonye, You are not smart. So Niger Deltans( Ijaw, Urobho, itsekeiri and others except the aniomas, ndoki, eche, omuma) want to negotiate for restructuring That the rejected in 60's( Aburri). You people rejected restructuring in 60's and joined to fight Biafra. Now, we the igbos are not after restructuring again, we are for Biafra. Your so called Niger Delta can negotiate with Nigeria for restructuring but bear in mind That we Will vote against That in NASS to teach You minorities lessons.

modath:
Sound it!! Happy New Year.

Tonye, You are not smart. So Niger Deltans( Ijaw, Urobho, itsekeiri and others except the aniomas, ndoki, eche, omuma) want to negotiate for restructuring That the rejected in 60's( Aburri). You people rejected restructuring in 60's and joined to fight Biafra. Now, we the igbos are not after restructuring again, we are for Biafra. Your so called Niger Delta can negotiate with Nigeria for restructuring but bear in mind That we Will vote against That in NASS to teach You minorities lessons.

nonsobaba:
Stop disgracing igbos. Biafra is a ponzi scheme run by mentally disturbed people and hoodlums. It has no future.

Mentally disturbed people indeed. Are u richer, more intelligent or educated than those heading IPOB? For Your information, start thinking about your Nigeria without the biafrans.
Banki-moon said in spain when asked about catalyuan agitation for their own country and i qoute" for You to ask for seperation, their must have been an amalgamation, different culture,and language."
From This banki-moon statement, You Can see That IPOB most likely will have their way.

Ikwerreboy:
We will stop bearing igbo names the day you igbos stop bearing English names.

Stop disgracing yourself. Igbo have their native na names ok unlike ikwerre That have igbo as their language and names.
Left for me, ikwerre should not join Biafra if actualized.

TonyeBarcanista:
Lol this should not come as a surprise at all.

Rivers state (and the entire Niger Delta region) is not agitating for a splinter country, but instead we want a redefined country that serves the interest of the common man, not just a few elitists.

Happy New Year Family

Wike has said his mind. Nobody is forcing any région or tribe to be in Biafra. I am only interested in my anioma, ndoki,and igbanke brothers.
Tonye, when referendum comes majority Will have their way.
Finally, i dont want neither ijaw nor ikwerre in Biafra. If u allow me, i Will add ibibio, anang, ogoja and efik but they Will décide on That.

Below is what a nairalander by name 111jideofor posted.
"Lets look at Anambra state and see why it is more sustainable than most oil producing states.
There are three major cities that drive the economic prosperity of Anambra state; Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka.
Nnewi is the industrial city of Anambra State. Nnewi is home to several indigenous industrial manufacturing companies. Nigeria’s first car manufacturing plant is located at Nnewi. Nigeria’s auto part manufacturing factories are located at Nnewi, the first Nigerian made motorcycle was and is still been produced at Nnewi. There are several number of indigenous industrial products been produced at Nnewi. Technically, Nnewi is referred to as the ‘Japan of Africa’. One fascinating thing about Nnewi is that most (if not all) of the industrial estates and manufacturing factories located there were built by indigenous efforts and by Nnewi people. Ibeto Group of Companies, Cutix and ADswitch, Uru Industries Ltd, Omata Holdings Ltd, Cento Group of Companies, Coscharis of Companies Group, Innoson Group of Companies, Ebunso Nig. Ltd, John White Industries, Ejiamatu Group of Companies, Chicason Group, Louis Carter Group, etc are all manufacturing companies established by Nnewi people at Nnewi. These indigenous industrialists simply transformed Nnewi into what it has become. Nnewi alone accounts for over 70% of the auto parts manufacturing business in Nigeria. Nnewi has a private sector driven economy.
The indigenous industrial efforts at Nnewi means thousands of jobs for residents and millions in revenue for the state government.
Onitsha is the commercial city of Anambra State, it is gradually also becoming an industrial city too. A number of new manufacturing companies have recently sprang up within the city, making it not only a trade center but also a production center. The Onitsha main market is one of West Africa’s biggest markets and provides opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs and revenue for the state government. Onitsha is a private sector driven economy.
Awka is the state capital of Anambra state. As expected, it is a city mostly funded by state government activities. Awka hosts the government structures, universities, and a pocket of small commercial activities.
Anambra state govt seem to have an efficient civil service that has helped it survive through this period of low federal allocations. Anambra internally generates between N2-3billion Naira monthly. After Ogun State, Anambra recorded the highest improvement in IGR within the past two years.
Anambra has an impressive road network system that makes almost all of its rural communities connected by road. The same applies to electricity distribution. The state also has an impressive system of funding and managing of its basic schools. Secondary school education is subsidized, students pay between N2- 4,000 per term. Public basic education is therefore not free like it is in the Delta. This is a sustainable approach.
Every public secondary school has a made-in-Anambra-Innoson school bus. The waste disposal trucks in the state are made-in-Anambra- Innoson trucks. Some local security vehicles are made-in-Anambra-Innoson vehicles.
Anambra has a ‘community police’ system which it calls ‘vigilante’. This security system is decentralized in such a way that every community has its own team of indigenous security men, managing the security of the community. They are armed and have patrol vans. The vigilante system is more effective than the Nigerian Police system. These security officers are not paid by the communities but by the state government. These set of security officers are more visible than the Nigerian Police officers.
In the government school where I worked, we have a brand new sound proof generator which Peter Obi delivered to the school years back. I am sure the school has never used that generator since it was delivered. We also have two other generators, we only use one of them. The school has also replaced its black boards with white boards and have therefore replaced chalks with markers. The school is a beneficiary of an NCC initiative and therefore has internet access, tens of laptops and desktop computers which it uses to teach its students. Our library has good books and the overall management of the school is commendable. Supervisors show up from state ministry once in a while to assess teachers performance. Its a state owned school.
The youth corpers who passed out of service last month in Anambra state received between 80-140k backlog payment for their service to the state. Surprisingly, while oil rich states like Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom have either slashed state youth corpers allowances by half or even stopped payment, Anambra state early this year increased corpers allowances and paid them all sometime last month before their passing out.

Anambra has an impressive number of indigenous billionaires who are driving their local economy. It is rumored that Anambra state alone has the highest number of billionaires in Nigeria as at today. I do not mean resident billionaires, I mean billionaires by state of origin. You can research this yourself.
On agriculture; there is a group of people called Anam in Anambra state. These people are driving the agricultural revolution in the state. They are as hardworking as the Hausa/Fulani manual workers. Those who know the Hausa/Fulani manual workers in the South will attest to their productive ability to deliver on difficult projects at cheap rates. And they provide cheap labor. In Bayelsa for example, the local Ijaw unskilled workers are complaining about how the Hausa/Fulani manual workers are taking over their manual jobs. These set of people can deliver on any kind of labor work and their prices are unbelievable. Anambra has these kind of people too and they are from the Anam area. The Anam people of Anambra state are predominantly farmers. In terms of agriculture, they are as productive as Northern Nigeria. Farming is their religion and their location along the Niger River gives them an edge over other farming groups in the state. They grow yam, tomato, plantain, rice, cassava, melon, potatoe, and many others. It is rumored that Anambra is now getting close to been self-sufficient in tomato production; thanks to the Anam people. I also hear that Anambra now exports vegetable.
One interesting thing I like about Anambra people is their hustling spirit and the drive to develop their hometowns even without government support. You will be amazed at what individuals and diaspora town unions are doing to develop their communities in Anambra state. A man named Ichue Mike Ezenduka built a 4.2 kilometer road for his community from his personal pocket. Another man named Dr. Godwin Maduka is building a 15 storey specialist Orthopaedic hospital in his hometown, this is outside the number of other projects he has constructed there. An Anambra business man named Authur Eze pays every youth corper serving in his hometown an additional ten thousand Naira monthly from his personal pocket. There are several other interesting efforts by Anambra people that I do not want to mention here. The point is, the rich people of Anambra consider themselves as part of govt and also take social responsibilities, especially as it affects their immediate hometowns.
Anambra state is a sustainable state because, just like Lagos, the economy is not funded by politics of allocation alone which boils down to the civil service. The industrial and commercial activities are what drives the economy and even the politics.
In oil states like Delta and Bayelsa, the bulk of the economy is funded by politics. Asaba for example is a city sustained by government patronage. Yenegoa depends heavily on federal allocations. If civil servants are not paid, the economy (down to the market women) becomes grounded as it has recently become. After churches, the next biggest industry in Yenegoa is hotel. These hotels are patronized by mostly oil contractors and govt officials, with the grounding of the oil sector which by extension also grounds the govt, the hotel industry has nearly collapsed due to low patronage. In the past, due to free oil money, the govt of Bayelsa employed 'everybody' to work in its civil service as a way of empowerment and wealth creation. Today, the action is no longer sustainable and the decision is difficult to reverse. Today, the civil servants cannot be paid nor sacked. The state is almost grounded. Despite the free oil money that has accrued to the Niger Delta states over the years, the region still suffers from been seen as a sustainable region. Its civil service is fraudulently bogus, its development contracts are ridiculously inflated, its businessmen are administrative based, they rise with an administration and fall when the administration leaves office. Their sources of wealth cannot be sustained because it is based on govt patronage. Akwa Ibom has fantastic public infrastructures but there are no serious internal economic activities to sustain the system. Port Harcourt city of Rivers State is gradually feeling the heat of the oil sector crisis. Port Harcourt industrial economy is oil servicing based. The other economy is funded by politics. With the oil sector in crisis, Port Harcourt is becoming a stagnant city in terms of economic prosperity. IOCs are unable to pay contractors. Contractors are forced to lay off staff to remain afloat. The Onne Port which would have created an alternative economic prosperity for the state is greatly and wrongly tied to the oil & gas sector and is badly affected by federal politics.
While Anambra state is producing and selling indigenous products to the rest of Nigeria and earning exchange to sustain its people and state, most Niger Delta states are still at the level of consumption. This is the big difference.
Recently, a development commission in the Niger Delta needed a client to purchase some plastic products worth over two hundred million Naira. I was directed to find a manufacturer that meets the specification. I could not find any in Port Harcourt or any other Niger Delta state. I ended up recommending Innoson factory at Enugu and another at Lagos. The deal has already been struck. Enugu and Lagos will be patronized for the contract. This is what we are talking about. Enugu, Anambra and Lagos have products to offer Nigeria just like the North is offering in agriculture. What are the Niger Delta states offering the rest of Nigeria to earn more money for its govt?
The future of Nigeria lies not even in agriculture but in manufacturing. This is why I am impressed at what indigenous people are doing at Nnewi and Lagos.
The Niger Delta might have lost its golden opportunity just like other regions of the country due to the resource curse syndrome which comes with free oil money. Anambra is successful because indigenous Anambra people have a natural inclination to succeed by whatever means necessary. Alot still has to be done by the state govt though.
Anambra could have been better if the federal politics was right. Anambra could have been better if the constitution made room for community based govt which they already do practice in some sense. I have seen community unions donate transformers, build public schools, manage hospitals and do many more things in that Igbo land. It all shows that there is a sense of responsibility towards home. With a community based govt system in a place like Anambra, development will reach the grassroot. I see a place like Anambra becoming an ideal destination for economic opportunities.
I hope the Niger Delta people will learn a thing or two from the Anambra people soon. Its time to think home in a sustainable manner.
It is time for state govts to pick up the list of imported products into Nigeria and say to themselves, what and what on this list can we replace between now and three years time from our states? What is our comparative advantage?
The Igbos are already trying to overcome the Forex crisis by expanding their local manufacturing base by finding local substitutes. The Igbos are both traders and industrialists. They don't only sell, they also produce. Onitsha and Nnewi is a perfect example of this illustration and Anambra state is simply reaping the benefits from its peoples effort. Everyday you see trucks moving finished goods from Anambra to other parts of Nigeria just like it is done from Lagos state. You hardly see same from most Niger Delta states.
The unitary system that we practice has hampered competition among states for too long. It is becoming clearer now that there will likely be no more free oil money soon. Those like Anambra who have laid the foundation for industrial revolution have nothing to fear. The industrial companies will provide the taxes through which the govt will survive. That is how it should be.
I feel worried for Bayelsa state. I worry for Delta state too. And I pray that the oil sector collapse as soon as possible. That might be the only opportunity for us to start thinking. Not just here in the Delta but in the whole of Nigeria."

ON DECEMBER 31, 20165:17 PMIN NEWSCOMMENTS

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURIl

Nigerian Army of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ in the north east on Friday night made a heavy breakthrough when it arrested a Caretaker Chairman of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno state, Alhaji Shettima Lawan Maina for hiding a top Boko Haram Commander (name withheld) in his house at 1000 housing estate along Maiduguri- Damaturu- Kano road. Sources have said.



The incident according to sources living at the same estate with the Chairman did not come to them as a surprise following the capture of Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of insurgents by troops that led to so many of the terrorists escaped to various places for safety.

Mafa Local Government is east and about 40 kilometres drive from Maiduguri the state capital which had witnessed series of deadly attacks by insurgents, before it was liberated by the military early last year.

A resident and neighbours of the LG boss said, the military and some security operatives stormed the house after getting an intelligence report that the top Boko Haram commander had sneaked into the house for safety.

Already the source said, both the top Boko Haram Commander and the Chairman have been detained in a military facility to enable thorough investigation as to how a wanted terrorist will sneak into the house of the Chairman, knowing fully well, that politicians of such caliber do not usually allow access to their house of abode.

When contacted for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Isuku’s phone lines were not reachable, but a top security officer who is not authorized to talk to the press confirmed the incident, stating that “The arrest and capture of the Caretaker Chairman and the wanted boko haram commander took place on Friday night following a tip off”.

Vanguard

Am interested. The state Govt Will help You to achieve This dream. When You are ready, we meet with the political adviser to Gburugburu for state support.

Good luck.

For those asking how to get federal Government pensionable and permanent offer letter.

1. You should have an insider who Will inform you when they are recruiting. Congratulation , If You are lucky and he/she is in management or close to the mgt.

2. You have to know the federal character commissionner representing your state. Google his/her name and look for way to meet him/her. Pray he/she listens to You and if it happens, You have the job.
3. Political office holders can also give You a job.

Good Luck.
Caleboxylic

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the UN, describing the global body as a mere talk club. In a tweet on Monday, Trump, however, said the 193-member body has great potentials. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. “So sad,” Trump said. Donald Trump Trump’s remarks might not be unconnected with Monday’s UN Security Council’s Resolution, which condemned the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. Recall that a statement from Trump on Thursday had asked the U.S. to veto the resolution. “The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed. “As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations. “This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also successfully lobbied Egypt, which proposed the draft resolution, to withdraw it, enlisting the help of Trump to persuade Cairo to drop the bid. Also recall that following the pressure that Trump reportedly put on Egypt, the sponsor of the resolution, Egypt withdrew it on Thursday and the vote was consequently delayed till Friday. However, the resolution was put forward on Friday by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela. However, the Obama’s administration disregarded Trump’s directive and had gone ahead to abstain from voting on the resolution when it finally came up on Friday, drawing criticisms from the president-elect and his team. The 15-member Council adopted the resolution by a vote of 14 in favour and with one abstention – the U.S., which abstained from voting rather than veto the resolution. Trump thereafter threatened that “things will change” at the global international organisation when he assumesthe U.S. presidency from Jan. 20, 2017. The White House had, in a response by Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, Mr Ben Rhodes, cautioned Trump’s and his team, saying asking them to wait till Jan. 20, 2017 and stop meddling in Obama administration’s policies. “On the President-elect, the first thing I’d just say is that there’s one President at a time. “President Obama is the President of the United States until January 20th, and we are taking this action (abstention), of course, as U.S. policy,” he said. Rhodes explained that there was no any communication between the White House and the President-elect or his staff between when Obama made his decision and when the vote took place. “So I’m not aware that President Obama and the President-elect spoke about this, but again, I’m not — President Obama definitely made no reference to that, so I can’t confirm that this hasn’t come up at all, but I’m not aware of any particular conversation they had about this. “We did hear from the President-elect’s team. Again, our position has been there’s one President at a time. “We’re going to make our decision on this and, frankly, believe that it’s important that there’s a principle here that the world understands who is speaking on behalf of the United States until Jan. 20 and who is speaking on behalf of the United States after Jan. 20. “And look, the new team will have every opportunity after Jan. 20, to pursue their own policies, to take different approaches. “I’m certain that they will on any number of issues. “We’re just reflecting the simple principle that I think has guided the President-elect transitions historically. “Which is that there is one President at a time and we’re going to execute our duties until the new team is in place and the new President is inaugurated,” Obama’s aide said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/un-mere-talk-club-trump/

South east governors and NASS members should make this their priority. If FG release the fund, part of it should be used for building of obuaku seaport, speed rail linking abia and IMO and if possible abakaliki and Onitsha.