₦airaland Forum

Its about time they put meters on these taxis sef to remove the effort of haggling.

Like joke, like joke, this Diezani matter don enter voice mail!!

We make too much noise about these things. If they are really serious, by the time undercover cops arrest people at about 20 high profile weddings, people will get the gist and stop.

Funny enough though, many big men have police escorts at these society weddings where they spray money, so.....!!!

emmasege:
Those who know know that the brain behind Nigeria's new (modern) airports was GEJ. His administration conceived, planned, and nearly completed the new airports before PMB's inept administration took over and slowed down the pace of the work.

Conceived yes, but nearly completed absolute No!! PH had barely started before Buhari took over. He could easily have frustrated it but he didn't. Buhari's government is largely incompetent, but let's give credit where its due. Lagos and Abuja were well under way, but at least have still progressed to almost completion under Buhari.

bettercreature:
Its not a rocket science,the price will reduce once Dangote's refinery starts working

Don't get your hopes up. In all liklihood it will go up.

$160mln doesn't seem enough to build a 22 storey skyscraper.

SeverusSnape:
Afenifere are ipob according to Nairaland resident ZOMBIES.

Our question is this: If Obasanjo, Yaradua, Jonathan did not build any infrastructure as claimed by the lifeless nomad in Aso rock, then where did they see the assets they want to sell??.

Don't be brainless. Most of our assets are from way before PDP, because really PDP didn't build much, if any, infrastructure.

How much. This is sweet

This has fabric seats so it can't be an Exl. More likely an Lx or just Ex.

Well said in the article!! Buhari really has lowered the bar ridiculously.

ElChidi:
A responsive leader with empathy. Buhari may not react until after 4 weeks.

If you truly believe that Atiku is genuinely responsive and empathetic and that this has nothing to do with 2019 elections, then I seriously worry for you and it would really show the poor quality of Nigeria's education system.

Reminds me of when I was serving in Abia state when Orji Kalu was about to become governor and people were celebrating in Aba. I asked one chap why he was celebrating. His response was "Kalu go use im money repair our state"

The guy actually thought because the politician was rich, he'd use his personal money to fix Abia state!! And this guy went to school for all intents and purposes!!

I rest my case.

I rw

Is there really a point to free but useless education?

As they say "awoof dey run belle". It sounds good now, but 10 years from now they'd wish they had gone to a private school, when they realise they know nothing and are uncompetitive in the labour market.

With Ekitis revenue and the amount needed for QUALITATIVE education, how it can be sustainably and qualitatively free remains to be seen.

Who are they boboing?

Come back in 4 years and you'll never see any solar manufacturing site.

I seriously doubt the $80bln quoted in this article.

What I remember from previous articles ranged from $5bln to $8bln and nowhere near $80bln.Maybe na typo. But the should sell the damned thing to credible private investors though. Govt has no business in business.

This car is already in Nija na!! How do I know? Its only in Nigeria we paint the kerb black and white!

All the extra enhancements are too much and actually make it look ugly!

segun18:
Madam Oby ,I wish you all the best..Though you will need a monumental Campaign structure to compete against Buhari ...the Clueless one and Atiku...

But we are living witness of how a hitherto dark horse President Macron of France came to power..

I hope we will be able to see a very interesting TV debate ..

Buhari will never show for a debate

My only other reason for voting Buhari might be that if he dies in office during his second term, at least we get Osibanjo, who is better for Nigeria than all the politicians.

Maybe better to vote the 3rd wing and vote Donald Duke. At least that way I voted according to my conscience. If every body did that, Donald Duke might not win, but at least he'll make a statement.

Very good questions by Atiku I must confess!! I supported Buhari in 2015,but it's clear he is absolutely clueless about why to do to take the country forward. He's absolutely clueless in economic policy, has no sensible economic ideology or blueprint and just doesn't feel the pulse of the people.

Having said that, I'm not very convinced Atiku is the better option. I'm sure he can't be worse than Buhari, but can he be better?

cutechioma1:
People keep saying we should look at the bigger picture but the truth of the matter is that things are really difficult and expensive now. You can't find a common #5 biscuit or sweet to buy and the so called #10 ones has been over measured squarely with ruler to make sure you will hate eating it again. Before 2015 golden penny spaghetti sold at #120 could be used as breakfast for my entire family but now the #220 same spaghetti can't even feed 3 of my children and its still called 500g. For those supporting this govt, I don't really know where you buy your stuff or are you blinded by hero worship to see that its not just about being a good leader but also a good manager. Yes the previous administration looted our funds but they were still able to manage our resources that the common was still able to put food on the table. Pls let's not be blinded by heroism and make a better choice that will feed our families.

The thing is though that neither of them managed anything! The increase in cost of living is due to higher exchange rate since we are an import dependent economy, which was caused by reduction in crude prices (and therefore reserves) which is not really in the governments control.

peacengine:
NLC is fcked, they don't even work for the money they want. Instead of asking for reduced fuel price which will bring down the cost of everything, they foolishly ask for salary increment which will lead to inflation and price increases

I don't get! How exactly is the government supposed to reduce petrol price By increasing the already huge amount we pay on subsidy??

nwachi1404:
when they protested against the increase in pump price, Nigerians sabotaged their effort because people were following APC propaganda, since Nigerians accepted the removal of subsidy, NLC can only ask for salary increment.

There is still subsidy in petrol mind you. Heavy one at that!

Ciscogod:
Increase in salary will only add to our problem,

Reduce cost of living and everyone will be happy afterwards

And what's is your strategy for reducing cost of living based on sound economic policy!!

Themandator:
I get angry knowing that some people forced this Dillard on Nigerians just to ruin the good works of PDP thereby enabling highwired rape and robbery of the common purse.

Lifeless threw the economy recession with just one policy: TSA

He wasn't the originator. PDP was. It was not a punishment tool to get at people like Atiku. No . It was a financial leakage management policy .

But lifeless came in and weaponised it.

The entire west was experiencing economic meltdown that demanded that they recall some of their foreign investment to support a reinflation of their home economy. While these guys were pulling out their finances from Nigerian banks , lifeless was ordering the same banks to transfer all government deposit back to CBN.
By the time the venture capitalists pulled out their funds and government took out theie deposit , the banks has no choice but to go after loans defaulter like the oil marketing companies and carry out massive retrenchment. The rest is history.


That was the genesis is our recession

Though Buhari caused the recession, it wasn't caused by TSA. It was due to his stance on forex when the oil price fell. Instead of allowing the naira to devalue, he tried to protect it by restricting supply from CBN, banning products from accessing forex and keep portfolio investors from repatriating their money which caused a spiral effect on the black market rate, caused slowdown in production due to unavailability of forex for critical raw materials etc. Not TSA!!!

BrutusOj:
You sabi book my brother. Atiku is an industrialist, having served in the capacity of a custom boss, he will do us more good than the retired dictator a.k.a herdsman. Nigerians, let' Atikulate for a better Nigeria come 2019

So serving as a customs boss makes you an industrialist??

This is over designed! Don't these celebs look at foreign design magazines? It's not about crowding the living room with all manner of things.

I keep saying that we are not ready to take the bull by the horn in this country and that's partly because our leaders (and even we the followers) are too sentimental, don't have enough knowledge about basic economic and free market policies (that said I don't know it all either) etc.

Whats I would do for Nigeria if I were in charge would be as follows:

Pay the N50k minimum wage and sack about 40% of the workforce to fund it and make the federal civil service work computer based. I'd rather have fewer better motivated, competent and productive staff than more semi illiterate and unproductive staff. Have you gone to a civil service building and see how people just while away time in offices doing nothing!? The Nigerian civil service - federal and state is still in the stone age. Anyone who cannot EFFECTIVELY use a computer needs to be sacked or retired. Of course anyone let go would be paid his dues as appropriate.

Remove subsidy on petrol: A good chunk of the petrol in Nigeria is consumed in Lagos and environs and a good chunk of that again by middle and upper class who can afford it. See the amount of cars dedicated to school runs in Lagos carrying one or two kids to school!! The impact is very visible during summer break - Lagos roads suddenly become freer. Removal of subsidy will go hand in hand with privatization of govt refineries. This will make refineries a place where our younger engineers can work. Savings from current subsidy will go towards making PRIMARY and SECONDARY education free and qualitative - as much as we can afford. ( I find our people are always after free though and not necessarily qualitative).

Increase fees for tertiary education towards improving the quality and make them less dependent on government. Truth is that because of our structure, even those who dont really have the aptitude for university education crave for it. Just go to our universities and engage the boys and girls in conversation! The English (both spoken and written) is terrible, use of logic is poor, cannot argue a point or debate intelligently etc. I make bold to say that perhaps 50-70 % of those in our universities would be better off in technical and vocational colleges. How come Togo and Benin people do the best furniture, POP, Painting, screeding etc Where are our own guys?? Because they never have the patience to learn these things properly! Now some of the better mechanics in Lekki are from Cotonou!! Poor but intelligent people will be supported with scholarships from an education bank, which they will pay back on the principal...no interest!! If tuition is N500k per year i.e N2mln for 4 year course, that is something that can be paid back in 5 years with a decent job in a bank after graduation.

Remove restrictions on electricity pricing. i.e make it cost reflective. Again we say electricity can turn Nigeria around, yet we joke with it. Abuse the DISCO's as much as we like, but the truth is that if the sector does not make more money that it spends, they cannot invest and no bank will loan them money. Yet, I see again that most electricity is used by middle and upper class who have AC's, microwaves, washing machine, toaster, blender, 40" tv, dstv, home theatre, fridge and freezer all in one house!! The VI, Ikoyi, Lekki, Gbagada, Anthony, Yaba crew!! Yet these types of people are able to buy petrol and diesel for generator at circa N120 per kwh!! So why not just pay a cost reflective say N50!! As for the masses, I'd make electricity pricing staggered i.e 0-200kwh@ N27; 201-400kwh@N48 and 401kwh and above@N60....but only for those with modern meters. Everyone else at current N27. That would provide and incentive for DISCO's to install meters and would mean that the rich who use a lot of electricity subsidize the poor who use a little.

I would map out the key roads in Nigeria such as Lagos -Ibadan; Port Harcourt - Enugu; Benin - Shagamu; Abuja - Kaduna; Ibadan - Abuja and others and make the commercial with toll gates. I would concession where the concessionaire pays an upfront fee say N25bln and uses his own money to fix the road and recover via agreed toll fees per car. These are roads that Nigeria absolutely needs to have superbly motorable at all times due to their importance! These roads cannot afford a single pot hole and must we well maintained at all times. While Nigerians will grumble, but the truth is how often do I (or others) go on road trip outside Lagos or their resident cities? Cant remember last time I traveled by road. And compared to what we have now as roads (which are actually death traps), i'd rather pay N1000 toll fee for a spotless road the few times i travel and save my life than a free road that has a high chance of taking my life!!!

For rail, I'd make the NRC only an operator of tracks, but not the actual train services. Let private people come and put their trains on the tracks the same way private people have airlines but government owns the airports. Rail is mostly important for freight and not passenger. For me passenger is a bit of an afterthought after freight and logistics. This is why people say its easier to get a container from China to Nigeria, than to get it from Lagos to Makurdi!

You might notice a common theme from the above involves the private sector. That's because I'm a firm believer that the private sector is 100 times more effective and efficient than public sector. The sooner we put the engine of growth in the hands of the private sector and get away from government incompetence the better for us. Let me give a few examples. Compare the performance, innovation, quality of service etc of the following companies/industries in public and private hands:

Nitel vs MTN/Glo
Nicon Insurance (when it was govt) vs AXA Mansard
ACB bank vs GTB/Zenith
NTA vs Channels
NNPC vs Shell/Exxon
Nigeria Airways vs Aero/Air Peace
Radio Nigeria vs Cool FM/Classic FM
Old Nicon Noga vs Transcorp Hilton
Fertilizer company of Nigeria vs Notore
Eleme petrochemical vs Indorama
Unilag vs Covenant University

The list goes on and on and on and on!! If you want to wait for government services to improve, you will grow old waiting!!

Gkay1:
The first time it was increased from 7k to 18k, the price of everything almost tripled, now the 18k is much more useless than the 7k from before. I could remember vividly cause I was getting ready for uni at that time.


We need to increase purchasing power of the naira not minimum wages

Thats exaggerating quite a bit!!!

Kachikwu has suddenly found his voice again? Where has he been for the past 1 year following the issue with Baru?

And doesn't this country ever announce finished projects? How come we always talk bout what we WILL do and never what we HAVE done

Unsad:
You and the 12 people that liked your post are sick!

No they aren't actually. The problem is that we are fighting the symptom and not the cause by wanting university education to be dirt cheap.

The REALITY is that even if Nigeria is corruption free, providing quality tertiary education for the millions of youth on this country is a daunting task. USA can't do it, neither UK. How then will we do it. Yet we want petrol subsidize and we also want electricity subsidised. Where will the money come from? Yet, we also need funds or roads, Rail, Ports etc.

Theefore, like I said the real fight isn't about the cost of education, its about the amount of the minimum wage. That's where energy should be devoted to.

We cannot continue to look at the past. The point is that even if The Pope becomes president if Nigeria today, he can only start to plot a future for this country based on where we are now - which is already inside a deep hole. And continuing subsidies won't get us out of it. The only subsidy I support is primary education (and possibly secondary) for All children. University is not compulsory and should not be subsidized. Neither should petrol and electricity or anything else for that matter. Getting the wage up is the real issue. A plumber or builder makes more money than a fresh graduate in UK.

How come all our building and pop is now being done by Togo and Benin people? Cos our own people are not learning any trade? We've made that type of work to be for others and not us, even when many people in Nigerian universities today don't really have the aptitude to be there.

And evidence of that can be found in the type of comments we see on social media. People can't argue a point without resulting to insults. It shows the quality of education they have had.