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Shameful five minutes to Nigeria's busiest airport

WHEN on July 16, 2003, Dickson Lee, a Briton arrived in Nigeria via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport for the first time to take up an employment with an oil firm, he was prepared for the culture shock that would assault his eyes and mind, but what he never prepared for was his forceful abduction for five days by armed men on the international gateway's road by Mafoluku.


Although his kidnappers were waiting for any prey, Lee immediately became an instant target once the black Sportage SUV he was in was spotted. But the kidnap was easy for Lee's abductors due to deplorable state of the road, particularly before Junction bus stop. At the spot, the three-lane road has been collapsed to one, with more than half of the section waterlogged and riddled with car-wrecking potholes.


But if the Briton's kidnap did not draw concerned authorities' attention to the five minutes of shame that is Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, the downpour days after the incident, which has left a sour taste in the mouth of motorists and commuters, and exposed the ineptitude of government, has made it one of the most dreaded roads in Lagos, especially at night.


Weeks after a banquet was held at Aso Rock, the seat of government in Abuja to unveil a new tourism brand identity tagged Fascinating Nigeria, there is absolutely nothing fascinating about the nation's window to the world, the first five minutes from the Lagos international airport.


To anyone visiting Nigeria, either for the first time or as a returnee, coming in through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos is the top choice ahead of Abuja and Port-Harcourt. Whether going to a five-star hotel in Ikoyi or wherever in Lagos metropolis, you can't avoid passing through this eyesore of a road.


This is definitely not how other countries in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa welcome visitors. The road to and from Nigeria's busiest international airport, accounting for more than half of her foreign flights and the first point of contact with the country's road infrastructure by any visitor, is reflective of the shamelessness of the country's leaders and their lack of pride in the Nigeria Project.


This is more disturbing when one draws a parallel with one's home. No matter how unpleasant, dirty, poor or untidy one's home might be, for most people with any self-worth, the sitting room or "parlour", which visitors and guests see, is usually tidied up, arranged pristinely and presented nicely to give a good impression. This is notwithstanding the state of the rest of the house.


Successive governments have lost all sense of shame that they cannot see the eyesore that this stretch of less than five kilometres of road has become. Airport roads, in even the very poor countries, are well tarred, pothole-free, lined with trees and well lit with functional streetlamps. The Lagos airport road is anything but all of the above.


This, unfortunately, is another symptom of the cantankerous relationship between the federal and state governments. The Lagos government was keen and willing to carry out the necessary repair works on the road to enable the state showcase the nation's crown jewel, but because of seemingly rigid federal laws, the state is grossly disempowered to take any action.


The state governor, Babatunde Fashola, in a recent chat with newsmen, blamed the deplorable state of the airport road on politics. According to him, both the road and the airport belong to the Federal Government.


He said the state government's failure to either rehabilitate or reconstruct the road was due to issues that had been politicized. The governor regretted his decision not to modernise the 4.2km road when the idea first struck him, recalling that his plan was to expand it, provide service lanes and introduce tolls for motorists who opted to use the fast lanes.


It is not only Fashola, who is bemoaning the shame that is the airport road. Former Cross Rivers State Governor, Donald Duke and a group of local and foreign businessmen have also added their voice to the lamentation. They spoke at the Nigerian Tourism Investors Forum held in Lagos.


Duke said it would be difficult for Nigeria as a country to attract foreign investors and tourists if nothing was done about the poor state of the Lagos airport. "The first thing that hits anyone who comes to Nigeria is the airport. The airports are in a very bad state. After leaving the airport, the next thing is the traffic gridlock, and then the environment. So if we as a nation want to improve the tourism sector, we have to touch everything, including the airport.


"We are not asking for a Dubai-type of airport in Lagos. All we want is a clean and decent environment. Nigerians are the most welcoming and most friendly people in the world, but the unpleasant sight of petrol tankers, garages, police checkpoints, potholes and uncultivated trees and bushes cast us in bad light."

SOURCE: http://odili.net/news/source/2013/aug/1/8.html

How Okonjo-Iweala, Nenadi Usman, others supervised abuse of over N1 trillion special funds

The Finance Minister would not respond to PREMIUM TIMES enquiry.
Last week Thursday in Beijing, China, President Goodluck Jonathan detailed, in an interview with Chinese television, CCTV, why Nigeria must immediately move away from its perilous dependence on oil and gas as the nation’s sole economic mainstay.
The president said the increasing utilization of shale gas and other alternative sources of energy by the United States and other advanced oil importing nations of the world was a matter of concern for Nigeria.
“That is why we have to increase the pace of diversifying our economy and move our country away from dependence on the oil and gas industry,” the president told his host. “We must work towards greater industrialization; add more value to our agricultural products; develop our solid minerals potentials and other sectors of our economy before the time comes when crude oil may no longer be dominant as a global source of energy.”
How the president intends to achieve that new goal is unclear. But while the clearly familiar declaration offered a promising new zeal, it also shoved back to focus what has turned out a grand deception by Nigeria’s top economists and officials – one that lasted 10 years and left three of the nation’s most vital savings badly depleted.
The ruse, noted in a recent Senate investigation, has been about officials publicly highlighting why Nigeria must grow other sectors in a rapidly unpredictable global economic order. Yet, behind the scenes, same officials consistently ruin the very mechanisms that should help achieve that goal.
One account needed to address the president’s concern is the Natural Resources Account, created to hold savings needed for the speedy development of solid mineral sector. But over a span of 10 years, those savings have been frittered by the same officials who publicly promote its usefulness, the Senate report stated.
Mr. Jonathan and his two predecessors, Olusegun Obasanjo and Umar Yar’Adua, bear responsibilities for the violation. The report showed how N1.06 trillion stipulated for crucial economic needs, was signed off illegally by the three administrations to fund what lawmakers called “frivolities” that stretched from a phantom new mall to religious pilgrimage.
Six finance ministers superintended over those abuses. Of the 44 total illicit withdrawals between them, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current finance minister and one of Nigeria’s finest public officials, renowned for her advocacy for disciplined spending, approved at least 22, PREMIUM TIMES can report.
Her immediate successor, Nenadi Usman, now a senator, approved 10; their predecessor, Adamu Ciroma, approved seven, while the remaining three ministers -Shamsudeen Usman (current National Planning minister), Mansur Muhtar (current alternate Executive Director, World Bank) and Olusegun Aganga (current Trade and Investment minister) shared the remaining five.
The funds, illegally drawn by each of the ministers, were meant to help accelerate the exploration for natural resources to quicken the diversification of national economic base from oil and gas, as well as provide a cushion against the volatility of oil prices at the international market. A third account was to help address environmental emergencies.
But the report showed how, for years, the ministers assured a distrustful public how passionate the government was about achieving those goals while behind closed doors, they abused the opportunities for realizing those objectives.
Since the findings were first made public, PREMIUM TIMES has sought clarifications on how the disbursements were made and has repeatedly pressed the finance minister, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who presided over the largest withdrawals between her first and second tours of office, for clarification to no avail.
Separately, correspondents have put forward enquiries to the minister as well as her spokesperson, Paul Nwabuikwu, at media briefings, through emailed enquiries and telephone calls, asking why she failed to bar the leakages and instead took the lead furthering it.
On each occasion, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala and Mr. Nwabuikwu have dismissed the concerns as foregone cases, wondering why the media bothers itself with reopening closed chapters.
Mrs. Nenadi Usman, who took over from Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala in the dying days of the Obasanjo administration did not also comment. Calls to her official telephone line were not answered.
The two accounts -Development of Natural Resources Account and Stabilization Account- are stipulated by federal laws to serve clear purposes of helping to develop alternative funding sources for the government, and cushioning the country’s economy against shocks arising from international oil price volatility.
The first account is fed by three percent proceeds from oil sales and the second receives 0.72 percent. The third account, named Derivation and Ecology Account, receives 1.46 percent.
For the Natural Resources Account, N701.5 billion was signed off between 2002 and 2012, while N149.9 billion of the Ecology fund was abused within the same period, the Senate said in its report. N191.8 billion of the Stabilization fund was also spent arbitrarily on unintended expenditure.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala took unparalleled lead in misusing the funds. Of the total 16 times the biggest withdrawals were made from the Natural Resources Account, the minister oversaw nine; Mrs. Nenadi Usman four; their predecessor and successors, Adamu Ciroma, Shamsudeen Usman, Olusegun Aganga, one apiece.
For the Stabilization Account, the current finance minister illegally signed off nine out of 12, one during her second stint in 2011. Mr. Aganga approved two and Mrs. Nenadi Usman did one.
The minister only took a beating in the disbursement of the Ecology Fund with Mr. Ciroma signing six; Mrs. Usman five; Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala four and Messrs Shamsudeen and Muhtar approving one apiece.
How they secretly sliced the savings
While the illicit disbursement, which only came to light after the presentation of the Senate report in April, flourished, the sectors they were meant to serve, faced continuing shortages that stifled accelerated search for minerals capable of providing reasonable diversification from oil and gas.
For instance, official funding to the Ministry of Mines and Steel (the supposed beneficiary for the fund) has remained abysmal between the 10 year period, only managing to reach an all time high of N15.95 billion in 2012. Current allocation to the sector stands at N13.95 billion.
By contrast, if the N701.5 billion abused under the Natural Resources Funds had been ploughed into the sector within the decade, each year, an average of N70 billion would have been spent on aggressive exploration activities.
But under the six ministers, the three accounts took the form of a slush account for arbitrarily offsetting spendings not covered by the government.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala reached for the savings early in her stint under former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, as she delivered her first illegal approval just nine days after taking office in July 2003, with the signing off of N1.3 billion from the Natural Resources Account as loan to derivation escrow account.
A year later, the minister approved N50 billion loan to finance the 2004 budget deficit and approved N3.8 billion as loan to the Foreign Affairs ministry for the purchase of a Chancery in Tokyo, Japan.
In the months and years that followed, the withdrawals exacerbated. When the ministry of power sought to clear the benefits of its disengaged staff in 2005, N5.7 billion was issued from that account. When aviation ministry needed an intervention fund in 2006, Mrs. Usman approved N11 billion.
Ahead of the two ministers, funds from the triple account were also abused by Mr. Ciroma, who drew N200million from the Ecology Account to Mr. Obasanjo’s “Presidential Research and Communication Unit”.
Mrs. Usman also approved N750 million for an “Abuja mall”, while Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala voted out N16.3 billion from the Ecology funds as loan to the Directorate of Pilgrim Affairs. PREMIUM TIMES’ finding has shown the mall does not exist anywhere.
The loans have not been repaid, the Senate said. Yet, in a manner that would depict Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s penchant for abusing those savings, she ordered the release of N5 billion to the Aviation ministry, Identity Management Commission and the National Judicial Council, again just weeks after returning to the job in 2011.

SOURCE: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/141347-how-okonjo-iweala-nenadi-usman-others-supervised-abuse-of-over-n1-trillion-special-funds.html

Pedagogue: Is anyone surprised?

They said the construction will take 4 years...so,let's be calm!

Year 1( 2013-2014)- Road reconstruction ceremony plus ecological,geological, geographical,physical and spiritual survey

Year 2 (2014-2015) - Political 'construction' ....Heavy presence of more than 700 construction equipments on d road -And of course, GEJ would be declaring to all and sundry that the Lagos - Ibadan expressway is being constructed

Year 3 (2015-2016) - Serious contractual dispute-that will lead to the withdrawal of those over 700 equipments...In fact, newspapers will be awash with news that 'Julius Berger and RCC are threatening to take FG to court because of d failure of govt to provide funds'

Year 4 (2016-2017) - Contract with Julius Berger and RCC cancelled...re awarded to XYZ company for 799 billion naira!!!!

Oldu Boy, you take style wicked oh!!!

But on a more serious note, as a fellow Nigerian, I totally understand why and where your frustration and scepticism stems from.

This selfsame GEJ in 2010 promised 3 greenfield refineries in Kogi, Bayelsa and Lagos; I doubt if a blade of grass has been cut in any of the proposed sites since then.

Ajaokuta steel industry has been a fantasy for the past 30 years!

Even the goal post for gas flaring which will greatly enhance the economy and the environment of the host communities remains but a fleeting illusion (apologies to Bob Marley).

I just pray and hope we don't revisit your post in 4 years time to hail you as a prophet!!!

@ All Legal Eagles and those well versed in the workings of the Nigerian parliament and constitution.

What happens next? Is this now law or are there further procedures/hurdles to clear?

@ All Legal Eagles and those well versed in the workings of the Nigerian parliament and constitution.

What happens next? Is this now law or are there further procedures/hurdles to clear?

@ All

This is not new, Bukola Saraki ex-governor of Kwara State sent a similar bill to Kwara State House of Assembly in the twilight of his career. The House passed/assented to the bill at first sitting.

51 years after, no solution yet to gas flaring in Nigeria

International oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria’s multi-billion dollar oil and gas industry will continue to flare gas for a longer time than expected, according to investigations by Daily independent at the weekend.

Department of Petroleum resources (DPR), the industry’s regulator, checks revealed, is rendered incompetent to effect the zero gas flaring in the industry, which began over 50 years ago as foot dragging on the deadline for the air and environmental pollution by the government since 1969 continues.

DPR’s Director, George Osahon, who declared on a sideline of a forum in Lagos that 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas is flared into the Niger Delta air on daily basis, regrets that the punishment of N525 ($3.5) fine per 1000 cubic feet of gas flared remains a mere slap in the wrist.

Even then, the DPR only recently increased the penalty from N10 to $3.5 per 1000 standard cubic feet (scf).

The IOCs however faulted the Federal government for the continued flaring of gas over the past 50 years, blaming the non-commitment of the 60 per cent counterpart funding of the project by the government, as reason for delay in ending the circle.

As if to confirm the allegation, the Federal Government has kept mute on the new deadline for zero gas flaring after IOCs were unable to, for the umpteenth time, meet the January 2013 deadline.

For example, Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel for ExxonMobil, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, in a keynote address at an oil and gas dispute resolution workshop recently in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, blamed government for the menace.

Osahon also said recently that government is losing N286 billion ($1.7885 billion) per year to gas flaring in the Nigeria.

Represented by Deputy Director Gas, DPR, Oliver Okparaojiako, Osahon said passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would speed up efforts to curb the environmental pollution.

The DPR helmsman put oil reserves in Nigeria as at the first quarter of 2013 at 36.2 billion barrels while the reserves for gas also stands the country out.

“The Nigeria’s gas reserves endowment may be up to 600 trillion cubic feet (tcf).

“The country is often described as large gas haven with little oil,” he said, adding that “the PIB is here to ensure proper hamonisation of the gas potentials.

IOCs however faulted the Federal government of Nigeria over the continuous cases of gas flaring for the past Fifty years, blaming the non-commitment of the 60% counterpart funding of th project by the government as reason for delay in ending the circle of gas flaring in Nigeria.

[b]SOURCE[/b]http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/07/51-years-after-no-solution-yet-to-gas-flaring-in-nigeria/

APC, answer to Nigeria’s problems — Aregbesola

JULY 14, 2013 BY BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA 59 COMMENTS



The Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, during his courtesy visit to the Punch Place, addressed several issues, including governance, the controversial Nigeria Governors’ Forum election and the All Progressives Congress. BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA was there.

Do you have a blueprint that has direct bearing with the needs of the people, since you claim to follow Obafemi Awolowo’s steps?

I have always been like this, but it is unfortunate that when you are still at the periphery there won’t be so much attention on you compared to when you are in the centre. It is interesting how I built myself to where I am. I’ve been in the foretaste of political affairs in Lagos State since 1993. Only close watchers, who were part of the process, knew that I was there until I came to the open in 1999. I was critical to the 1999 expression but many did not know. From 1999 to 2007, close watchers could see that I was not an ordinary person there. That is about that; but what defined everything from the day I caught my political consciousness is that human beings must be at the focus of all efforts in any society. Whenever I see or sense any effort that will not benefit man, I criticise it. I am pro-people in every sense; I don’t like attempts to suppress or manipulate man. As for our blueprint, it is in public domain. If there are governors that came into service with clear outline of programmes, policies and objectives, I’m one of them. We completed the blueprint of our government in 2005. It was published same year. When you get a copy, you can do an assessment to see if we are indeed keeping faith with our programmes. The blueprint could be classified into six action points. We realised that the greatest challenge of our people was poverty. So, our first assignment was to banish poverty, unemployment and hunger. Others are education, healthy living and communal harmony. These are the things that our state needs to get back to the root of development. On Awolowo, I must say that I patterned my programmes after his ‘People’s Republic.’ What I did before going into politics was to ensure I could recite the content. I regurgitated it whenever I needed to make reference to it. I do that in my own words. ‘People’s Republic’ is my manifesto. I have tried to adapt it to the current realities and it remains our driving force in governance.

Will some of your programmes be sustainable when another government comes into power?

Our programmes are sustainable. If they looked unsustainable initially, they become more sustainable as we go on. I will reel out some of them. When we assumed office, Osun was one of the states grappling with poverty and unemployment. After one year in office, Osun has the least unemployment index in Nigeria – three per cent. You may not like our approach and query it but it has multifaceted results. Crime rate is very low in the state today. Poverty rate is low. I quote a report published in The PUNCH last September that Niger State had the lowest poverty index while it said Osun came second. On the other hand, the report said Osun had the least unemployment ahead of Niger. This, the report said, put Osun State as the best model of governance. I think the publication quoted the National Bureau of Statistics. We said in our plan that 100 days into our administration, we will engage 20,000 unemployed youths – whether with Senior Secondary Certificate, National Diploma, Higher National Diploma or degree. We advertised and asked interested people to apply. We got over 250,000 applications. That means we only employed eight per cent of the total applicants, but it doused some social tension of years of unemployment and hopelessness. When we came in, there was no budget provision for that. So, we had to look for money to run it until we got a budget for it. I’m happy with what we have done and how the society has received it. We intend legislating on it to make it an enduring legacy. Even if we don’t legislate on it; no government can reverse it. It is impossible, it has become a pattern. When the World Bank heard of the programme, it came to study it and some weeks ago it allocated to Nigeria $300m (N48.4bn) out of which Osun was given $18m (N2.9bn) to do a nationwide youth empowerment scheme in line with the state’s initiative. Even if you were afraid of our capability to sustain it, consider the fact that the World Bank has endorsed and adopted it.

Before our time, public primary and secondary schools had lost their relevance. No human being with any form of decency wanted their children there, particularly primary schools. How did we come to that conclusion?

I was born and bred in Ikare, which was remote and far from civilisation, but then, the schools were the centre of education. They had the best buildings, it made attending school attractive and popular. As we moved away from colonial rule, symbols of government sent their children to such schools but that is no longer the case. We realised that the formative stage of life was critical, so we thought of getting the children protein-rich nutrition through the school system. We checked our budget and recruited the best hands to do this. It is also providing opportunities for farmers, who are being patronised for this project. As of today, we feed 254,000 pupils every school day. Twice a week, they have chicken, once they eat eggs, meaning that at least 254,000 eggs are supplied every week. Because the state does not have the capacity to supply so much now, we get from Kwara State and Oyo, among others. We buy 3,000 whole chickens ever week, which are being supplied by farmers in the state. Already, poultry is a popular venture in Osun. People are laughing to the bank. We slaughter 35 cows every week for the children. We also serve fish but I don’t have the statistics. What I know is that that has revived an ailing fishery project in the state. The fish is catfish — Obokun, our children now eat Obokun. We also learnt from nutrition experts that cocoyam has more nutrition that yam tuber, so we have also added it to their menu. I doubt how any administration, no matter how uncaring it is, will stop these programmes. Another area to address is the state’s revenue. I’m opposed to envelope economy. And that is one of the reasons I am very vocal on regional integration. We must join hands to campaign for the restructuring of the architecture of governance which consumes so much of the nation’s wealth as against the actual needs of the people. If all governments could do half of what Osun is doing, the spate of crime and violence will drastically reduce. I look at sustainability from that point of view; it is to make people happy. I do say that the main assignment of any responsible government is the development of human capacity for self sustenance and good life. That explains the philosophy behind our people-oriented programmes and we are not ready to change.

There is this crave among governors to either buy private jets or register one in the name of a private airline or go on chartered flights. It has been speculated that Osun also got beaten by that bug despite the fact that it is considered to be poor. How true is it that the state bought a helicopter? If true, why?

We need to first answer some salient questions. What was the need for that intervention? The first is security considerations. We are into an arrangement on the helicopter idea but it is with the highest sense of responsibility to our people. The interest we want to promote led us into it even though we are no longer using it for the purpose it was meant because of disappointments in some quarters. Osun is not too big but the travel time from the capital, where the elite security operatives are and other locations in the state takes a minimum of between one and half to two and half hours. Talk of Ora, Ife Odan, Ifetedo, Ikire, Owena and so on. Should there be an emergency, we should be able to support, rescue and intervene immediately. We won’t shout this on the house top but we had earlier invested in an alert system in respect to any threat to our people anywhere in the state. We thought that a helicopter would complement the rescue efforts by removing the impediment that the roads constitute when there is an emergency. But it is unfortunate that we met a brick wall, we have abandoned it. We would appreciate if the Federal Government could release the sort code for our use and safety of our people. Anybody could be in an emergency. We have the numbers to call on the ambulances. It is unfortunate that we have limited ourselves by the poverty we have around us. We must take a leap to be free. Awolowo used helicopter to campaign in the 50s.

But it was with his money…

Were Awolowo to be alive today, he will be on the side of efficiency. As for Aregbesola, it won’t be an issue, but I’m saying that efficiency requires that you use whatever it requires to bring out the best in you. If I were to choose between commuting on this road (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway) for at times seven to eight hours and using a helicopter, I will choose the latter. If there is a need for it and I have the helicopter to use, I will use it. Between 25 to 30 minutes I will arrive here and return to Osun to attend to other state issues. The cost of time lost is more that the cost of the helicopter in reality. Nobody owns helicopter for flamboyant use. The demand for helicopter usage on commercial basis is significant. So, if the state invests in it, it will recoup its money. Honestly speaking, I do not see any frivolity in owning a helicopter. Two months ago, we lost 14 people in an accident despite the fact that there was an ambulance point close to the scene of the accident. This happened because nobody had the presence of mind to get help. Those people could have been rescued with an alert system in place that will get information to the ambulance point or the helicopter. My response is this, let’s not allow poverty to overwhelm us, let’s raise the bar in public interest.

If we had limited ourselves, we won’t be doing one-tenth of what we are doing today. Even with the scarce resources, we are pushing through because we are bold, courageous and uncompromising. When we came in, we had to borrow N1bn to pay staff salary. This was when the total salary of the workers was less than N2bn. Today, by simply re-engineering the economy of the state, I signed N3bn wage bill for June up from N2.6bn. How, you may ask? We don’t spend our excess crude allocation. We warehouse it since it is not regular. It has turned out good, we use it to pay staff salary so we can pay workers on the 25th of every month. Even the state allocation comes two weeks or more in arrears, so you can’t plan salaries with it. A government must use what it has to get what his people need without making excuses based on poverty.

For instance, we want to eradicate malaria in Osun State. We inherited 500,000 incidences of malaria, but through aggressive sanitation efforts we have reduced it to 200,000 according to the national agency. But we actually want to eradicate it., It is possible. That is why we are now pursuing a programme with the Cubans to regularly fumigate the environment.

Why Cubans and not Nigerians?

The technology is developed there. It is as simple as that. They have the technology for mass elimination of mosquitoes and its lava through aerial fumigation.

But you should have worked towards acquiring that technology…

We don’t have that luxury of time. The tenure of a governor is four years.

I hope it works especially stopping the mosquitoes from flying into Osun from Ondo State…

If we periodically fumigate, the number of mosquitoes will reduce drastically. You will still have the effect of places where that is not done, but that is why I talk about regional integration. The same applies to the issue of crime control and security, it will eliminate opportunistic attacks and it will cost less when we do it together. But as long as there is no consensus, those of us who value human life and its quality will not wait.

Your allocation from the federation account is N3.06bn; N3bn goes into salaries, wages and pension, among other expenses, and you are building an airport. I think Osun doesn’t need an airport seeing the paltry income.

That is to you, not to me and luckily I am the governor. I’m not just building airport I am also building three roads. It is important to address this issue for clarity. The airports in Britain are many and the distance between them don’t justify their existence. We are building the economy of Osun – the commercial hub of Nigeria.

Can you mention any airport in the UK that is being run by government?

The problem is that our economy is not privately-run. We must understand that. Everything depends on government. If we fail to understand it, we will be mired. N4trn is the entire amount that about 160 million Nigerians are looking up to. That means N30, 000 per person. What can such amount of money do? That is why Osun wants its active adults to be able to earn their sustenance and that is a challenge to government in our kind of economy. An airport is important in Osun because of the hopeless conditions of our roads, which are unattractive to investors. It is an incentive to investors in terms of saving time. Besides, Osun is the cradle of 33 million Yoruba people in the world. The Ooni of Ife said 100 million but I don’t want to go into that. I have been to virtually everywhere they are in the Diaspora to see them. They value opportunity and that is why if you can bottle the sand of Ife and take it to Brazil, you would be mobbed. Don’t ask me why it is so. It’s just their attachment, just as I am attached to visiting Mecca every year. With 200,000 foreign visitors to Osun in a year, spending $1,000 (N161, ooo) will amortise the N4bn investment in the airport in four years. That comes to $200m (N32.2bn) and this will also bring more employment. You didn’t query what I am spending on the roads because that to you is development. That is why we said at the beginning that we will run an unusual government. I met a proposal of N9bn for the airport but was able to get N4bn proposal based on consultation with the Air force. This should be a problem because the first airstrip in West Africa was in Osun because it is the highest plateau. We are funding it in a flexible manner. I have changed the character of contracting in Nigeria and I wish other states follow me. What I do is to issue promissory notes to my contractors, they take it to any financial institution that will take it from them and I pay within my small budget over a period – two, three or four years, depending on the agreement. I am getting results. I met an Internally Generated Revenue of N200m but it is now more than N1bn. The airport is a cargo airport and if my programme on agriculture succeeds, I can send my goods to anywhere in the world. It is beyond flippant and ego boosting, we want to transform our people from the miserable condition we met them.

Why is it that the governors of the South-West are just carrying along with whatever is done at the centre despite laying claim to federalism in line with Awolowo’s philosophy?

We have been in court since I assumed office on Sovereign Wealth and nothing has happened. The same affects the point you have raised. But it is not true that we are not doing anything on it. If you say we are not pushing federalism enough, tell us how to do it. My aggressive push has earned me accusation. In 100 days in office, I rebranded the state with an informal name. I said the name of our state is State of Osun. They said I wanted to secede, but they could not show us how the constitution had been infringed upon. Then they started shouting again that I was promoting jihad, have discontinued with state security apparatus and that I was a jihadist. On federalism, I should get a medal.

How can Nigerians have confidence in governors who could not organise Nigeria Governors’ Forum election?

If I slap you now and this place is in chaos, do you blame the management of the company for the action? That was what happened, some people deliberately wanted to discredit an organised process. Let’s call the spade what it is. We all know what happened but we are timid to say it. You cannot use a deliberate smear to castigate all governors. We all know the interest of who was behind what happened. If we are not courageous enough to apportion blame let’s be quiet. I rest my case.

You once said that the Yoruba should trace the meaning of that word, have you been able to find the meaning?

You know the meaning of Aregbesola but Yoruba is a foreign name imposed on us by the Lander brothers. The only name without meaning in Yoruba is that name we call ourselves – Yoruba. I am neither a sociologist nor an historian. Let our historians help us. Yorubas in the Diaspora don’t call themselves by that name. We are a people with a huge air of freedom that is why every ethnic group has a unique name. We are a people with a strong identity.

What are you doing to address power in line with making the state a commercial hub?

How far can I go, what power do I have? We were the first to pioneer independent power project in Nigeria. We broke rules to do it as a commissioner working with Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu). I don’t work on where I can’t get immediate results. Power supply will not be an issue if the Federal Government takes gas pipeline issue as important as it takes roads. These are the posers we should give to the FG. We are flaring gas that should have been channelled to states.

But you can build small hydro plants for your state…

I am doing that. I will commission them soon.

What are the prospects of the APC? Who are the possible candidates?

APC is a mission to redeem Nigeria, a platform for sacrifice. Asiwaju has said that we are ready to make the sacrifice that will salvage Nigeria. It is not about personality but about the future of Nigeria. We cannot say who the candidates will be because the party has not picked anyone yet. The PDP has the majority in the governors’ forum for instance, because people had to decide where they wanted to go. The question the media needs to ask Governor Jonah Jang is, ‘Is 16 greater than 19?’ We knew what the result was. What happened shows you what will happen in 2015. In APC, for the first time, you have the best of the North coming together with the best of the South and that is what has been lacking in Nigerian politics.

[b]SOURCE: [/b]http://www.punchng.com/news/apc-answer-to-nigerias-problems-aregbesola/

Osun begins N2bn Ede water works rehabilitation

Osun State government has awarded and kicked-off a N2 billion full rehabilitation work of Ede Water Works, which supplies over 70 per cent of the water needs of the state.
The government has also set aside another N2.2 billion in the 2013 budget to replace obsolete pipes across the state.
Addressing a press conference signalling the commencement of the rehabilitation project, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs Tawa Williams, said the rehabilitation work would be “wide-ranging and ultimately revamp the water works and transform it into what it was originally.” Upon full completion,the project will not only meet the water requirements of a great majority of citizens of the state, it will also present a scenic and environmental beauty, as well as a tourist attraction.She also said arrangements were also near completion for the Iraqi government, through its embassy in Nigeria, to complement the rehabilitation process with the ultimate plan of exporting badly needed treated bottled water to Iraq.
She emphasised that the Aregbesola administration was committing such a prodigious sum to water “to exterminate the challenge of water-borne diseases which arise essentially because of the absence of effective and efficient portable water. “We cannot be talking about sound health care delivery system without adequate water supply for the citizenry,” she said.
She said that the project, which would be completed within 12 months would raise the production capacity of the water works to close to 100 per cent from the present 30 per cent
She added that the government was in the process of procuring 100 water tankers that would be supplying water to various houses in the state as a bridging process before the completion of the water works and with a view to also frontally solving water needs in other areas of the state.
In the rehabilitation process, Williams said that two additional low-lift pump would be installed with twelve high-lift pump, while additional 1500KVA generator has now been provided for the low-lift station, just as 1000KVA generator has also been provided for the low-lift.
William further stated that there will be exhaustive repairs of four-unit clarifiers and other ancilliary equipment and rehabilitation of the 16 filter beds.
She added: “We are also supplying more dozing pumps and brand new Chlorinators with all pipe work meticulously rehabilitated.
“There will also be rejigging of all civil structure, beautification of the environment and regeneration of the staff quarters to elevate staff morale. The restructuring of the power generation system and the modernisation of the power sub-station will include the procurement of two additional transformer and procurement of 33KV outdoor switchgear system”, She said.
The Special Adviser reiterated that the government is on course in its strategy to ensure that every resident in the state enjoy access to potable water supply.
With a view to ensure the sustainability of the investment being made by the government on potable water supply, William appealed to citizens of the state to partner with the government by paying their water rates promptly to sustain government’s water initiatives.
SOURCE: http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/en/news/item/16338-osun-begins-n2bn-ede-water-works-rehabilitation.html

What is your own consign?

The Holy Ghost is hoovering in this service.

I was on my kneels praying.

Look inside the cumpboard.

chi4ik: Super Eagle did very well, I never espected them to play lik dis; ball possession was 56-44. We did well but pls WE NEED osaze, Uche, joel Obi, Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke. Above all, I mess moses $ Emenike

Chinedu wetin? Please, this guy does not cut the mustard.

@ OP

Thanks for creating this thread.

I hope you don't mind this small correction to your detailed article. It is "sitter" and NOT "seater" when a player fails to convert a chance/ball that is...well, just sitting there, waiting/begging to get kicked into the net.

@ Madam-oringo

I hail from Osun State and would be delighted if this project is completed as described.

However, it really isn't about competition, I am overjoyed whenever I hear positive news from ANY part of Nigeria. For example, I pray for the Geometric power station in Aba to become a reality, as it will boost the economy of the South East in particular and Nigeria in general.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!

East-West road to be completed Dec 2014 – FG
News Friday, June 7, 2013



*The East-West Road … not constructed without design, due process and financial plan.

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BY CHRIS OCHAYI

ABUJA-The Federal Government, Thursday, reassured Nigerians, particularly people of the Niger Delta, that the N347 billion East West highway dualisation projects would be completed and deliver by December 2014.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe, who stated this while featuring at the 2013 ministerial press briefing to showcase the achievements of his ministry under the mid-term report, disclosed that some sections of the road had been completed and were due for handing over by the contractors.

He added that the 338 kilometres dual carriageway was very strategic and would be completed at the stipulated time.

Orubebe, who said the government was committed to the development of the Niger Delta, sought the cooperation, support and collaboration of stakeholders in the region to nip in the bud pockets of threats and kidnapping of expatriates and excessive demands by communities from contractors which often result in work stoppage.

Orubebe explained that because of the importance of the road to the people, some other on-going projects had been sacrificed to ensure the completion date was realised.


The minister, who noted that the ministry had spent over N200 billion on executions of variousdevelopment projects in the last three years, spreading across the nine states that made up the Niger Delta, noted, however, that N1 trillion was required to accelerate developments in the region.

He said: "The dualisation of the East-West road which commenced in 2006 and was taken over by the ministry at 10 percent completion in 2010, has now reached over 52 percent completion.

Orubebe said, “With the level of commitment by this administration, the road would be completed by December, 2014. Some sections of the road have been completed and are due for handing over by the contractors."

Other road projects being handled by the ministry, according to Oruebebe, include the reconstruction of 35.15 kilometre Owerri-Elele road, in Imo and Rivers states, reconstruction of Benin-Abraka road in Edo and Delta states and constructions of 12 other roads spread across the nine states.

Enumerating challenges confronting the ministry, Orubebe said: "The ministry is faced with budgetary constraints in the implementation of its projects and programmes.

"The terrain in most parts of the region makes infrastructural development a difficult task. High costs of projects and technology required for infrastructure projects as a result of the terrain constitute a serious challenge."

On security, he said, "even though youth restiveness and insecurity in the region have abated, intermittent disruption of projects by the youths and excessive demands on contractors by communities and individuals and incidences of kidnapping still constitute serious problems; this situation has often led to work stoppages.

Threat of insecurity, kidnapping of expatriates

On the housing scheme, Orubebe said "the construction of 360 units housing, of 40 units of two and three bedroom bungalows in each of the nine states has reached about 65 percent completion," adding, "some of the housing units will be commissioned and allocated to the beneficiaries before the end of this year."

On job creation, he said "it should be noted that the work on the dualisation of the East West road; remediation, reclamation and rehabilitation work; construction of Skills Acquisition Centres; and building of housing units by the ministry in the nine states of the Niger Delta have created jobs for over 9,000 people in the region."

He said also that the ministry was embarking on the establishment of industrial parks in the Niger Delta, adding that "the industrial parks, which will consist of 5,000 Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, will manufacture and produce goods and services in over 100 different sectors/areas of the economy and will be a replica of the model in Ankara, Turkey.

"The Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Ostim of Turkey for the establishment of industrial parks in Niger Delta region. The technical work on the project has commenced and some states in the region have indicated interest."

SOURCE: http://odili.net/news/source/2013/jun/7/345.html

@ OoduaDefence,

I beg to disagree........there is hardly any difference across Nigeria.

Can you name me just one village, town or city in the South West or any other part of Nigeria that has 24/7 functional, running, potable pipe-borne water for all its residents?

Remember, water is a resource we all need on daily basis, to wash, clean, cook and drink!!

I humbly rest my case.

What connection if any, do the Freemasons have with Reformed Ogboni Fraternity and any other types of Ogboni?

THE political whirlwind blowing the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, became more ferocious on Monday with the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party suspending him from the party.

The PDP said Amaechi would remain suspended until an 11-man panel set up to probe his “sins” submited its report. Chief Joe Gadzama (SAN), an Adamawa State indigene like the National Chairman of the party, Bamangar Tukur, chairs the investigative panel.

Coming in the wake of the controversial outcome of Friday’s election of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Amaechi said he was being victimised by federal powers and that he feared for the safety of his life.

He asked the people of his state to pray for him not to fall into the hands of “desperate people at the federal level.”

‘I fear for my life’

“The way these people at the federal level are desperate, they may come after my life; so when you pray, remember to pray for me to remain alive. Now, you see political witch-hunt. It is so ridiculous; my party must rise above political witch-hunt,” the governor said during an interactive session with the youths of the state.

He said the PDP gave him no fair hearing and that his suspension by the party was politically-motivated.

Amaechi defied the order of the PDP to run for a second term as chairman of the NGF and reportedly defeated a coalition of PDP’s governors who queued behind Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, believed to be the candidate of the Presidency.

Hours after Amaechi was declared the winner, the PDP governors and few collaborators from other parties announced their rejection of the Rivers governor’s victory, claiming that they recognised Jang as the winner.

Currently, there are two factions within the NGF.

Why we suspended Amaechi

The PDP NWC on Monday announced the suspension of Amaechi “for violating Article 58 1 (b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP Constitution following his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State Executive Committee to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja, said the decision to suspend the governor was taken after an emergency meeting by members of the NWC.

He said the NWC at the meeting, considered a petition written by the Rivers State chapter of the party against the governor for violating some sections of the party’s constitution.

These sections of the party’s constitution read, “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the party shall have power to discipline any member who (b) says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt; (c ) disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party; (h) engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party; (m) fails, refuses or neglects to treat a petition, complaints or appeal timeously.”

Metuh said the NWC derived the powers to suspend the governor from various sections of the party’s constitution.

He said, “The NWC after preliminary hearing, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b) hereby suspends the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as a member of the PDP and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the party.

“This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels within the party.”



Panel members

Metuh said Amaechi’s suspension would remain until Gadzama panel submitted its report.

Members of the panel included the National Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Victor Kwon; Inalegwu Onche, Friday Nwosu, Udorji Amedu and Ola Kukuyi.

Others are Wakil Mohammed, Yusuf Jangwe, Bola Doherty, Tanimu Adamson and Anicho Okoro.

No time limit was given to the committee to submit its report.

Metuh said that at the end of the investigation, the governor would be re-admitted into the party.

“If at the end of the day, the panel clears him, the party’s constitution had been tried, tested and is working. We have not come to say he is wrong or he should be destroyed,” Metuh said.

But Amaechi faulted his suspension, saying he had nothing to do with the suspension of Obio/Akpor Local Government chairman over which he was being suspended.

He pointed out that the NWC of the PDP met around 7am on Monday and took a decision to suspend him for allegedly failing to rescind the decision of the State House of Assembly on the suspension of the council chairman.

Amaechi said, “Who has power to suspend Obio/Akpor council? The governor did not suspend Obio/Akpor council, I hope you know. My power is to dissolve and remit it to the House of Assembly, but I have not done that yet. What the Assembly has said is ‘we are investigating corruption’. Then the party says we should not investigate corruption. Is that fair?”



Split in PDP NWC

The Amaechi’s suspension has reportedly split the PDP NWC members with some kicking against the decision to suspend the governor.

Sources among the NWC members said some of the members disagreed on the reason for the action, saying that it could be termed to mean that the party was taking sides in the NGF election.

A PDP NWC source said, “We felt that it was wrong for the party to take that action now, when we all knew that the party did not support his emergence as the chairman of the NGF.

“Apart from that, we also felt that the reason for the suspension, which is because of the dissolution of a local government, is under the control of the State House of Assembly.

“Even though we know that governors have influence on the activities of the state houses of assembly, we should also pretend that there is the separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic.

“We should not be seen to be encouraging other arms of government to force their opinion on the other.

“But unfortunately, such genuine arguments did not prevail at the meeting and those with might had their way.”

Metuh however tried to defend most of the matters raised by the NWC member, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity.

He said, “We know that there is the separation of powers and we concede that, but on this particular issue, a lawful organ of the party, that is a state chapter of the party, issued directive to a member of the party who is a governor and who is supposed to be the leader of the party, the constitution expects the governor to obey a lawful constitutional organ of the party and at least make presentation or listen to what we are saying.”

Asked if this was the first time a local government would be dissolved in the country in any of the states being controlled by the PDP, Metuh said this would be the first time such an action would happen since the present NWC came into office.

He said he was not concerned about what would have happened in the past before the assumption of office of the NWC members.

Metuh also denied that the result of the just concluded NGF had anything to do with the suspension.

Northern govs to leave PDP?

In their reaction to the suspension on Monday, northern governors on the platform of the PDP were said to be considering leaving the party because of what they considered as “the narrowing of democratic options.”

Some of them, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH on Monday that the alleged intolerance in the PDP was disheartening.

An aide to one of the governors in the region confided in one of our correspondents, in Abuja, that consultations on how to respond to the suspension of Rivers State were underway.

The source said, “We saw this coming and we have begun consultations.

“This is politics; there are National Working Committee members who are with us. We built this party from the scratch and we cannot be shoved aside.

“It is either they allow true democracy to prevail or we seek our political fortunes elsewhere. Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), there are other platforms available today.

According to the source, it would be fool-hardy for any governor to come out at this time to openly disagree with the party.

He said, “My boss and his colleagues are also happy that at least Nigerians at home and abroad see what is happening.

“No matter how much the PDP wants to conceal it, everybody knows that Amaechi is being victimised for daring to stand for and win the governors’ forum election.

“Amaechi’s suspension is meant to scare those who support him. Northern governors are aware that his problem stems from his perceived support for the emergence of a northern candidate for the 2015 elections.”

[b]SOURCE:[/b]http://www.punchng.com/news/my-life-in-danger-amaechi-cries-out/

Please, does anyone have news about Skye Shelter Fund?

My members and I eat Indian hemp -Pastor arrested for kidnapping
Thursday, May 16, 2013




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By NGOZI UWUJARE, Ibadan


A Pastor of a Pentecostal Church fingered for alleged kidnapping shocked detectives, as he was also arrested with bundle of Indian hemp. General overseer of Divine Justice Church, Owerri, Imo State, Pastor Clement Ezeigbo, who is currently cooling his heels in the police Anti Kidnap Unit of the state police command, told the police: "I don't know anything about kidnapping but I am the owner of the Indian hemp (Igbo) but the good thing is that I don't smoke it but I use it to prepare my food. I enjoy eating food prepared with Indian hemp."


"I don't think there is anything wrong when you use Indian hemp to prepare your food; it gives inspiration and it makes one have sober reflection and that is why I recommend it to my Church members. I use to preach to my members against smoking it but I encourage them to cook their food with hemp. "Some of my members do prepare some delicacies with it, which they serve me. I love Indian hemp because after eating Indian hemp, it gives me inspiration, then when I mount the pulpit, you will notice the efficacy of hemp."


Explaining what brought him to the police, he told CrimeWatch that "on the fateful day, I was in my Church, praying when the police stormed the place, claiming they were looking for some kidnappers, who used to hide their victims near my Church. I told them that I was not aware of the hideouts of kidnappers. You see, it was while searching my Church that they saw the Indian hemp. Well, I did not deny ownership of the hemp, it belongs to me; I love it."


When he was confronted by Crime- Watch whether it was right for a man of God to indulge in using Indian hemp, he said: "Let any man show me where it was written in the bible that thou should not cook with Indian hemp." The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, told CrimeWatch that some kidnappers were living beside the Church. He said some victims were rescued by the police, who stormed the scene. Katsina said the pastor and other accomplices took to their heels on sighting the police.


He said the police were able to arrest the pastor. According to him, when a search was conducted on the Church premises, a bundle of Indian hemp was recovered. The CP added that the police were on the trail of the runaway kidnappers, who escaped arrest.

SOURCE: http://odili.net/news/source/2013/may/16/512.html

@ EKO ILEE


Jonathan was sworn in is as President in May 2010

Our new ultra modern Government Houses
on MAY 12, 2013 · in NIGERIA TODAY
12:04 am
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By Tonnie Iredia

Democracy is acclaimed worldwide as the best form of government but its features appear rather easy to bastardize. In a democracy, power is said to belong to the people and that they exercise it through a government that is made up of a group of persons selected by the people.

What this suggests, is that government ought to constantly feel the puluse of the people on public policies, projects and programmes. However, in many developing societies like Nigeria, this hardly happens. Indeed, the representatives of the people who ought to function as the servants of the people, more often than not, lord it over the people.

Quite often, these overlords operate above the laws of the land. For instance, in order to have an easy drive from one location to another, they use the instruments of power like the siren and law enforcement agencies to scare away from the public space, ordinary citizens who are going about their lawful businesses.

Although the Nigerian constitution clearly stipulates that the main purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people, insecurity has become a recurring feature of public life in the country. As for the welfare of the people, what appears paramount is the pleasure of the “rulers”.

This explains why our leaders – another name for the peoples’ representatives – make their own accommodation and feeding a priority. The Governor of a State for example, being the first citizen of the State lives in the best accommodation in the State.

Yet when a new Governor assumes office, the said best accommodation suddenly becomes inadequate and has to be renovated, if not entirely replaced with a new Government House. Even Akwa Ibom State, generally applauded for its many first class projects virtually began with the building of a new Government House.

The argument that what the immediate past administration in the State wanted to spend on renovating the premises was almost as high as the cost of a new Government House is not the issue. Rather, what we need to ask now is: for how long had the Government House been in existence to require massive renovations or the building of a new one?

The last time i sought to glance through government projects in Nigeria on the net, what many States pasted to have done or were doing were interesting. In Abia State, the government was busy with the construction of what it called a new and befitting government house at Ogurube layout.

The cost of fencing of the site alone was put at N175million. In far away Abuja, renovation, construction and installation work at the Abia house at a cost of N150million were also in progress. The state government was also spending N500million on quarters for commissioners. In neighbouring Imo State, Government demolished and renovated the existing Government House in Owerri.

The cabinet office, the office of the Secretary to the Government and the Governor’s office were all restructured. The old Multi – Purpose Hall was transformed to a mini conference Hall with state – of the art facilities. Meanwhile, the immediate past administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim, had before leaving office begun the development of the permanent site of the Government House Complex at New Owerri.

That massive renovation would be undertaken in Ibadan from the day Otunba Alao Akala left office was not in doubt as Governor Abiola Ajimobi avoided the governor’s office in the state secretariat, Agodi. The programme for the handing over ceremony was supposed to hold in the executive council chambers but it ended up under a canopy erected at the parking lot.

The luncheon fixed for the Banquet Hall of the Government House was also shifted to a private location – the Ibadan Civic Centre. Interestingly, Alao Akala had before leaving office, worked not only on the Ibadan location but had also built an ultra modern liaison office at a cost of N170.9million for the State in Lagos. The edifice which has among other things 15 Guest room chalets was to serve as the new Governor’s lodge in Lagos.

On its part, the current Ekiti State Government is building a new Government House at a hilltop close to the present one. It has also awarded the construction of the second phase of the new Governor’s Office at a cost of N2.02bn. It is to be completed in 13 months according to the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo.

Of course, projects such as new office or residential accommodation for Governors are usually completed on schedule. Only last December when former President Obasanjo visited Katsina, one of the projects he inspected at the instance of Governor Shema was the New Government House which was at the time under construction at Modoji. The beautiful structure appears ready now for show casing to groups like the Good Governance Tour Team but the many questions that analysts would ask about the project may never be answered.

If those in government are there on behalf of the people, why do they build, renovate, refurbish and rebuild new Government Houses when many of those for whose sake they are in power are homeless? In the case of Katsina, there is no evidence that government felt the pulse of the people before embarking on the building of a new Government House.

Indeed, the story is that a local newspaper –AL MIZAN – had published the findings of its survey showing that the people were against the project. The government has however been touting some strange logic that the funding for the project was sourced from interests which accrued from the state’s resources, lodged in the different commercial banks and not from grants allocated from the federation account.

The other pertinent question concerns the use into which the existing Government House will be put when government moves to the new one. Is there a possibility that the speculation that it may be donated to any Governor as gratuity for serving the state will come to pass?

Whatever is the answer let our leaders remember that other nations that are not engaged in our kind of covetousness are no fools, hence successive British Prime Ministers for instance enjoy only No 10 Downing Street. They dare not waste public resources in restructuring customized Government Houses.

[b]SOURCE:[/b]http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/our-new-ultra-modern-government-houses/

Hello House,

Does anyone have news about Skye Shelter Fund and Japaul?

City SUN: Wonder in Osogbo village

By TOPE ADEBOBOYE

For years it lay prostrate, desolate, in sheer abandonment – a wide, wild expanse of uninhabited wasteland long forsaken by the people and their leaders. At Ido-Osun, a short distance from Osogbo it lies, a neglected land, yet rich in history and potential. It is the site of an airstrip built 74 years ago by Nigeria’s British overlords, the first facility used to airlift soldiers to the warfront back in 1939.

Over the decades, the site had been left in ruins, condemned to rot and decay by the various federal governments as well as the local administrations that had ruled over the area.

But good tidings are coming to the airstrip and residents of its host community. Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has decided to turn the wild land into a profitable venture. Soon, a magnificent airport will take the place of the abandoned, antiquated airstrip, according to some senior officials of the state government. And if the ongoing works at the site are anything to go by, then they might not be far from the truth.

Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communications in the Governor’s Office, and Wale Bolorunduro, Commissioner for Finance and Strategic Planning, told the reporter in separate chats that in a matter of months, the wasteland of Ido-Osun would soon become a booming hub, as a viable airport rises from the ruins and relics of the outmoded airfield.

Right now, massive construction work is on-going at the airport, which is being jointly constructed by a team of Nigeria Air Force engineers and their counterparts from the Nigeria Army in Ede. Already, the fencing of the airport has been done while all the gates and security facilities have been completed. Within the airport, a few memories of 1939 still stand, including the old control tower.

Bolorunduro said the British authorities decided to build the airstrip in the remote village of Ido-Osun after discovering that the place is the highest point in the country back then in the 1930s. It is believed to be the first airstrip in West Africa to be used in airlifting soldiers to the battlefield during World War 11.

Bolorunduro said the Federal government dillydallied for years over the return of the airstrip to Osun State, informing that it was eventually given back to the state government under the immediate past administration.

“We are building a runway of about 2.4 kilometres,” the commissioner asserted. “We want a runway that can land a Boeing 747.”

Bolorunduro assured that the airport, which has been named after the late billionaire and winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, Bashorun MKO Abiola, would commence international flights from next year.

Okanlawon noted that when the airport becomes functional, transportation of agricultural produce to Lagos from the state would become easier, stressing that Osun folks would benefit tremendously from the project.

Expectedly, many residents of the state are excited about the project. From Osu to Osogbo, from Ikirun to Ikire, many are those singing the praises of the airport project as well as the administration spearheading its construction.

“It’s a welcome development,” Ayo Afeez Jinadu, a native of Ido-Osun working with a private concern in Osogbo told the reporter. “I’m excited that Ogbeni Aregbesola has decided to resuscitate the old airstrip in my town and turn it into a modern airport. We are happy and grateful to the governor.”

But the airport isn’t the only thing that keeps the people excited about the state and its current rulers. The state, the reporter was told, has embarked on a number of projects aimed at making life a lot better for the people.

Among such projects are roads. It was learnt that many roads are being built all over the state, in both the towns and in the villages. The government, it was gathered, has embarked on the construction of a 10-kilometre road project in each of the 30 local government councils in the state. These are beside the road rehabilitation works going on in many parts of the state. In Osogbo, the East-West Bypass, an outer ring road running round the state capital is being constructed just as the dualisation of the 45-kilometre Osogbo-Ikirun-Ila-Odo-Kwara State Boundary road is ongoing.

And for motorists and commuters journeying from Lagos through Ogun and Osun States to Ekiti, Ondo and others states in the North Central and the Far North, here is some good news. Very soon, the nearly-daily gridlock that keeps travellers holed up in Ibadan will soon become a thing of the past. The Osun State government will soon complete the construction of the Gbongan-Orile-Owu Road, a motorway that veers off from Gbongan in Osun State and links Ijebu-Igbo and Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.

“When completed in a few months’ time, people coming from Lagos will no longer need to pass through Ibadan. From Lagos, you will connect Ijebu-Igbo, and in 40 minutes, you would be in Gbongan,” Bolorunduro stated.

Osun hosts some of the biggest towns across the South-West. No fewer than a dozen of its towns are bigger than many state capitals in the country in landmass and population. Yet virtually all these towns are nothing more than glorified villages, with dilapidated mud houses and crumbled infrastructure as the enduring memories.

But the present governor has assured that his government would change the destiny of such towns. The government’s urban renewal train, it was learnt, has started cruising through these towns, bringing the needed infrastructure rejuvenation to Osogbo, Ilesa, Ikirun, Ikire, Ile-ife, Ede, Ejigbo, Iwo, Iree, Ila-Orangun, Gbongan and the other major towns in the state.

“We deliberately refrain from calling these places cities, because they are not cities yet. But by the time we are done with the urban renewal programme, they would have fully earned the status of cities,” Okanlawon noted.

The state is also working hard on its O’ Schools project. The government has created a new education model comprising elementary, middle and higher schools. Many new schools are being built while the old ones are being rehabilitated. The reporter learnt that all schools in the state would be upgraded to internationally acceptable standards. At the Salvation Army School in Osogbo, a mega school has been built. The governor’s spokesman, Semiu Okanlawon says the school would accommodate about 900 students.

The government also provides free meals to elementary school pupils in the state. Besides boosting the health of the pupils, the O’ Meals project, as it’s called, has also created jobs for about 3000 food vendors across the state. No fewer than 36 cows are slaughtered weekly, while 16, 000 crates of eggs are also procured for the pupils each week.

The free uniforms being provided for the students also provided employment opportunities for thousands of tailors across the state.

The government is building two major markets – the Aje and Ayegbaju markets – in Osogbo. The Ayegbaju International Market had been in existence in Osogbo even before the town became a state capital. But after its creation, the military administrators woke up one day and sacked the traders from the market. Many wailed as the bulldozers tore through the old market, bringing down stalls and shops. The government then built the Governor’s Office at the market. But when Aregbesola mounted the saddle, he decided to give the site back to its original owners – the traders. Massive work is ongoing at the site, and the lock-up shops and stalls are already being allocated.

“The governor has decided that the initial traders would be given stalls first at the market,” said the governor’s spokesman. “And the good thing is that those who cannot afford a stall would pay a meagre amount, maybe N50 or N100 a day, and then they can sell their wares in the open without hindrance.”

Okanlawon informed that the Ayegbaju market would be in operation from August even as the Aje market would be commissioned before the end of the year.

“The government is doing a lot more. In the area of health, tourism, promotion of arts and culture and others, Osun is witnessing a rebirth,” Okanlawon says.

A Sango devotee, Baba Sango Osogbo, informed the reporter that the governor was giving some facelift to the Osun Grove in Osogbo. “Those of us that are traditionalists don’t approve of it. We want the grove to retain its natural identity. But the governor wants to attract international tourists. That is why he is rehabilitating the Osun Grove.”


SOURCE: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/trending/city-sun-wonder-in-osogbo-village/

Azubike....carry go jor. I say nothing do you!!

North Korea just dey do shakara!!

Here we have a bored dictator making noise just to keep himself in the global eye and gain some measure of relevance.

Of course, he has no intention to attack South Korea, the U.S or any other country for that matter. But he needs his kicks and 15 minutes of fame just like anyone else. So he poses with batallions of soldiers, mobilises aircraft, talks tough etc

Unless he is a complete crackpot, his noisemaking will just remain just that,....... noise!

New PIB: Stalemate as Senators refuse to shift ground •Nigeria loses $30bn over non-passage of bill
Our Reporter March 6, 2013 No Comments »

The fragile truce between northern and southern Senators over the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) suffered a setback yesterday as both camps stuck to their pre-conceived positions during the second reading at the Senate chamber yesterday. The north, through the Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Ahmad Lawan, spoke of how the Niger Delta allegedly squandered N11.3 trillion revenue and should not be allowed to waste further national resources in the guise of granting 10 per cent of net profit of oil companies to host communities.

Indications on how the chamber would debate on the bill emerged when Senate President David Mark specifically gave preference to lawmakers from Borno and Yobe states to make their contributions first. Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), led the debate on the second reading. He listed the numerous benefits that would accrue to the country if the new PIB becomes law, urging his colleagues to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s reforms in the oil sector. His words: “Given the mono-cultural nature of our economy, and its almost total dependence on oil, the bill has understandably elicited deep local and international interests given the global outlook of the oil industry in terms of technology, expertise and economics.

The bill, when passed, will fundamentally alter the legal, fiscal and proprietary dynamics and regime of the oil sector. It will harmonize and consolidate about 16 diverse and disparate laws that today govern and regulate the sector. It is easily one of the most important bills to be considered by this distinguished and hallowed chamber. “The bill was first introduced in the sixth Senate, but legislative action on it could not be concluded then, because it seemed several versions of it were in circulation in the chamber and elsewhere. “As already indicated, the bill seeks to harmonize and consolidate the several disparate legislations that govern and regulate the oil industry, thus, making its legal framework more user-friendly.

The bill further seeks to: enhance exploration and production of petroleum resources through robust production allowances in both oil and gas. “This will increase our revenue base, ensure favourable fiscal for low producers and develop or drop lease administration mechanism; to promote the Nigerian content by promoting indigenous participation in the petroleum sector and favourable lease administration where international oil companies (IOCs) will explore or relinquish part of their blocs; to create a petroleum host community fund to increase freedom to operate by including host communities as stakeholders.” Thereafter, Mark yielded the floor to Senator Alkali Jajere from Yobe State.

He opposed the 10 per cent grant to host communities as well as the sweeping powers conferred on the Petroleum Resources Minister. Jajere urged the Presidency to immediately commence oil exploration in the “entire Chad Basin, Benue Basin and Sokoto” as “they are places where oil can be discovered. These issues have to be addressed. The powers given to Mr President have to be curtailed. We are not saying this bill shouldn’t pass, but we want these issues addressed.” Lawan spoke next: His contribution almost tore the chamber apart. He detailed how Nigeria had lost so much resources and that section 9 of the new PIB does not address the concerns of Nigerians about the oil industry.

“I support any legislation that would bring improvement in the way and manner we run this country; in the way and manner we generate revenue and make life better for Nigerians. “I’ll support this bill with massive reservations. Most Nigerians, even those in government, don’t know how much oil Nigeria sells; even the Auditor-General of the Federation doesn’t know how many accounts the NNPC has! I take exception to a clause in the bill with the Public Procurement Act… “Why the bill appears controversial is because it’s oil that generates the revenue for Nigeria…I think we should go in search of oil and gas wherever we can find them…” To buttress his argument, Lawan cited Section 53 (2) of the Senate Standing Orders and quoting figures from documents, told the chamber that governments in the Niger Delta states had in the last 13 years, allegedly wasted N11.3 trillion.

An angry Senator James Manager from Delta State sought to stop him through a motion but Mark ruled him out of order. Taking it up from there, Water Resources Committee Chairman, Heineken Lokpobiri, came vide Order 56 ( of the Senate Standing Orders. He said that Lawan was reading from newspapers which was not allowed in the chamber. Again, Mark ruled him out of order. Lawan continued: “Over 13 years, the Niger Delta got N7.3 trillion from the Derivation Fund; N2.7 trillion went to the NDDC in over 10 years, between 2007 and 2012, Ministry of Niger Delta got N50 billion, Amnesty Programme (N250 billion) from the Excess Crude Account alone, Rivers State got N53 billion, more than what the states combined got, and another N72 billion from the presidential initiative on the Ecological Fund.

“Most of the leaders have failed to deliver to the host communities. Injustice to one is injustice to all. It’s my submission that we re-work the 13 per cent derivation. Nigerians, those of us who don’t have oil are tired. As a federation, the oil belongs to everybody,” said Lawan. He also faulted a situation where the Federal Government allegedy spent N700 billion from the Solid Minerals Fund without developing the sector. But Petroleum Resources Committee (Upstream) Chairman, Paulker Emmanuel, countered that Nigeria has lost over $30 billion due to non-passage of the first PIB introduced by late President Umaru Yar’Adua. He said that more than $30 billion would have accrued to Nigeria in terms of revenue from investments in the sector if the National Assembly has approved the PIB in 2010.

“We must have legislation that would reflect the dynamics of the industry. Non-passage of the PIB has kept the industry in a limbo since 2010. In fact, $30 billion would have accrued to Nigeria if we had passed the bill then…We are presently in a limbo. There’s no exploration in that industry presently. We will make history if new PIB is giving accelerated hearing. “The PIB is intended to unbundle the NNPC into three companies, with one of those companies dealing directly with the Joint Venture (JV) partners.” Other Senators, including Isa Galaudu, Mohammed Gobir and Danladi Sankara, however, wondered how a minister would have the powers to hire and confirm appointments of heads of the new oil companies, particularly the National Oil Company (NOC) without the knowledge and input of the National Assembly.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who later presided over the session, commended the quality and maturity of the debate. After plenary, the Southern Senators’ Forum (SSF) went into another round of meetings where the day’s debate was reviewed and contributions taken from the consultant commissioned on the PIB. Sources present at the meeting said members have resolved to “continue to interface with our colleagues from the North.” “We are confident that the bill will scale the crucial second reading,” another ranking member told Daily Sun. The debate continues today. Recall that the he bill was re-introduced in the seventh Senate as an executive bill with franking measures introduced to ensure that only one version was before this Senate as against our aforementioned previous experience. It was read the first time on September 19, 2012.

SOURCE: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/new-pib-stalemate-as-senators-refuse-to-shift-ground-%E2%80%A2nigeria-loses-30bn-over-non-passage-of-bill/

Wolves accuse Mba of betrayal
on FEBRUARY 25, 2013 · in SPORTS
1:43 am

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE
Nations Cup hero Sunday Mba yesterday, in Sunday Vanguard, said that he was a Rangers player having moved from Warri Wolves to the Enugu side at the end of last season.

Warri Wolves have repeatedly said that the attacking midfielder was still their player as transfer formalities had not been done.

The Nigeria Premier League Interim Management Committee had also looked into the player’s contract and ruled him a Warri Wolves player.

But Mba made the following comment yesterday: “We were four players that left Warri Wolves before the Nations Cup. Why is it that I am the only one they are bothering. The truth of the matter is that I have no contract with Wolves.”

Wolves so sure that no transfer formalities had taken place yesterday directed Mba to return to the club for training on or before Friday, March 1.

“We don’t want to be exchanging words or be arguing about Sunday Mba. If he were a bonafide player of Rangers let them field him in a match and see if they would not be sanctioned,” Amaju Pinnick, the Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission said, adding that “the Interim Management Committee ruled on February 13 that he was a Warri Wolves player as Rangers were yet to buy him and we want to leave it at that.”

Warri Wolves spokesman, Etu Moses tried to accuse Mba of treachery, saying “why did he present himself as Warri Wolves player and collected additional N2.5m when the governor of Delta State rewarded Super Eagles players on February 14 with N2.5m each? “His became N5m because the governor doubled the reward for all the Warri Wolves players. He has one year remianing in his contract,” Moses said, adding that the club expected Mba to resume in Warri on or before March 1, 1013.

Rangers’ spokesman Foster Chime said yesterday that “this matter is between the Delta Football Association and the Enugu State Football Association.

At the 2009/1010 season, Sunday Mba went to Dolphin on loan from Rangers and another matter is to know how he ended up in Warri Wolves. The chairman of our state FA, Chidi Okenwa has all the documents and we will be going to Abuja to sort out things.”

The Delta FA said yesterday they equally had documents to prove that Rangers had no genuine claim on Mba.

SOURCE: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/wolves-accuse-mba-of-betrayal/

@ all

Didn't the replay of the Ikpeba's penalty show that the ball actually crossed the line? My memory is not 100% but I'm almost certain that one of our disallowed penalties definitely crossed the line!!!